3 steps to choosing a grow light
Winters are long here in Chicago and without supplemental light, my plants would stop growing (dormancy) or start dying (depressing) because I have too many plants, and too few windows and there is NO SUN FOR MONTHS. Why can't I just live in a greenhouse in Florida?! If you can relate at all, or simply would like to add some greenery to dark areas to your home, adding grow lights may just be the solution you are looking for (or didn’t know you were looking for)! Also, if you grow rare plants, you most definitely need to invest in proper artificial lighting to provide your babies with all the footcandles they deserve.
The first thing you want to look for when shopping for a grow light is what’s called an LED, “light emitting diode” light. In the past, most grow lights were big and clunky, a type of light called a High Pressure Sodium (HPS) light, or alternatively people used florescent light bulbs. Both of these lights required a ballast to regulate their energy. Over time, LED lights were manufactured as a more energy and cost efficient alternative but were only available in the “blurple” (pinkish/purple) color. Now, most of the LED grow lights you will see on the market are full spectrum (white light producing) grow lights. LED lights are popular because they are cost effective, less clunky, safe and efficient.
Next, decide if you want to purchase white or “blurple” (the purple strip club looking) grow lights. Which are better? I know you’re wondering. The answer depends on whether you’re growing seedlings or general houseplants and even then this could be debated. However, there is no debate that the white “full spectrum” grow lights, those that emit the entire spectrum of light that plants need for photosynthesis and most closely mimic the sun, work very well for growing houseplants and rare plants and look MUCH more aesthetically pleasing than the ones that make your home look like a late night club. They are my personal go-to every time, for all plant purposes.
Along with your light, make sure you purchase a wall timer for your light. All of my lights are on automatic timers for 12 hours on, 12 hours off to mimic the natural day and night cycles. After years of trying different digital and manual timers, my favorite is this one from GE (below) because it has TWO grounded outlets in each timer and is super simple to set.
I use different grow light brands for different reasons. The one you see in the photo above is from Soltech Solutions ; it’s their Vita bulb. My other favorite light of theirs is the large hanging pendant. I use Soltech lights in all of my main living areas because they're beautiful and high quality (mine are still going strong after FOUR years of daily 12 hour use). If you want to check them out use my code Plantbabies2023 for 15% off. In my grow tents I use Monios, Barrina brand T8 strips, Sansi and Mars Hydro grow light panels.
This is one of my grow tents. On the left you have a square panel light from Sansi, and the long strip lights are from Barrina. All of them are LED and full-spectrum.
Once you start using grow lights in your home, the possibilities for where you can stick plants are endless: above your bed, in your basement, your kitchen counter and in your dark bathroom. I even screwed grow lights to the bottom of a long table so that I could put plants on the floor of my bedroom underneath it. I will warn you though, if you thought collecting plants was addicting, wait until you start wanting to collect lights for them!
