Avoid spindly seedlings and leggy houseplants by learning how to use grow lights to keep your indoor plants thriving.
Here’s what you should probably know about setting up the best light systems for your houseplants and seedlings.
Use Grow Lights for Seedlings
Bright lighting is key to getting a jump start onspring transplants indoors.
A mix of houseplants thrive under a grow light.Credit: Marty Baldwin
Most rooms do not provide enough light to produce dense, healthy seedlings.
Seedlings will usually germinate well and produce their first set of leaves in a sunny window.
But then the “stretch” begins as stems reach desperately for more light to fuel their rapid growth.
These bright lights provide a combination of blue and red light waves necessary for good plant growth.
Look for bulbs that are “full-spectrum,” which your plants will need.
Red light waves spur flowering andfruit production for houseplantsand edibles.
Choose a light source that provides plenty of rich red wave light.
Look for the Kelvin rating of a bulb on the product packaging.
How Many Hours Should Grow Lights Be On?
Illuminate interior plants for 12-14 hours a day.Seedlings grow bestwhen supplied with light around the clock.
Leaving the lights on 24 hours a day compensates for the lower level of artificial light compared to sunlight.
This is when more energy-efficient LED bulbs pay off.
A simple mechanical timer will make using grow lights easier and more efficient.
Tips for Using Grow Lights
Artificial lighting must be very close to the plants to be effective.
As rays of light move away from the source, they dim significantly.
Indoor plants and edibles grow best when they’re within 12 inches or so of the light source.
Note that many self-containedindoor garden systemscome with automatically controlled grow lights.
There are many types ofspecially designed lights and fixturesfor growing plants indoors.
