
It’s natural for lower leaves to receive less light (just like in nature). I’m not sure what light meter you’re using or how it compares to sunlight but that does sound low.
Grow light table lamp full#
There’s no specific grow light required for FLFs – however a full spectrum (white) grow light is best as they don’t need specific colored light for flowering or fruiting. Is the light you bought specifically a grow light, or just an LED bulb? While some household lights *may* be in the right kelvin range, its best to get a specific grow light to make sure your plant is getting the wavelengths it needs for growth. Full spectrum Grow lights should be at least 3000 kelvin to be effective. A better measurement to look out for is kelvin. Hey Farrah, wattage actually refers to the amount of electrical energy a light is using, which isn’t really relevant when it comes to grow lights! LED lights are very energy efficient, so they appear to have low wattage. Aim to give your plants a rest by having at least 8 hours at night where the lights aren’t on. While plants photosynthesise during the day, they need at least 8 hours of darkness to continue the process called respiration, where they break this energy down further. Keep in mind that plants still need darkness to grow. If you have a large area, you may need to use multiple grow lights to fully cover the area. The top of the plant should be at least 6 inches away from the light source. Plants generally lean and grow towards the light source, so positioning the light above the plant will stop any unusual growth.Īs LED grow lights have a low heat output, they can be placed closer to your plants. In general, grow lights should be placed above the plant (to mimic the sun).
Grow light table lamp how to#
How to Use your Grow LightĪny grow light you buy should come with specific directions on how to use. LED grow lights maximise the light spectrums used by the plant and the plant doesn’t have to filter the other spectrums out. LED Grow lights also protect the plant from burning as the bulb stays cool. For example, seedlings benefit from blue light, while for fruiting and flowering, red light is best. Full spectrum grow lights are handy for general plant growth such as for indoor plants, while certain colour grow lights help in different stages of a plant’s growth. While normal household lights are designed to brighten our homes, grow lights are specifically designed with the lightwaves that plants need from the spectrum. That might be specifically for photosynthesis, growing seedlings or fruiting and flowering. Using the latest technology, LEDs can combine different wavelengths of the light spectrum to maximise particular growth in plants. However they still don’t compare to the efficiency, low heat, lifespan and technology of LED grow lights. To be effective, grow lights need to be on for 10-16 hours in the day, making LEDs a whole lot more efficient and energy saving than any other choice.įluorescent lights have a better energy consumption and less heat output when compared to halogens and incandescents. LED lights give off almost no heat, making them a safer option.

This can be a danger to burning your plants. Halogen lights still can give a full spectrum of light, but both halogen and incandescents give off a lot of heat. If you’re interested in finding out some of the symptoms of lack of light in plants, read these 8 Signs your Houseplants Need More Light. Herbs and fruits that normally have to be planted at a certain time of year can be grown anytime when using a grow light properly. This way the light can be controlled and moderated. Grow lights are commonly used to grow seedlings or indoor herbs, and even fussy plants such as orchids. For some other reasons your indoor plant might not be growing, see this post. Supplementing a grow light can help give indoor plants an energy boost. Without enough energy from the sun, plants may not be able to sprout new growth, but still appearing healthy. If your indoor plants appear healthy but just don’t seem to be putting out any new growth, a lack of light may be the issue. Tropical houseplants such as fiddle leaf figs, ficus varieties, prayer plants etc can especially benefit from the extra light provided by grow lights as these plants are naturally used to large amounts of light. They may even help them to grow in the cooler seasons when they’d normally be dormant. Grow lights can help keep your plants healthier if they struggle over winter. Indoor plants may benefit from a boost in light over the winter months to help them get through the darker seasons. There’s the decreased hours of light in the day less direct sun because of the angle of the earth and less sun due to weather. During winter, sunlight levels decrease for a few reasons.
