Are you interested in growing your plants all year long, but don’t know what the BEST grow lights are for your specific plant?
Are you interested in learning more about the BEST grow lights and how to use them?
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After hours of research and using a wide range of grow lights, I have created 11 BEST Grow Lights for ALL Plants.
The list below is broken down by grow lights for your green leaf plants, seeds, and herbs.
Why Use your Grow Lights for your Plants
If you are one of the 80% of gardeners who only garden in the summer you may be asking why you should grow plants indoors?
You should use one of the Best Grow Lights on this list because it will help make your plants bigger, better, and healthier.
Also, it will allow you to grow your plants year-round in a way that mimics its natural environment.
Best of all using a Grow Light is one of the only ways to grow plants from seed.
And there are even a few green plants that will require a grow light to grow.
Green plants need light to perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is when plants convert into sugar for growth.
Types of Grow Lights
When purchasing one of the best Grow Lights there are numerous factors to consider.
The most important factor is the type of Grow Light.
Grow Lights are classified as HID, Fluorescent, or LED.
HID Lights
HID Lights is short for High-Intensity Discharge lights.
These type of lights give off a high power discharge and come in M and H bulbs.
The HID light is on the blue end of the spectrum meaning it gives off stronger energy.
Blue light and HID bulbs are perfect for green leafy plants that you have and want to continue to grow. Some example of green leafy plants would be most vegetables, herbs, and marijuana.
- Advantages
- Lower initial cost
- Effective for a year
- Great coverage area
- Disadvantages
- High power requirements
- Runs hot
- Shorter lifespan than other bulbs
- Few reliable brands
- Each bulb requires ballast and socket
CFL Lights
CFL lights are short for Compact Fluorescent Lights.
These type of lights give off a less intense light and come in what is called T5 or T8 configurations.
Fluorescent lights are on the red end of the light spectrum, giving off a less intense light.
Fluorescent lights are a great supplement for natural light and can be used with a timer to mimic a plant’s natural environment. I recommend using this light for small green plants, flowers, and even some seeds.
- Advantages
- Minimal space requirements
- Cheap setup
- Bought anywhere
- lower electricity use and minimal heat output
- Disadvantages
- Less efficient
- Each bulb requires a socket
- Needs constant adjustment
LED Light
LED Lights are also known as Light Emitting Diode.
These lights come in numerous wavelengths with very little heat.
If used correctly, LED lights can be used with almost every plant listed above.
- Advantages
- Lower operating cost
- Longer bulb life
- More efficient
- Easy to Install
- Disadvantages
- Higher initial cost
- Low heat
- Lower quality
Grow Light Considerations
When shopping a Grow Light there are four considerations you should factor into your purchase.
Tip #1: Understand Light Duration
When purchasing a Grow Light one of the most important factors you should research is the light duration.
On average your grow light should last for at least 1000 lamp hours before needing to be replaced.
Light duration can be defined how long your grow light bulbs will last and how long each plant should have light.
HID Grow Lights will typically last 12 months before they need to be replaced.
HID Grow Lights also emit more power and energy, meaning your plants will need to be exposed to this light the least amount of all Grow Lights.
CFL Grow Lights will typically last 18 months before they need to be replaced.
CFL Grow Lights also emit a moderate amount of power and energy, but less than HID. These Grow Lights can be connected with a timer to mimic a plant’s natural sunlight environment.
And LED Grow Lights can sometimes last up to 24 months before they need to be replaced.
LED Grow Lights release the least amount of power and energy. Most gardeners will leave these lights on for long periods of time, such as 16 to 18 hours in order for their plants to receive proper light.
Tip #2: Light Color is key to proper growth
As talked about above certain plants require certain light colors to grow.
Light that is on the blue end of the spectrum will emit the most amounts of energy and heat. These type of lights are great for growing large leafy green plants, herbs, and marijuana.
Light that is on the red end of the spectrum will emit the least amount of energy and heat. These type of lights are great for flowers, small green plants, and some seeds.
Tip #3: You Pay for What your Get
When it comes to Grow Lights, you pay for what you get.
I personally recommend purchasing Grow Lights made in the USA. These lights tend to be more expensive, but they are also more durable and provide better overall customer satisfaction.
If you are looking for quality HID Grow Lights you will be spending approximately $100 per Grow Light (which includes bulbs).
If you are looking for quality CFL Grow Lights you will be spending approximately $50-$100 per Grow Light package.
And if you are looking for a quality LED Grow Lights you will be spending approximately $25-$75 per Grow Light package.
Tip #4: Purchase Grow Light Accessories
Purchasing a Grow Light typically is enough to get you started.
But sometimes you’ll need more lights or even some accessories to have better and more consistent results.
When purchasing your grow lights I recommend buying the below accessories to help save you time, money, and energy.
Grow Light Rack – Grow Lights Racks are a great way to save space and control where your lights are in relation to your plants.
Grow Light Suspension Cables – Grow Light Suspension Cables are another great way to control where your lights are in relation to your plants.
Power Strips & Extension Cords – As your garden continues to grow you will need power strips and extension cords to help power your grow lights.
Protective Sunglasses – If you plan on spending a lot of time in front of your grow lights, I recommend a pair of polarized sunglasses to help protect your eyes. For the little cost, it is well worth the protection.
Plant Trays – Plant trays are a great way to keep your house or greenhouse clean while using Grow Lights.
Heating Mats & Humidity Trays – Heating Mats and Humidity trays are another great accessories you may need when purchasing a grow light.
11 Best Grow Lights
Depending on your gardening needs and the plants you grow, you need a specific grow light.
Seedlings and herbs require fluorescent lights to grow.
Leafy Green vegetables and root crops require HID lights to properly grow.
Flowering plants like lemons and tomatoes will require LED lights, as do flowers you wish to have bloomed.
Best Seedling Grow Lights (#1-2)
1. Hydrofarm Agrobite Fluorescent Light
The Hydrofarm Agrobrite Fluorescent Grow Light is my favorite light on this list because it is what I use the most.
This grow light comes with a T5 fixture that provides flexibility and performance for growing seedlings indoors.
The Hydrofarm Grow Light is made with powder-coated, steel housing and has a faceted specular aluminum structure for better light distribution.
You can expect approximately 8,000 lumens from this light, which is double the output of its competitors.
It also has full daylight 6400k light spectrum and 20,000 hours worth of light duration.
One of my favorite features about this grow light is that you can hang it overhead, vertical, and even horizontal.
2. T5 Grow Light Fluorescent
If you are looking for a grow light that provides incredible light at a reasonable price then you have found it with the T5 Grow Light Fluorescent.
This grow light provides over 10,000 lumens, which is what you’ll find in most professional grow light system.
Also, its lamps are 6500k on the light spectrum and have over 20,000 worth of light duration.
What I love about this grow light is that it comes with a lot of accessories, including hanging hooks, chains, power cords, etc.
And best of all is that it is fire-proof, works well with timers, and comes with a 5-year warranty.
Best Herb/Houseplant Grow Lights (#3-4)
3. Hydroplanet Fluorescent Light
The Hydroplanet Fluorescent Light is a great option for anyone interested in growing herbs or houseplants indoors.
This grow light comes with an easy to use plug and play ballast, which will help save you time and lots of frustration.
The grow light also comes with 8, 6500k grow bulbs and easy daisy chain for setup.
Best of all is that this grow light emits over 40,000 lumens and has a fantastic 2-year warranty.
4. Durolux Fluorescent Light
The Durolux Fluorescent Light might be the best value for its price out of all the grow lights on this list.
This grow light comes packed with over 40,000 lumens and almost all the accessories you will need to get started.
Also, it comes with two light switches that allow you to control both the inner and outer lights to better grow your herbs and houseplants.
What I love most about this product though is that it is 30% less weight than its competitors and is incredibly safe to use in any environment.
Best Green Vegetables/Root Crop Grow Lights (#5-6)
5. Sun Systems Grow Light HPS
The Sun Systems Grow Light HPS is the perfect product for anyone looking to grow leafy green vegetables and root crops indoors.
This product is lightweight and compact and produces over 16,000 lumens per one bulb.
This is the perfect product for cold color spectrum plants and comes with vented housing to help dissipate heat.
What I love most about this grow light is that it comes with a one year warranty, has parts that are easily replaceable, and has a high pressure sodium bulb which can be found in any hardware store.
6. iPower Grow Light MH
iPower Grow Lights MH is another fantastic option for growing vegetables and root plants indoors and in grow tents.
This grow light comes with an 8 foot, heavy-duty power cord and has a dimmable feature to control the light your plants receive.
This product generates a large amount of heat, producing over 55,000 lumens of light and each bulb has a lifespan of 32,000 hours.
What really makes this grow light stand out though is that it has 95% reflective textured aluminum that helps maximizes light reflected plants.
This is also the perfect light for small spaces and has a one year warranty.
Best Marijuana Grow Lights (#7-8)
7. King Plus LED Grow Light
King Plus LED Grow Light is the perfect product for anyone who wants to begin growing marijuana.
This product is bright and more efficient than most competitor products. It comes with a 1000 Watt bulb and has a light duration of over 100,000 hours.
Why marijuana growers love this grow light is because it has a full spectrum light from red to blue to yellow to white. Not only this, but it has holes on its board to efficiently dissipate heat.
And one final benefit is that it has a 3-year warranty that I have personally used with 100% satisfaction.
8. Phlizon LED Grow Light
The Phlizon LED Grow Light is another great option for anyone interested in growing marijuana.
Compared to competitors, Phlizon does not use a reflector for heating, meaning no danger of fire.
Also, this product features a full light spectrum and has a double switch that allows you to grow vegetables and flowers that bloom.
This grow light also comes with a 600 watt LED light, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 2-year warranty.
Best of all is that it comes with a large variety of products like a timer, cord, etc.
Best Fruiting Plant Grow Lights (#9-10)
9. Maxsisun LED Grow Light
The Maxsisun is an unbelievable option for anyone looking to grow fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, etc.
Like the other LED options, this grow light provides all light spectrum and is perfect for hydroponics, greenhouses, and indoor plant growing.
What sets this grow light apart from its competitors is that it comes with Dual-Chip LEDs, which is much bright and more efficient than traditional LEDs.
It is also made with aluminum heatsinks that help dissipate heat in an efficient manner.
Best of all is that it comes with 600 watt bulbs and a 2-year warranty!
10. Hytekgro LED Grow Light
The Hytekgro LED Grow Light is another great option for gardeners who wish to grow fruiting plants.
This grow light is a great compact option that provides a classic full light spectrum. This product is also lightweight and is set up perfectly for easily upgradable parts and accessories.
What makes this grow light stand apart from its competitors is that it gives off low heat through its ABS plastic material and is exceptionally quiet.
Finally, the Hytekgro grow light comes with 45-watt bulbs and a 12-month money-back warranty.
Best Flowering Plant Grow Lights (#11)
11. Grow Light Plant Lights
The Grow Light Plant Lights is one of my favorite grow lights on this list.
This grow light is perfect for anyone who is interested in growing flowering plants.
It comes with the perfect mix of blue and red light combination that keeps plants healthy and thriving.
Some of the other amazing features are 6 dimmable options for all plant stages, circular memory timer to control lighting, and the ability to adjust your light as your plants grows.
What really separates this product from its competitors is its 24-hour customer support. Very few grow lights offer a service like this!
How to Use Grow Lights
Once you purchase one of the Best Grow Lights it is important to understand how to properly use it for the best likelihood of success.
All of the best Grow Lights on this list should come fully assembled or have excellent directions.
Also, all of the best grow lights on this list should have power cords and the appropriate accessories, so that you just need to plug them in to begin.
What the grow light manufacturers will not tell you is how much light each plant needs and how far away you should keep your grow light.
If you want to have the highest likelihood of success growing plants using the best grow lights then ensure they receive the correct amount of light.
Amount of Light Per Plant
- Seedlings – 16 to 18 hours
- Root/Leafy Vegetable – 8 to 10 hours
- Herbs – 14 to 16 hours
- Marijuana – 12 to 16 hours
- Fruiting Plants – 12 to 18 hours
- Flowers – 12 to 16 hours
If you want to have the highest likelihood of success growing plants using the best grow lights then you will want to hang them the correct amount above the plants.
Distance from Light to Plant
- LED Lights
- Seedlings – 6 to 12 inches
- Root/Leafy Vegetable – 14 to 16 inches
- Herbs – 6 to 12 inches
- Marijuana – 6 to 12 inches
- Fruiting Plants – 14 to 18 inches
- Flowers – 14 to 18 inches
- Fluorescent Lights
- Seedlings – 9 to 12 inches
- Root/Leafy Vegetable – 14 to 18 inches
- Herbs – 9 to 12 inches
- Marijuana – 9 to 12 inches
- Fruiting Plants – 14 to 18 inches
- Flowers – 14 to 18 inches
- HID Lights
- Seedlings – 12 to 15 inches
- Root/Leafy Vegetable – 18 to 22 inches
- Herbs – 12 to 15 inches
- Marijuana – 12 to 15 inches
- Fruiting Plants – 18 to 22 inches
- Flowers – 18 to 22 inches
If you are a better visual learner than I recommend watching the below video:
Conclusion
As I have talked about above it is important to have a full understanding of what grow lights are and how they can help you become a gardener.
When purchasing a grow light make sure you consider the following factors in your purchase:
- Whether you want a LED, CFL, or HID light. Each one has benefits and disadvantage
- How long you want your light bulbs to last
- What type of light color your plants need
- How much you want to spend on better quality
- What type of accessories you need for your grow light
What’s Next?
If you liked this article then I highly recommend reading:
ULTIMATE Guide to Starting a Vegetable Garden
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