How to Use LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants

Having plants in your home is a great way to add greenery and ambience to your space. But sometimes it’s hard to give every plant the natural light it needs for growth depending on window access. LED grow lights are one of the most effective ways to keep your space looking bright and decorative as they mimic the effects of natural lighting to keep your plants healthy and growing.

What is a grow light?

Grow light fixtures mimic the color temperature of the sun and help cultivate indoor plants in any climate year-round. They use the process of photosynthesis, which converts light energy into chemical energy, to adapt to your plants’ needs and improve growth. LED grow lights consume less energy and don’t project heat like traditional bulbs, making them safer for your plants.

Benefits of LED grow lights

LED grow lights are a popular option when caring for indoor plants. They produce full spectrum light, meaning it projects specific wavelengths needed to help the growth process of an indoor plant. Like other LEDs, grow lights and emit little heat whilst being energy efficient. They are proven to give your plants the ability to grow faster and healthier than some traditional methods such as, high intensity discharge (HID) and fluorescent grow lights. LEDs use half the electricity fluorescent bulbs require, making them last longer than average lighting. LED grow lighting is designed to allow a controlled environment for plants, reducing the need for pesticides and chemicals. Unlike HID and fluorescent bulbs, LEDs don’t contain mercury decreasing waste.

How to use a LED grow light

When using LED grow lights on your indoor plants you’ll want to focus on position, time and color. These factors are important, especially depending on the type of plant, to ensure you get the best chances for your plants to grow and keep them healthy.
  • Position for light distance
    • LED grow lights require at least 12-30 inches of space away from the soil
    • Moving the light too close can maximize photosynthesis, but may also damage the plant
  • Timing for lights to operate
    • Low-light plants need about 4 hours per day
    • Medium-light plants need about 6 hours per day
    • High-light plants need about 14 to 16 hours per day
    • Plants need dark time for respiration process
    • Timers are helpful reminders for turning lights on or off
  • Color of grow lights
    • Colors vary for different uses (flowering, fruiting, or general leaf growth)
    • Lighting is measured in wavelengths (nanometers or “nm”)
    • Blue (400nm - 520nm): leafy green foliage, keeps plants short and stocky, great for microgreens and seedlings, too much blue light can lead to stunted plants
    • Red (610nm - 720nm): helps with vegetative growth and great for flowering, excessive lighting can make plants tall and lanky

Where to put your grow lights

Grow lights are not usually meant for walls or ceilings as this can be too far away from the plants. They are commonly used in dark areas that don’t receive much natural light. Place these fixtures directly above to ensure proper lighting for plants. Overtime you will want to adjust the lighting based on the plant growth. Generally, your fixture should be placed closer for plants in the vegetative state and put higher up for plants during the flowering stage.
Imani Quiros
Imani Quiros

Imani is a self-taught social media/content writer. Using marketing skills developed from her education at Kennesaw State University, she uses her SEO background to post creative blogs and content. With her enthusiastic attitude and innovated mindset there’s not a goal she can’t accomplish!

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