Grow lights
Keep your houseplants healthy this winter
Grow lights are used to replicate natural light for plants and for growing seeds that are not being exposed to sunlight or need more light than is available.
Most plants need both warm or red light and cool or blue light, which are absorbed by chlorophyll. Natural light is always preferred for indoor plants, but grow lights may be needed—especially in winter—if plants are in a spot that doesn’t receive enough natural light. Even a location three feet away from a window or natural light source may not provide enough usable light for a plant. Likewise, artificial lighting loses impact the farther it is from the source.
Choose a full-spectrum or specialty grow light designed for horticultural use—a standard LED bulb is not a grow light. Place most LED grow lights 12 to 14 inches away from the plant or seed bed, but always check the package for specific directions. Placing a light too close can burn the leaves.
Multiple lights may be necessary to adequately cover all leaves. If only one light is used, rotate your plant regularly and adjust the height of the light as the plant grows.
Most plants require long days, meaning more light than dark, with exceptions such as Christmas cactus and poinsettias, which need less daylight. Generally, if you have some natural light, run the grow light for 12 hours on and 12 hours off. With little or no natural light, run the grow light for 16 hours on and eight hours off.
