The lack of natural light in your home doesn't necessarily mean life without plants - when you invest in LED grow lights. Plants are designed to mimic the sun, which they need for photosynthesis, a process that gives them the energy they need to grow and bloom. LED grow lights produce a full spectrum of light, are long lasting, energy efficient and cool to the touch.
In addition to the many light bulbs on the chain, such as street lamps or Christmas lights, there are LED table lamps for plants in different styles. Additionally, LED grow strips that can be installed under racks and several foot wide panels provide lighting for large grow operations.
Although LED grow lights are often more expensive than other grow lights, for many the benefits are worth the extra cost. Read our tips on choosing the best LED lights and tips to consider before you buy.
The best LED grow lights. What to considerLED grow lights come in many shapes, sizes and styles, so you need to think about where you want to use the light. Among other things, there are self-adhesive LED grow lights and LED clip-on lights for mounting on a shelf or table, as well as classic pendant lights for growing individual plants or a large indoor garden.
You should also consider a more technical grow light when purchasing. Most LED grow lights have full spectrum bulbs that produce cool and warm light to mimic natural sunlight. However, you should look at each product's light output, which is determined by its PPF rating. PPF is the number of photons produced by light per second, and different PPPF values work best for different plant species. For example, in low light, plants and seedlings only need 100-200 PPF, while fruiting vegetables need a higher PPF of 400-500.
Other things to consider when purchasing are the ability to dim the light, whether it has a built in timer and how long it lasts.
How did we decide?In order to find the best grow lights for different situations, we searched for top quality products in a variety of styles. We've evaluated each product based on factors such as size, installation requirements, power consumption and lamp life, selecting user-friendly options for gardeners of all experience levels. We only selected products with an average customer rating of 4 stars or higher and read dozens of reviews to find out how each product performs in real-world applications.
Looking for other ways to grow and display your plants? Check out our stories on the best greenhouse accessories, best plant stands and best raised beds.
Famous mechanics: Courtesy of GrowLED
