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12 Grow Lights That'll Keep Your Plants Thriving All Year Long

Grow healthy plants year-round no matter how much natural light your home has.

Various types of grow lights illuminating potted plants
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

As the days grow shorter and less natural light is available for your indoor plants, it's important to find a supplemental light source to ensure they thrive through winter. That's where grow lights come in. Grow lights mimic the sun's rays, giving your plants enough sunlight to flourish year-round.

This doesn't just keep your ornamental houseplants happy; it also gives you the opportunity to extend your harvesting season. Grow summer fruits and vegetables indoors under grow lights and keep harvesting the tomatoes, cucumbers, and other edibles you grow in summer.

Grow lights also allow you to start seeds indoors, giving you a jump start on spring gardening. About six weeks before the first frost in your region, sow seeds in seed trays and place them under grow lights for germination. Once spring arrives, you can transplant the seedlings outdoors for a faster bloom than when sowing them directly outdoors.

  • Virginia Hayes, indoor plant expert and retail showroom manager at Westerlay Orchids
  • Robert Silver, master gardener and head of the horticulture department at MiraCosta College

Types of Grow Lights

When it comes to grow lights, there are several options to choose from, says Virginia Hayes, indoor plant pro and retail showroom manager at Westerlay Orchids.

  • LED: These lights are energy-efficient and have a low heat output.
  • Incandescent: These lights have a high amount of heat, which uses more energy.
  • Fluorescent: These lights come in various forms and produce a full spectrum of light ideal for plants. 
  • HID: Compared to other grow lights, this option is superior at simulating natural light.

Here are some of the top recommended grow lights for indoor plants, straight from the pros.

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Mars Hydro Grow Light for Indoor Plants

An LED grow light designed for indoor horticulture
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

Perfect for gardeners who start their plants from seed, this grow light has a full spectrum of blue light, IR light, and red light to help your plants from germination to budding and flowering. Plus, its uniform light coverage allows more light to penetrate the plants without burning them.

02 of 12

GE Grow Lights for Indoor Plants

Product packaging for GE grow light LED bulbs featuring design elements for plant growth promotion
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

If you don't want to disrupt the aesthetics of your home with a bulky grow light, consider this option from GE. These LED grow light bulbs can be screwed into most standard table or floor lamps, allowing you to blend form and function. The lights appear white, but have a red- and blue-light spectrum ideal for growing ornamental and edible plants indoors.

03 of 12

Wolezek Grow Lights for Indoor Plants

Two LED grow light bars with a control dial and USB power adapter
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

If you're short on space, this sleek grow light bar offers broad illumination without taking up room on your windowsills, countertops, or end tables. The package includes screws, zip ties, and double-sided table, allowing you to conveniently install the lights on plant racks, under cabinets, or on walls. Each light strip delivers full-spectrum lighting, covering wavelengths from 380nm to 800nm, supporting indoor plants at all stages.

04 of 12

Leoter Adjustable Gooseneck Grow Light

Flexible grow light with four adjustable arms positioned over a potted plant placed on a book
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

No set up or installation is necessary with this grow light. Simply clip it onto a table or planter and adjust the lights as needed. The gooseneck design and built-in dimmers allow you to control how much or how little light your plants receive, meaning you can group plants with different sunlight requirements together.

05 of 12

Philips Hue Go Smart Portable Dimmable Table Lamp

Philips Hue Go
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

This portable light is a great option for anyone wanting a versatile indoor grow light, says Robert Silver, master gardener and head of the horticulture department at MiraCosta College. The Hue Go comes with a wide range of color choices, including warm, cool, and vibrant options. "You can control the Hue Go with a smartphone app or voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, making it easy to customize your lighting on the go," he says. Additionally, this light runs on a battery, meaning you're not limited to areas with electric outlets.

06 of 12

LORDEM Desk Grow Light

Lordem desk LED grow light on orange background
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

This compact grow light is ideal for use on tables and desks for your tabletop potted plants. And just because it's compact doesn't mean the light is small—this lamp still boasts a 6.3-inch, 72 LED full-spectrum plant light. There are four dimmable settings to achieve the brightness your plant needs, as well as the ability to adjust the lamp’s height and an auto on/off timer.

07 of 12

GYTF Halo Plant Grow Light

Halo Plant Grow Light, 6000K White LED on a light green background
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

A great budget-friendly option, this grow light comes equipped with six red, six blue, and 36 white LED beads to mimic bright, full-spectrum sunlight. It's also adjustable and rotates 180 degrees to easily customize the angle at which your plants receive light.

08 of 12

Feit Electric Adjustable Spectrum Linkable Plant Grow Light Fixture

Feit Electric Adjustable Spectrum Linkable Plant Grow Light Fixture
Credit:

Courtesy of Home Depot

This 32-watt LED fixture allows users to adjust the lighting to fit all stages of growth, from seedling to blooming. Each light covers a 2-square-foot radius, and you can connect up to five fixtures at a time. Thanks to the LED technology, you'll use less energy, even when running multiple units. 

09 of 12

Dommia Full-Spectrum LED Grow Lights

Dommia Full-Spectrum LED Grow Lights
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

If you're planning to put your grow lights on a bookshelf, you can't go wrong with this ultra-thin panel, says Hayes. The full-spectrum, energy-efficient fixture comes outfitted with 132 LED bulbs that emit all wavelengths from 380nm to 780nm, similar to natural sunshine. It generates less heat than other types of grow lights, so you can place it closer to plants than some other grow lights.

10 of 12

Goto Direct GooingTop LED Grow Light

GooingTop Direct GooingTop LED Grow Light
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

You don't need a lot of space to set up an indoor growing area when you use this desktop fixture. The full-spectrum lights sit on two gooseneck handles that attach to a simple clamp, making it easy to attach to a desk, table, or countertop. There is an automatic timer that controls the LED lights. Each bar consists of 10 red and 74 white LEDs. 

11 of 12

Lordem Gull-Spectrum LED Grow Light

Lordem Gull-Spectrum LED Grow Light
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

This option emits a halo of warm white LED light, perfect for gardening enthusiasts with limited space. Three different timer settings and four different dimmable options ensure the brightness is tailored to whatever plant you have underneath it. 

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LBW Full-Spectrum Glow Light With Stand

LBW Full-Spectrum Glow Light With Stand
Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon

This tripod LED light fixture comes with 12 red, four blue, 16 warm white, and 16 cold white bulbs, and features a single light panel that directs light onto your plants. Best used for single large plants, the adjustable tripod can be raised or lowered to ensure your plant is getting the perfect amount of light. 

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