11 Best Grow Lights for Plants (Plus Which Kind to Choose!)

It’s that time of year and many of us (myself included) are gearing up to start seedlings indoors. These are some of the best grow lights for plants, not just for starting seedlings, but also for growing indoor gardens and microgreens!

Wondering if you need grow lights for plants you are growing? Typically, vegetables and fruits will need grow lights, while most common houseplants won’t. The reason that the houseplants most people grow are popular is because they have low lighting requirements, aren’t as picky about watering, and are overall some of the easiest, and hardiest plants to grow.

If you think about it, when you are growing edible plants for food, you are placing much higher demands on them. A houseplant is just expected to sit there and look pretty. If, on the other hand, you are growing plants for food, you want them to produce fruit or quickly grow new leaves. They are going to need some light to do that!

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Do You Need Grow Lights to Start Seeds Indoors?

To start garden seeds indoors, adequate light is essential. Seedlings that don’t receive enough light will be tall, scrawny and “leggy”. They won’t transplant well when the time comes.

I’ve successfully started seedlings in a sunny south facing window before, in two of the houses I’ve lived in. The seedlings were strong enough grown this way, although not nearly as sturdy as seeds started under grow lights.

Personally I prefer using grow lights to start seeds indoors, and then moving them to my unheated greenhouse after they have germinated and it’s warm enough outside. This gives me the best quality seedlings to sell or transplant to my garden.

 

Best Grow Lights for Plants

 

There are so many grow lights for plants available, it can be a little daunting!

Full Spectrum Grow Lights for Plants

Cool colored (blue spectrum) lights promote green vegetative and leaf growth, while warm colored (red/orange spectrum) lights promote flowering in your plants. Cool colored lights look more natural and are more attractive if you are growing plants in your living room.

You can get full spectrum bulbs, or use one warm colored bulb and one cool colored. Full spectrum grow lights for plants work for both starting seedlings and encouraging flowering in mature plants, like natural daylight. For an all-purpose lighting system, go with full spectrum!

 

Types of Grow Lights for Plants

Energy efficiency is a bigger deal for those growing a lot of plants, where the cost savings can really add up to a lot!

There are several different types of grow lights for plants. The most common is fluorescent, but LED grow lights are quickly taking it’s place. HID lights are typically the most energy efficient, but also the most expensive.

LED Grow Lights

LED has become very popular for plant lighting. Most LED lighting systems are full spectrum LED grow lights with both red and blue bulbs. I’ve found that the cheaper LED lights aren’t very effective at promoting plant growth, so it’s worth it to spend a little more for full spectrum LED grow lights with good reviews!

The biggest con to LED grow lights is the bright blue and red lights that can be a little much when used in a living space.

 

Fluorescent Lighting for Plants

When it comes to grow lights for plants, fluorescent lighting is cheap and easy to find. Although it’s considered less energy-efficient than other types of lights, the added heat that it puts out can actually be a bonus for starting seeds indoors.

You can buy fluorescent grow lights, or use regular shop lights as grow lights for plants.

Unlike full spectrum LED grow lights, fluorescent will give a more natural look to a room.

 

HID Lighting For Plants

HID lighting is energy efficient, but can be extremely extensive. It’s the least common of the grow light types covered on this page.

 

Best Grow Lights on Amazon

Amazon has a huge selection of grow lights for plants. Honestly it was a little daunting when I first went shopping for grow lights! These are some of the best grow lights on Amazon.

#1 All-Purpose Grow Light for Plants

My number one recommendation from all the grow lights for plants I’ve personally tried is the iPower T5 fluorescent grow light. It’s really affordable, works well and has a stand, which is hard to find. The stand makes the light easily adjustable, so you can grow anything from seedlings to taller mature plants. It’s full spectrum with a reflective interior, and unlike many grow lights, it has an on/off switch. If I had to pick one, I’d pick the iPower for best grow lights on Amazon!

 

 

#2 Best Grow Lights on Amazon

The FAMURS TF1200 Dimmable LED Grow Light is definitely one of the best grow lights on Amazon. In fact, these might be THE best full spectrum LED grow lights! The smallest size has a 3′ x 3′ full spectrum lighting span, while the largest lights 4’x6′. The Famurs is extremely energy efficient, more so than most HID lights. It’s also really affordable for a high quality grow light.

Personally, the weird colors on LED grow lights drive me crazy in a living space, but the square shape of this one makes it a great option for using inside a grow tent!

 

 

#3 Best Grow Light on Amazon

The TAURUSY TSL300 LED light is another full spectrum LED grow light. It comes in sizes that cover from 2’x2′ up to 6.5’x6.5′, depending on how many plants you need it to cover. The Taurusy is really lightweight, and has an adjustable mounting system for the ceiling. 

It is quiet, waterproof, and has one of the best warranties for grow lights on Amazon.

 

Best Grow Light Stands

These are the best grow lights that comes with stands.

#1 iPower Fluorescent Grow Light with Stand

The iPower earned two spots on this list. My number one recommendation from all the grow lights for plants I’ve personally tried is the iPower T5 fluorescent grow light. It’s really affordable, works well and has a stand, which is hard to find. The stand makes the light easily adjustable, so you can grow anything from seedlings to taller mature plants. It’s full spectrum with a reflective interior, and unlike many grow lights, it has an on/off switch. If I had to pick one, I’d pick the iPower for best grow lights on Amazon!

 

 

 

#2 COOLAPA 80W Four-Head Indoor LED Grow Light

The COOLAPA 80W Four-Head Indoor Full Spectrum LED Grow Light is a plant light with four separate wands mounted on a tripod style grow light stand.

The lights are adjustable, both in position and in light intensity. It also has a timer. This one is great for larger houseplants or indoor fruit trees.

This is one that I haven’t personally tried yet, but plan to due to the excellent 4.5 star reviews. I’m going to try it with my banana trees.

 

 

#3 Individual Full Spectrum Grow Light with Stand

This is one of then most unique grow light stands I’ve found. The light is mounted on an adjustable 7.3-24 inch telescopic pole that sticks right into the soil.

It has a timer and is adjustable, not to mention being really affordable! This is a great option for that special plant you want to give a little extra TLC!

 

 

Best Grow Light for Herbs

The first LED grow light for herbs that I tried was really hard to mount on anything and hardly even helped my plants grow. Here are some better options for a countertop herb garden!

 

#1 Gooingtop Gooseneck Grow Light

Rated one of the best grow lights on Amazon, the Gooingtop has a sturdy clamp for attaching to a countertop. It has two adjustable gooseneck style lights, along with all the bells and whistles – timers, adjustable light intensity and energy efficiency.

 

 

#2 Best Grow Light For Herbs

I really like the look of this grow light/tray system. It makes a really cute countertop grow light for herbs. It doesn’t come with pots, so you can pick your own style there.

This grow light has timers, adjustable height and adjustable light intensity.

 

 

#3 JCBritw Grow Light Bar

This unique design has a grow light bar mounted on a stand. Its slim profile makes it a nice grow light for herbs!

The stand is adjustable and rotates. The manufacturer claims it’s equal to traditional 60 watt HPS/MH while only consuming 13W of energy.

 

 

Best Hydroponic Grow Lights

Although most grow lights can also be mounted above a hydroponics system and used as hydroponic grow lights, these are complete hydroponic systems. This is a great way to grow some fresh food in your home!

If you are looking for hydroponic grow lights to mount above your preexisting hydroponics system, I’d recommend the Famurs or Taurusy LED lights listed under “Best Grow Lights on Amazon” above!

Plant4Table has a really informative video comparing these different hydroponics systems!

 

#1 SereneLife Hydroponic Herb Growing Kit

This is a complete kit with LED hydroponic grow lights, 8 grow baskets and pods. All you need are the seeds of your choice.

The light has a timer and is adjustable up to 13″.

 

 

#2 Gardyn Home Indoor Hydroponic Grow Light System

This system hooks up to Wifi to grow a wide variety of plants indoors. The LED lights are mounted on the front bars and shine back towards the plants.

With this hydroponic grow lights system, you can grow up to 30 large plants in just 2 square feet!

It’s both practical and stylish for a living space, definitely one of the best personal hydroponic systems out there!

 

 

#3 Aero Garden Harvest System

Aero Garden is the most well known and definitely one of the best hydroponic grow lights systems available. The affordable countertop systems come in multiple sizes and styles, and include seeds.

You can’t go wrong with one of these!