Best Grow Lights for Your Urban Garden

(Editor’s note: we get paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links on this page. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps us keep the lights on over here. Thank you for your support!)

Growing indoor plants has never been easier, thanks to the ever-innovative gardening implements that simulate ideal growing conditions for plants.

From sowing seeds in water to raising seedlings with artificial light, planting is now possible without the once incumbent natural growing conditions.

Traditionally, gardeners would ensure all the natural components needed for gardening were available to yield a hearty harvest. But with the advancement in technology, now growers have the liberty to grow all kinds of crops throughout the year.

They don’t have to wait for a particular season or look forward to the next rain to sow seeds. They can create whatever environment they need for their crops to thrive.

Apartment dwellers and people living in draughty suburban homes are the biggest beneficiaries of grow lights. They get to produce all kinds of crops by illuminating the garden with grow lights.

Whether you want to grow houseplants, herbs or vegetables and fruits, you can grow them all even if your home doesn’t receive ample sunlight. With grow lights, a grower can control not only the amount of light the crops get but also the temperature and intensity of heat that the plants receive.

Though beneficial, natural sunlight cannot be accurately controlled to provide just the right amount of lumens to a growing harvest, which can be damaging for a wide range of plants.

To save light-sensitive plants from harsh light, grow lights offer an effective solution. Therefore, many growers who get sufficient daylight to grow crops rely on grow lights for their produce because those give them absolute control over the brightness and temperature in their garden.

And thanks to the energy-efficient LED lights, urban gardeners get to provide safe energy to their plants without harming the environment, which couldn’t be effectively done with CFL systems.

With that said, some compact fluorescent grow lights are better at efficiently consuming energy than others, which is why those are still being used.

To give you an in-depth low-down on the best indoor grow lights of both varieties, we decided to round up the top solutions for you.

Our comprehensive buying guide will give you all the information you need about a particular product and help you make the right lighting choice for your urban garden.

Here are the top grow lighting systems for indoor plants.

Best Overall – Hydrofarm Agrobrite Fluorowing Compact Fluorescent System

(Editor’s note: we get paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links above. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps us keep the lights on over here. Thank you for your support!)

Featured Specs

• Type: Compact fluorescent
• Lumens: 7000
• Color: White
• Power: 125 watt

Benefits

The bright Fluorowing compact fluorescent daylight system comes with a dew guard that protects the bulb, ensuring an uninterrupted throw of light.

The bulb used in the Hydrofarm Agrobite Compact Fluorescent system radiates full-spectrum light, which is ideal for healthy plant growth. The high lumen power CFL grow setup uses a mogul base to bear high temperatures easily. 

The Hydrofarm Agrobite CFL system also features a compact reflector that helps distribute light evenly in all directions. Its CSA certified so that you can use it for your in-home plants without hesitation.

Drawbacks

Some users of the Hydrofarm Agrobrite Compact Fluorescent system have had issues with the lifespan of the bulb.

So there is a high possibility that the lamp may give out sooner than expected; however, the manufacturers replace it if the customer asks for it. 

Extra Features

The high voltage compact fluorescent lighting system comes with hanging hardware and junction box. It also features an eight-inch power cord that ensures safe electrical input into the set.

Buying Advice

For gardeners looking to light up their indoor garden with vivid lights, this Hydrofarm Agrobrite Compact Fluorescent Lighting System is the ultimate choice, especially if they wish to focus their gardening efforts on flowering rather than growing vegetables.

The spectrum of a grow light hugely impacts blooming plants.

For healthy plant growth, a grower needs to provide full-spectrum light to their crops; therefore, the high energy CFL grow light bulbs used in this product are the perfect lighting solution for indoor plants as they reflect full-spectrum light.

You should invest in this Hydrofarm Agrobrite product to yield a hearty harvest at home.

Runner up – Hydrofarm Agrobrite Fluorescent 4 Tube Grow Light System

(Editor’s note: we get paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links above. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps us keep the lights on over here. Thank you for your support!)

Featured Specs

• Type: Compact Fluorescent 
• Lumens: 8000
• Color: White
• Power: 24 watts x 4

Benefits

The blinding compact fluorescent light set is perfect for dark and draughty homes. The wide aluminum tray holding the four T5 tubes makes light distribution better and more even.

The Hydrofarm Agrobrite T5 fluorescent four-tube grow light system comes with a powder-coated steel housing that makes for a sturdy and durable system. It is a high-performance flexible lighting system that you can hang multiple ways to meet the needs of your garden. 

The full daylight 6400k spectrum tubes featured in this product effectively substitute natural light, allowing plants to thrive in any growing environment.

Whether it’s the dead of winter or the peak of summer, with Hydrofarm newest T5 system, you can grow all kinds of crops all year round.

Drawbacks

One common complaint against the new Hydrofarm T5 system is the poor durability of the ballast used. Many users of the product have taken up this issue with the manufacturers, but most complaints have gone unaddressed.

So, if you also end up with a faulty ballast, you might have to find a solution yourself to save your plants from dying because the manufacturers may not respond soon enough.

With that said, fixing a defected ballast is not too challenging; you can ask an electrician to fix it for you.

Extra Features

The super-bright Hydrofarm lighting solution comes with provisions that allow the user to set it up in three ways.

The multiple hanging configurations offered by this product make it functional for any indoor space. Plus, the product provides double the light energy of typical fluorescent systems.

Buying Advice

If you have a tricky indoor garden space that doesn’t have enough room to hand elaborate lighting systems, this Hydrofarm high-power lighting system is the right choice for you.

Its three way-hanging configurations will allow you to place it anyway and provide your planters with all the light they need. 

Alternative – Hydrofarm Agrobrite Compact Fluorescent Spiral Grow Lamp

(Editor’s note: we get paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links above. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps us keep the lights on over here. Thank you for your support!)

Featured Specs

• Type: Compact fluorescent
• Lumens: 1800
• Color: white
• Power: 32 watt

Benefits

The Agrobrite high-intensity light bulb is an economical lighting solution for indoor plants.

It fits any light fixture with a medium base, so the user doesn’t need to invest in an expensive installation exclusively for the bulb. CFL fixtures can be quite pricey, which is why an easy-to-fit bulb is a perfect solution to save your hard-earned money. 

The Hydrofarm 32 watt grow lamp brightens up any indoor space instantly and is ideal for focused lighting on small seedlings.

It produces up to 1800 lumens and can last up to 10000 hours. The 4000 Kevin colored light creates a desirable environment that ensures optimal plant growth in any kind of dark space.

Drawbacks

Although the manufacturers claim that this product lasts a while, many users have had a different experience.

Though extremely bright, the Agrobrite 32 watt bulb can run out sooner than the timespan mentioned on the pack. But for just 15 dollars a piece, the Hydrofarm Agrobrite 32 watt spiral glow lamp offers a pretty decent deal.

Extra Features

The 6400k colored spectrum light that this product puts out significantly aids vegetative growth, starting seedlings, and maintaining houseplants.

Buying Advice

If you are a strict container gardener, then you need to expose your plants to direct light. And for that, the Hydrofarm Agrobrite spiral glow lamp is the best solution. It will allow you to throw localized light over your seedlings, giving them ideal surrounding conditions to thrive.

LED Winner – Juhefa FULL SPECTRUM LED Grow Lights

(Editor’s note: we get paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links above. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps us keep the lights on over here. Thank you for your support!)

Featured Specs

• Type: LED
• Lumens: 2750
• Color: Light chips: 47 Red 19Blue 3UV 3IR 3White
• Power: 25 watts

Benefits

The LED Full Spectrum Panel Grow Lamp with IR & UV offers everything you need to grow healthy indoor plants. Its broad light chip holding panel puts out far-reaching full-spectrum light that supplements every planting stage.

The three white 6500k aids photosynthesis, while the 3 IR 730-750 nanometers facilitates flower and fruit growth.

Moreover, the 3 UV 390-395 nanometers promote seeding and sterilization, whereas the 19 blue 460-470 nanometers stimulates plant growth. Lastly, the 47 red 620-660 nanometers encourage blooming and fruiting.

This LED light solution is excellent for all kinds of houseplants, but they are the best grow lights for succulents.

The high cost-and-energy efficient lighting solution covers a vast area, providing light to multiple plants simultaneously. Furthermore, it can be used to grow plants in soil or water (hydroponically); either way, it will ensure optimal plant growth.

The LED Full Spectrum Panel Grow Lamp features a strong ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ) material body that keeps the panel durable and allows effective heat dissipation. It’s super easy to install; all you need to do is hand it up using the attached hanging kits.

It’s an excellent cost-effective indoor lighting solution for all kinds of urban gardens.

Drawbacks

One serious drawback of the LED panel glow lamp is the internal power supply instead of external. That is, the light chips are powered internally, making it difficult for the user to replace them in case one runs out.

Secondly, some people find it to be not bright enough, so they need to add additional lighting panels to increase the overall brightness provided to plants.

Extra features

The LED full spectrum panel grow lamp comes with a sturdy steel hanging kit and four ropes so that you can easily hang the board over your plants and give them direct light.

Buying Advice

For the wholesome growth of indoor plants, this LED lighting solution is undoubtedly one of the best LED grow lights on the market.

It offers on target lighting that enhances all aspects of planting. If you are looking for comprehensive grow lights, consider investing in this product without any second thoughts.

LED Runner up – Elaine LED Grow Light for Indoor Plant

(Editor’s note: we get paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links above. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps us keep the lights on over here. Thank you for your support!)

Featured Specs

• Type: LED
• Lumens: 800
• Color: Red/Blue full spectrum
• Power: 60 watts

Benefits

The Elaine 60 watt LED Full Spectrum Grow Light with auto on and off comes with a never-ending list of features that make indoor planting a piece of cake. It’s a compact lamp with a 360-degree flexible gooseneck that allows the user to fix the lamp in any direction conveniently.

The powerful clip with soft pad design attached to the lamp makes it super easy to attach the grow light to a table edge or a board or any other planting implement you use to line your plants.

Another incredible aspect of this multifaceted product is the rotatable lamp holder so you can supply light to your plants every which way.

This lighting product by Elaine also offers quick and effective heat dissipation. And the high-quality materials used in it save energy and significantly control electricity bills.

It has two lighting switches that allow the user to either keep both lights on or just one. Have the sun in your home with the blinding LED lamp.

The high power LED lighting solution also features five dimming options suitable for all stages of any plantation. You can set the light on 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 100% brightness as per your gardening needs.

One of the best aspects of this product, which makes it supremely user-friendly, is the auto-cycle-memory-timing function. The said function allows the user to turn the lamp on or off on repeat timings. So in case you forget to light the lamp, it will light up automatically.

Drawbacks

Since this product entails multiple automation, many users have had complaints of those not working correctly.

In most cases, the power button and the timing control panel didn’t function. You might also encounter a similar problem, but then you can ask for a replacement from the manufacturer.

Extra Features

The full spectrum rotatable LED lamp comes with an advanced timing control feature that allows the user to set the time for turning the light on and off automatically. This feature makes the LED lamp by Elaine best for frequent travelers.

Buying Advice

The LED lamp offers a plethora of benefits from full-spectrum light and dimming controls to high power light and auto timing control setup. Investing in such a versatile product is definitely a prudent choice that will help you yield healthy crops all year round.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Grow Lights

How do I choose an indoor grow light?

Indoor gardening involves the use of many tools and utensils that are not needed in traditional landscaping. The idea is to create an environment similar to the natural setting that plants grow in to trick them into growing inside enclosed spaces.

While most other natural components needed to grow indoor plants are relatively more uncomplicated, supplying abundant light to plants can be challenging, thanks to the multiple features of light that need to be matched with sunlight.

Those include the temperature and intensity of the artificial light. Plus, a gardener must also consider the needs of their crops in order to create an ideal lighting setup.

When choosing a grow light, keeping all of that in mind can make selecting an indoor grow light pretty complicated. However, with a few guidelines, even beginners can pick out the best indoor grow lights for their gardens.

When evaluating growing lights, first consider the location of your plants. Doing so will give you an idea of the current level of light present in that space so you can analyze how much more light will your plants require.

Next, consider the amount of heat your crops require. Some plants prefer warmer climates while others like to be in colder climates.

Before you set out to buy a growing light, read up on your plants’ specific temperature needs. And once you are clear on those, only then pick out a high or low-intensity lighting solution.

You also need to consider the spectrum of light offered by a lighting product. Understanding the light spectrum can be difficult and get too technical. In simple words, some lights offer the spectrum values that are needed by plants, which are mentioned on the package of every product.

Typically, A 2700K bulb will be a good starting point for flowers but is not high enough for vegetables. In general, vegetables require 6500K, which is a wide-spectrum option.

Cost is also an essential factor to think about when choosing a growing light. LED lights can be quite expensive, but they save a lot more in the long run while CFLs are cheap but do not last long. Whether you choose to save in the present or the future is up to you.

Lastly, choosing between an LED light and CFL can be tricky. An easy way to do it is by purchasing the lights based on the area you need to cover.

If you need to supply light to a bunch of plants, choose an LED light, but if you need to provide light to a specific plant, go for a CFL system.

Which type of light is best for growing plants?

Typically, two types of grow lights are used in urban gardens: CFLs and LEDs. While many believe that growing with CFLs isn’t as effective as with LEDs, but compact fluorescent lights make for a decent lighting option for houseplant and fairly emulate daylight needed to start seeds.

In planting situations that do not have excessive lighting needs, CFL can work well. However, compact fluorescent bulbs are more suitable for small spaces as they are more effective in providing localized light to plants.

The second commonly used grow lights are LEDs, which are both cost-effective and energy-efficient. Although they cost more than the typical CFL lights, they make up for it by saving electricity and lasting five times longer than CFLs.

Many people assume that they can use a regular LED to grow plants, but that’s not the case. You need a specialized LED to grow plants that’s available at garden centers or horticulture suppliers.

LED lights provide much higher-intensity light than CFLs and offer full-spectrum lighting. And they also do not produce a lot of heat, keeping the temperature in an indoor garden under control.

While both grow lights are used in homes, LEDs are the preferred ones. However, it’s not set in stone. You can use fluorescent lights if you think they will better meet the requirements of your garden.

A rule of thumb that you can choose to decide on the type of light you should buy for your houseplants is by considering the number of plants you want to light up.

If you want concentrated light in just one area, go for CFLs, and if you wish to have spread out light, choose an LED lighting system.

Can any LED light be used as a grow light?

No, a regular LED light cannot be used as a grow light. Grow lights are specially designed to meet the growing requirements of plants and simulate daylight. A standard LED light doesn’t match the horticulture needs that are necessary for a grow light.

The carefully put-together colored lights in a grow light system have the essential properties that enhance plant growth. Therefore, if you want to get an LED grow light, be sure to get one from a horticulture supplier.

Can I leave my grow light on 24 hours?

Many novice growers make the mistake of leaving their grow light on 24 hours because their plants do not respond well if the light is supplied for less than 24 hours.

While doing so may seem like a wise thing to do, it can interfere with your plants’ ability to effectively carry out respiration. Being exposed to light for such long durations can do more harm than good to plants.

To draw a comparison, consider the sunlight that plants get naturally. It only shines over crops for half the day, and for the other half, they remain in the dark. You need to follow a similar lighting pattern to ensure optimal plant growth.

If your plants aren’t responding to less than 24 hours of light exposure, then get a higher-intensity grow light or feed ample nutrients to your plants, but do not leave your grow light on for the entire day.

Doing so will not benefit your plants, but will drain the power from your grow lights.

Conclusion

Using the right grow lights in your urban garden can make a world of difference in the health of your plants.

When you set out to buy grow lights for your houseplants, be sure to factor in all the necessary considerations before making a choice. And if you are a novice planter, get your hands on any of the mentioned products without worrying, and they’ll surely serve you well.

---