Growing plants inside is a great way to put you in greater control of the growing process, but there are a lot of variables that go into growing plants indoors. Fortunately, when you choose the right plant stand and grow light, you'll maximize your space and keep your plant healthy even without natural sunlight.
What Are Plant Stands and Grow Lights?
A plant stand is an object you can use to display and elevate your indoor plants. Many different types of plant stands are available in varying shapes, sizes and colors to fit your needs. Plants stands can also contain grow lights to provide more growing options throughout the year, especially in areas with limited sunlight.
A grow light is a lightbulb that can provide a light spectrum that mimics natural sunlight or a customized spectrum of light to fit your plant's specific growing needs.
What Are the Main Types of Plant Stands?
Investing in a plant stand will raise your plants off the ground for easier maintenance and allow them to grow taller and flow over the planter. The main types of plant stands are:
- Multi-tier plant stands: Multi-tier plant stands allow you to grow more without taking up valuable space. Choose from two tot here tiers to meet your growing needs.
- Tabletop growing stands: These stands are compact and lightweight to easily fit on a counter or table for a convenient growing option.
- Grow light plant carts: Grow light plant carts are available in single and multiple tiers and feature wheels for easy movement around your home or growing space.
What Are the Different Types of Grow Lights?
Grow lights are a great way to mimic natural sunlight to stimulate plant growth. However, not all artificial lights will create the best conditions for plant growth. Knowing the difference between these types of light bulbs will allow you to choose the best one for your growing situation.
LED Lights
Light-emitting diodes (LED) are a popular lighting choice for professional and hobbyist planters. LED lights emit little to no heat and don't require a large power supply to operate. Growers can program their LED bulbs to mimic the color temperature of sunlight and simultaneously produce light in the red and blue spectrums to assist with growing vegetables and flowers.
Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent light bulbs are an ideal lighting option for plants with low to medium lighting requirements. Several newer models of fluorescent light bulbs offer a wide light spectrum for all-purpose growing. As you explore the difference between compact fluorescent lights (CFL) versus fluorescent tube growing lights, keep in mind what types of plants you will be growing. CFL lights are ideal for small growing spaces, while fluorescent tubes emit a broad light spectrum at a lower wattage for an economical lighting option.
Incandescent Bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs are ideal for low light plants or combined use with natural light in a well-light room. If you have a variety of low-light plants, an incandescent light bulb is an excellent option because these bulbs are on a continuous spectrum, meaning all visible colors are present. These bulbs also emit high amounts of heat, making it a good idea to place your plant at least a few feet away from the bulb to keep them healthy.
High-Intensity Discharge Lights
High-intensity discharge (HID) lights pass electricity through a gas-filled tube and provide the brightest amount of light possible. While HID lights are an efficient lighting option, they emit a lot of heat, which means you'll have to be careful where and how close you place your lights to your plants.
High-pressure sodium lights (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) are the most popular HID grow lights in the commercial greenhouse industry. HPS lights emit a red or orange hue and are ideal for encouraging plants to flower. On the other hand, MH lights operate on the blue range of the spectrum and promote vegetative growth. Many growers use an MH light to promote leafy growth before switching to an HPS light to help plants flower.
Do Grow Lights Really Work?
A grow light helps your plants or crops flourish without high amounts of natural light. Grow lights are energy-efficient and durable to meet the exact needs of your plants. Unlike the sun, the intensity of a grow light also remains constant to ensure your plant receives direct light for the recommended amount of time each day. Grow lights are ideal for various growing options, from seedlings to already established plants.
Are Grow Lights Different From Natural Lights?
The goal of grow lights is to replicate the effects of natural sunlight to help your plants flourish. Sunlight contains the complete spectrum of light, which includes all colors of the rainbow. Many grow lights mimic this light spectrum and produce a balance of cool and warm light similar to natural sunlight.
The main benefit of using artificial lights is that they allow you to grow plants indoors that, under normal circumstances, you couldn't keep inside due to a lack of light. Grow lights also give your plants a growing advantage and let you adapt your lighting to your plant's lighting needs. For example, the option to add red wavelengths of light allows you to purchase and enjoy flowering plants.
Since you can grow plants nearly anywhere with a grow light system, you'll want to make sure your setup is safe for yourself and your plants. If you have a lot of lamps in a small space, it's helpful to invest in some ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets to prevent the risk of an electric shock while watering.
It's also a good idea to have a backup energy source in case of a power failure. While your plants will be okay for a few hours without their lamps, having an additional energy source will ensure they remain healthy until you can connect your lamps to a main source of power again.
What Plants Do Best Under Grow Lights?
If your current houseplant collection is growing or you'd like to start your vegetable harvest indoors to get a head start for spring, growing lights are a great option. The trick to flourishing plants is knowing which plants are best suited for artificial light. Fruit and vegetable options that thrive under grow lights include:
- Spinach: Spinach is an easy vegetable to grow under artificial light because of its fast growth rate and limited need for maintenance.
- Blueberries: Blueberries thrive under artificial lights and remain compact while growing to help you save space in your indoor growing area.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes enjoy the warmth a grow light produces to thrive in indoor growing environments.
- Strawberries: Strawberry plants prosper with the additional light a grow light provides to produce sweet, juicy berries.
- Bell peppers: The light and warmth a grow light provides can produce big and healthy bell peppers.
- Cucumbers: Cucumbers are a relatively easy plant to grow under artificial lights and will flourish as long you give them enough water and nutrients.
Purchase a Grow Light or Plant Stand From Harris Seeds Today!
Whether you'd like to make your indoor plants flourish or you're looking to get a head start on growing your garden from seeds, grow lamps from Harris Seeds will allow your plants to thrive. We also offer many plant stand options to help you save space while improving your lighting setup. Shop from our variety of grow lights, plant stands and light fixtures to help your garden grow today!
