If you are growing plants indoors it is important to realise that a) you will need grow lights and b) you will have to carefully consider which are going to be best for your set up. Ultimately not all lamps are created equal and everyone’s growing environment is a little different. This is why it is important to understand the various aspects of grow lighting before making any purchases.

Before taking the time to look for grow lights UK suppliers or international traders it is worth expending the effort to research your purchase.   Lighting can make or break your indoor garden, whether you choose to utilise prefabricated grow tents or have a dedicated growing room in your home.

Types of Light

Light is not purely one colour but is made up of multiple colours along what is called a spectrum. This spectrum is visible when a rainbow is formed due to the refraction of light through water particles. Plants respond to different parts of this rainbow (or spectrum) in different ways meaning that if you are looking for grow lights, you may want to consider purchasing items that produce different colours of light.

Light Colours

Light from the blue part of the spectrum encourages leaf growth and is ideal if you want bushy plants. On the opposite and is red light which causes plants to flower or what is called vegetative growth. Different colours in between will have different effects, apart from green light which is the only band of light that plants do not absorb, which is why they appear green in colour.

Types of Grow Lights

There are numerous grow lights available on the marketing ranging immensely in price and quality. These lights include incandescent, high intensity discharge, sodium, fluorescent, compact fluorescents and LEDS. Each has pros and cons although in general, most gardeners tend to opt for middling to top quality as the cheaper lights tend to be more expensive to run in the long term.

Whatever you are hoping to achieve, taking the time to consider your needs when choosing your grow lights allows you to make the right choice for you and your plants.