Grow Lights

LED Lights

Plants need full-spectrum light to grow, and LED bulbs are extremely efficient at producing it—LEDs emit ideal brightness while giving off very little heat. Myriad plant light kits on the market use different bulbs, but an LED system offers several advantages that position it as the best overall choice.

Fluorescent Lights

Like LED lights, fluorescent lights emit full-spectrum light, and they're generally the second-best choice for grow lights. Fluorescent bulbs require 75% less energy than incandescent lights, but they aren't quite as efficient as LEDs. Narrower tubes are the most efficient fluorescent bulbs—they produce more brightness using less surface area. Fluorescent lights work particularly well for plants that thrive in low- to medium-light conditions.

Incandescent Lights

Incandescent lights are also good for growing low-light houseplants, though they aren't a better choice than LED or fluorescent bulbs. This type of grow light is not ideal for plants with higher light needs, as 90% of their energy is heat and only around 10% is light. Incandescent bulbs are cheaper but less efficient, and because of their high heat output, growing light-loving plants beneath them can lead to scorched foliage.

Halides

Small-scale indoor gardeners generally don't have use for halides, as this type of grow light is typically used in larger spaces. Halides are designed to emit light over larger distances, so unless you have a dedicated grow room, you can get away with using an LED or fluorescent system. One exception, however, would be using a small halide over a large plant.