For users, high-quality, high-efficiency grow lights that produce more light and less heat are the best choice for everyone when growing fill light.
Understanding basic light levels and how different plants respond to light is the first step to being able to successfully garden indoors. People and plants “see” and use light in different ways, a light that looks very bright to people may not be very effective for plant growth, grow lights need to provide light to plants in the correct spectral range In order to promote the plant to carry out good photosynthesis.
Grow lights must also provide enough light intensity for the types of plants we grow, so high-quality, high-efficiency grow lights that produce more light and less heat are our best choices. New innovations in LED grow light technology make it ideal for growing seedlings, leafy greens and herbs, and small fruits indoors.
Edible plants require more light than regular houseplants. If your indoor light levels are low to medium and your light source is further away from your plants, this environment is suitable for growing leafy greens and shade-tolerant herbs. Sun-loving leafy herbs, such as basil and thyme, require higher light levels indoors and are closer to a light source. Fruiting plants such as tomatoes, peppers, and citrus require the highest levels of light intensity.
Grow Lighting Tip: We can increase light levels by moving plants closer to grow lights to simulate full sun conditions, or lower light levels by moving plants away from grow lights to simulate partial sun to shade condition.
Plant leafy greens and herbs, and if you’re just starting out, try growing tropical and edible plants that require less light, such as many varieties of leafy greens, lettuce, marsh (corn salad), watercress, spinach, and kale, etc. , they can grow in moderate light levels. If you consider growing these vegetables in an outdoor garden, they can grow successfully in some low-shade conditions, and this also applies to carrots such as parsley, cilantro, and fennel, as well as mint. Some edibles, such as leafy greens, can be grown indoors on bright windowsills, but in areas with less natural light, you’ll need plant fill lights for a good harvest.
Most leafy greens and herbs have a compact to medium-sized growth habit, making them ideal for small spaces like kitchens or living room corners. Keep your light source away from these leafy crops, as they don’t need intense light levels to thrive. Use a light timer to keep your plant lights on for about 12 hours a day, and if your small garden is next to a bright window, you can reduce the amount of time you have to turn on the lights each day.
Germinate seeds and grow microgreens. When we’re ready to start planting new seedlings or growing fresh microgreens, we need to increase light levels. Seedlings are light-loving to ensure strong roots: they need long periods of full light to germinate successfully and vigorously. Many times, budding growers try to sprout seedlings without adequate light, resulting in brittle, leggy seedlings that eventually fall over and die.
Use a light timer to keep your grow lights on an average of 12-16 hours a day to give your seedlings enough light to grow. If your small garden is near bright windows, keep the lights on for about 10 hours. If you don’t have much natural light in your space, you can use grow lights for up to 16 hours, then watch your seedlings to see how they are actually growing and then adjust the fill light time.
