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mamachow

Space saving grow light options

9 years ago

I want to put a grow light indoors and wanted to know what the best options are for the ones that go as a single screw on light bulb and not the fluorescent tubes.

I don't have the space for a plant stand with the tubes so was hoping for other options to save space.

Anyone know some options they are using that doesn't require much space?

Does this CFL light bulb work?

Comments (7)

  • 9 years ago

    It would work but I think it is too 'weak' - get at least 23W (that is equivalent to 100W incandescent). 6500k is good.

    I do not really understand what else you like to know? You just have to have it above the plant and that's all...

  • 9 years ago

    I just see most peoples setup with big, multi level shelves and shop lights.

    For space, I was wondering if people have smaller set ups. If they have some hacks they have done. I'm thinking now it would be like a floor lamp pointing to the succulents.

    I inquired in the forum about someone's plant stand with legs that sit on table, but I haven't had any luck at Lowe's or Home Depot or Walmart.

  • 9 years ago

    You can also try Home Hardware for that sort of stand if you are in Canada.

    Honestly, you can make your own with PVC or something similar. Buy a cheap 4ft double bulb shop light and go nuts.

  • 9 years ago

    I made a simple stand for a 4 foot light with a bent coat hanger... will try to get a photo later... It was based off a commercial one I saw for seed-starting lights.

  • 9 years ago

    CFL's work, there's also LED's that are and aren't being sold as grow lights that are interchangeable with vanilla household fixtures. Higher wattage the better...

    The choice of light isn't the only issue tho, distance from bulb to the plant is something to take into consideration. Plants that are too far away from a light source can render the lighting ineffective.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You can get a floor lamp or a desk lamp or any hanging light - anything that fits your space. There are also clip-on lights that are good to use.

    I have CFL lightbulbs in vanity strips, they are available in various lengths (4 bulbs is my shortest, and 10 bulb longest I have). But that will be similar to a fluoro tubes which you say you don't have space for, they hang from above, over the plants on shelves.

    I try to avoid using supplemental lights as much as possible but need to during cold months. I take all plants outdoors as soon as temps stay constantly around 50*F during night. Sunlight is the best IMO :)

    With outdoors light or indoors lighting, you need to acclimatize plants to better light.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Most standard LEDs are not suitable for plants. Simply the wrong spectrum and intensity.

    As Fastlink mentioned, distance from the bulb is important. The reason so many folks use tubes is because they make it possible to put many plants in close proximity to the light source -- no more than 8" away for high light plants (and often far closer). That is impossible with the type of bulb you have shown unless you are only doing a few small plants. This is because light intensity is inversely proportionate to the square of the distance. (So a plant that is 12 inches away from the light source is only receiving 1/4 the light intensity of a plant that is 6 inches away from the source.) With this in mind, whether a bulb like that you have shown is a good choice or not will depend upon how many plants you are hoping to service with that light and what their light requirements are.

    Btw, growlights are generally a waste of money. A daylight spectrum fluorescent bulb is typically just as good for far less the price.