Plants need a few key elements to thrive, including moisture, nutrients, and, of course, sunlight. While you can provide your indoor starters or tropical plants with water and fertilizer, it's not always possible to give them enough light. And for those with limited outdoor growing seasons, starting plants indoors is the only way to enjoy hot-season crops like tomatoes in the summertime. The solution? Led Grow Lights. To learn more, keep reading our buying guide. Our favorite is from Phlizon, which provides plants with the light they require for photosynthesis without putting a strain on your energy bill. Considerations when choosing LED Grow Lights Plant needs Unless you have a room that receives plenty of direct sunlight for at least eight hours, you'll need to invest in grow lights for your plants. Even plants placed on a sunny windowsill may not receive adequate sunlight. In some cases, a windowsill may be the worst place for your greenery, especially if you live in a locale with frosty winters. Whether you're starting seeds or attempting to keep tropical plants alive, LED grow lights are ideal because they emit quality light for your plants, and they don't become ultra-hot like other types of lighting. Advantages of LED lights Energy-efficient: LED lights use significantly less energy than other types of grow lights. Recyclable: These types of grow lights are recyclable once they burn out and can no longer be used for your indoor plants. Long-lasting: They don't need frequent replacing, and in many cases last for more than a decade. Safe: Unlike incandescent lighting fixtures, LED lights don't become as hot to the touch, so they're safe for use around plants. That said, because they don't emit much heat, you may need to invest in heat mats if you encounter temperature-control problems. Careful high-powered LED lights may produce heat and may require you to invest in temperature-control tools. Some high-powered grow lights have built-in fans, but these do tend to produce a lot of noise. Features Wattage: Required wattage depends on the number and types of plants you intend to grow in a specified area. Sun-loving plants, like eggplants and tomatoes, require as much as 32 watts of light per square foot. Greens, like lettuce and kale, are capable of thriving with fewer watts of light. Full-spectrum lighting: While full-spectrum lights aren't required for growing plants indoors, they are the best replacement for natural sunlight. Full-spectrum lights are not necessary for seed starting. If you plan to support your indoor plants for their entire lifecycle, though, opt for full-spectrum lights to ensure your plants are healthy from seed to fruiting. Semiconductor chip: This component of LED grow lights transforms electricity into visible light. A quality chip ensures your lights will last for many seasons. Opt for lights that feature semiconductor chips with at least three watts of power. Special settings: Some LED grow lights are dimmable, so the amount of light emitted can be customized for the plant(s) in question. Specific models have specialty settings like a "bloom" lighting option, which adjusts the type of light to the plant's growth stage. Price LED grow lights cost between $10 to more than $500, but most hobby growers shouldn't need lights costing more than $100. Cheaper models offer lower wattage. Higher-priced lights offer higher wattage and full-spectrum lighting.
