Growing Indoors with Grow Lights

Can you grow vegetables indoors with grow lights?
What lights are best for growing vegetables indoors?
How many hours a day should seedlings be under a grow light?
Can you leave grow lights on 24 hours a day?
Will any LED light work as a grow light?
How do I choose an indoor grow light?
What light bulb is closest to natural sunlight?
Should I run my grow lights at night?
How much light do you need to grow vegetables indoors?
Can you leave grow lights on 24 hours a day tomatoes?
How do I know if my seedlings are getting too much light?
How far should LED grow lights be from plants?

Can you grow vegetables indoors with grow lights?

With the right amount of light, you can grow your own herbs, leafy greens, and small fruits indoors — even in small spaces. ... If you want to germinate seedlings or grow high-light edibles, such as basil and cherry tomatoes, you'll need to boost your light levels with grow lamps.

What lights are best for growing vegetables indoors?

What Kind of Grow Light is Best?

Fluorescent lights are an effective supplement to natural (window) light. ...
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights are ideal for growing maturing edible plants. ...
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lights: For efficiently growing large numbers of plants, LEDs provide the best results.

How many hours a day should seedlings be under a grow light?

In general, seedlings should receive roughly 14 to 16 hours of light a day when situated in a south-facing window. This can be very difficult to achieve, and most growers opt to use artificial lights for their seedlings. These fluorescent lights should be left on for 12 to 16 hours a day.

Can you leave grow lights on 24 hours a day?

A: In general, you should not leave grow lights on 24/7. Plants need a light-dark cycle to develop properly. It's believed that they truly do “rest” during periods of darkness, and probably use this time to move nutrients into their extremities while taking a break from growing.

Will any LED light work as a grow light?

LED lights are more energy efficient and emit much lower levels of heat than other types of lighting. But can you use any led lights to grow plants? Generally, yes. ... White light contains a great mix for plants, so white LED bulbs will work to grow.

How do I choose an indoor grow light?

Grow lights should provide the proper spectrum of light for photosynthesis, which key to plant growth. Before purchasing a light, be sure to check out the provided color spectrum. Lights that can provide a full spectrum are the ideal choice for your growing space. This is where LED lights come in handy.

What light bulb is closest to natural sunlight?

Halogen bulbs are a type of incandescent that gives a close approximation of natural daylight, known as "white light." Colors appear sharper under halogen light and the bulbs can be dimmed. They're a little more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but they're more expensive and burn at a higher temperature.

Should I run my grow lights at night?

Like the sun's cycle, it is unnecessary to run grow lights around the clock. Yes, some plants need more sunlight than others. ... A good general rule of thumb to remember, if your plant is flowering or a vegetable it needs 12 to 16 hours of light in a day and 8 hours of darkness to rest.

How much light do you need to grow vegetables indoors?

Plants grown indoors require more hours of light than those grown outdoors. 14 to 18 hours of light per day is recommended for most edible species when grown under artificial lighting. Don't be tempted to leave the lights on 24-7, however – at least six hours of darkness each day is essential to plant health.

Can you leave grow lights on 24 hours a day tomatoes?

Tomato plants don't seem to suffer any adverse affects from the 24 hours per day treatment. Keep in mind that 24 hour light will significantly speed up growth which could make a seedling get too large for the pot its in and/or be ready to plant outside well before the weather is agreeable.

How do I know if my seedlings are getting too much light?

Signs your plant may be getting too much light;

Brown leaf edges or tips.
Brown, dry patches on the leaves.
Leaves turn pale or yellow, particularly those most exposed to the light.
Yellowing may be noticeable in the leaf tips first.
Leaf yellowing may not affect the leaf veins initially.

How far should LED grow lights be from plants?

For established plants, they are already where they need to be in order to thrive. During the flowering stage LED Grow lights should be located between 16-36 inches from the plant canopy. Moving the grow light closer will increase the light intensity which can maximize photosynthesis.