Best Light Bulbs For Starting Plants

Fluorescent lights are ideal for plants with low to medium light requirements like african violets.

Best light bulbs for starting plants.

T5 fluorescent bulbs t for tubular 5 meaning they measure 5 8 inch in diameter are a common choice for growing plants indoors. To provide light to a few plants on a shelf you may only need a two foot fixture with a single bulb. The ge grow light led bulb delivers up to 16 micromoles per second which is a measure of how much light your plants will be able to utilize for growing and photosynthesis. You can usually find a 4 foot long energy star certified two bulb t8 fixture at retail stores for about 20 plus another.

Be sure the light source is within 6 inches of the plant foliage for the best results. Larger fixtures are rated for increased micromoles but this bulb is still sufficient for both high and low light plants. Newly emerged seedlings and young plants grow well with the aid of full spectrum light both blue wavelengths and red wavelengths. Plants get plenty of light when grown within 2 inches beneath t8 bulbs.

They can be used in reflectors sized to hold from one to eight bulbs in two to four foot reflecting fixtures. Special led and fluorescent grow lights will work but so will less expensive fluorescent tube bulbs. These lights typically come in long tubelike bulbs in a range of sizes including t5 t8 and t12. The narrower the bulb the more efficient and brighter it is due to the smaller surface area.