Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

HappySprout may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best grow lights for your indoor plants

Rebecca Wolken
By

As the days get cooler and shorter, there’s less available light for our indoor plants.  Without the light they need, once thriving and happy plants can become sad and droopy. To fight this almost inevitable truth, it might be time to consider purchasing some grow lights to help your plant babies live their best lives even during the darker months of the year.

It’s important to remember while shopping for grow lights that they’re not all created equal. Grow lights are built and designed for specific tasks and sometimes for particular plant species, so don’t go and purchase the highest-rated lamp without looking at its specialty. Things to look out for while shopping are wattage, light color spectrum, dimmable modes, and automatic on and off functions.
winter grow lights

Recommended Videos

Best grow light overall

This grow light from EXORKAS is ideal for almost any situation. While that means it might not be the best at one job, it will be the best investment for growers who need a multipurpose product. The four adjustable arms allow you to position the lights at the optimal spot when many similar products only have two arms. There are options for red or blue or both colors to encourage growth and blooming, there are nine dimmable modes, auto turn on and off settings, and you can use this for indoor plants or an indoor garden such as herbs, seed starts, or outdoor potted plants that come inside for the winter. The clip used to mount it to furniture is secure and ensures that you can bring light to almost any spot where your plants might need it. Is the shelf too full of plants to set down a lamp? Clip this one to the side!

Related

Best grow light for herbs

It doesn’t matter what kind of cook you are; there’s nothing better than having fresh herbs in your kitchen to add just the right amount of pop to any dish. Fresh basil, thyme, rosemary, or whatever your favorites are can thrive in the middle of winter with some help from a grow light. Keep that summer-like freshness in your foods with this grow light specifically designed for growing herbs in your kitchen. You’ll also save a ton of money on fresh herbs from the store. The lights are a full-spectrum solar simulator, which isn’t the best for houseplants that might need more for growth or blooming, but is perfect for keeping kitchen herbs happy. It also has an auto-turn-off and on timer and a sleek and stylish design.

Best grow light strip

While there are lamps that look great and will add to the aesthetic of your home design, sometimes it’s best to find an option that you can mount and hideaway, so the focus is always on the plants. These LED grow strips are perfect for anyone looking for an option to stick under a shelf. Each strip is 13.8 by 3 by 2-inches and offers full-spectrum light. In addition, they have an automatic timer for turning the lights on and off without you having to remember every day, and they have adjustable brightness levels to adapt to specific plant needs. You can use the screws included with the purchase, or you can attach them with the double-sided sticky tape included.

grow light bulbs
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best bulb for an existing lamp

Maybe you already have a lamp you’d like to use, or you’d rather find a style of lamp that suits your aesthetic; either way, your best option might be a grow light bulb like this one by GE Lighting Store. You can put this bulb in almost any lamp and turn it into a grow light for your plants. You could even replace the bulbs in your ceiling-mounted fixtures to give your plants the little extra boost they might need all year round. This bulb emits a low amount of heat and has a balanced level of light to help grow everything from seedlings to fully mature house plants. It also doesn’t have the classic red or purplish glow of many grow lights, but instead has a soft and pleasant color that will work as a regular light too.

As we get closer and closer to every gardener’s least favorite time of the year, we can at least rest assured that our indoor plants will be taken care of. Use some or all of these grow lights to improve the life of your indoor plants and watch them flourish, even through darker seasons.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rebecca Wolken
Rebecca Wolken
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca's has written for Bob Villa and a Cincinnati based remodeling company. When she's not writing about home remodeling…
Ensure your succulents thrive in winter with these 4 tips
How to keep your succulents warm and healthy in winter
Succulent in planter

Succulents are known for their hardiness, but they do appreciate extra consideration during the wintertime. Most plants, including succulents and cacti, become dormant during the winter. They need less water, light, and fertilizer, but the trade-off is that they can be damaged by the cold. If you experience especially chilly winters where you live, succulent care can be intimidating. Caring for succulents in winter doesn't need to be difficult, though. These tips and tricks will help ensure your succulents stay happy and healthy even in the coldest months.

Our ultimate guide to thriving succulents
While you might keep your succulents indoors, they're still bound to feel the effects of a seasonal transition. Here's how to make sure the winter weather doesn't hurt your beloved plants.
Cut back on watering and fertilizing
The cardinal rule of succulent winter care is to cut back on watering. As plants go dormant in the winter, they won't use as much water, so overwatering can lead to root rot. Water your succulents and cacti thoroughly but infrequently. Once every one or two months should be sufficient for most succulents. The best time to water is when the soil is dried out and the leaves look slightly wrinkled.

Read more
The 8 best plants to grow in a hydroponic garden
Your hydroponic garden will benefit from these plants
Herbs rooted in water

If you’ve ever wondered whether there was a way to make indoor gardening less messy, hydroponics may be the way to go! Indoor hydroponic gardens can help make fall and winter gardening more uniform, and you can grow almost anything you can think of. Hydroponic gardens are a great way to extend the growing season, providing fresh food through fall and winter.

Which plants should you grow in yours? Some plants are better suited for hydroponics than others, though, and there are even some varieties within different plant species that grow better than others. These are the best plants for hydroponics, so you can start your garden out right.

Read more
Spider plants are hardy hydroponic plants – here’s how to grow your spider plant in water
Tips for growing new spider plants in this unique way
Spider plant with spiderettes

Spider plants are wonderful plants. They’re often touted as great plants for beginners, forgetful plant parents, and college students. As they're easy to care for and hard to kill, there’s a lot to love about spider plants. They’re also very easy to propagate, making them great gifts.

If you’ve just received a spider plant as a gift, or are thinking of getting one for yourself, then this article is for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about growing spider plants and keeping your spider plant in water.

Read more