After researching dozens of indoor grow lights and reaching out to experts for insights, we sent several of these options to our testers around the country to test for several weeks. We also set up several in our lab to monitor over three months. At each location, we set up the light and recorded how long it took to set up, and noted any assembly that was required. Plus, we noted if the instructions were easy to follow, or were tricky and confusing. We then noted where we set up the light, how much space was required, and which plants we used it on. We noted the bulb type and wattage of each grow light, and then generally monitored the growth and health of the plant.

Different types of plants need different amounts of light. Check your seed packaging or plant tags or ask at the nursery for specific suggestions. While seedlings or vegetative plants can require as much as hours of light exposure each day, flowering plants benefit from at least hours. Timers or our C by GE Smart Plug can be connected to the lights to help manage or automate these cycles.

We loved that each of the plant pods has a note indicating the plant&#;s eventual height (short, medium, or tall) which we found particularly helpful when figuring out where to plant them (front for smaller plants, back for the taller ones). For example, the dill pod indicated that it would grow tall and we found that it grew surprisingly tall (in fact, it grew faster. and taller than any of the other pods). We had to adjust the arm of the light panel higher because the dill started to burn. Luckily the light is easy to adjust so you can make it taller as the plants grow (as high as inches). Also, note that we received pods (it has room for nine), and swapped out two of the extra pods that we initially planted that seemed slower to grow.

We love how versatile this grow light is: Thanks to a wide-opening clamp, you can attach it to almost any table, chair, desk, or countertop. It even has rubber pads on the clamp to prevent surface damage. Plus, the flexible gooseneck allows you to easily adjust the angle of the light. We found it to be extremely portable, easy to set up, and small enough to tuck away in a drawer. We think its compact size makes it ideal for households with a few small plants. You can even screw it into the wall for a more permanent yet space-saving solution, but keep in mind that you will lose the portability.

There are various types of grow lights to consider, from panels to products that hang overhead or screw into standard light fixtures. The type of plants you have, the amount of existing natural light, and where your plants are located help you narrow down your choices. Typically, hanging lights are larger, while desktop lights are smaller and easy to move around. If you want a complete system, consider a full garden kit, like the