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.

We researched the top-rated grow lights available online, ranging from as simple as adding a lightbulb, to a full indoor garden system that does all of the work of taking care of your plants for you. We then set up and tested several of these options in our own homes and at the lab for several weeks and up to three months in some cases. We then evaluated their size, wattage, bulb type, ease of setup, and overall effectiveness. Here are the best grow lights for your plants, backed by our thorough research and testing.

Designed to be mounted flush or hung against a ceiling or wall, the Feit Electric Dual Grow Tube Light is meant to replace traditional greenhouse lighting and delivers a full spectrum to help achieve optimal results for a variety of plants and flowers. The energy-efficient LED bulbs have low heat emission, so you don’t have to worry about burning your plants&#; leaves. The bulbs emit nm of blue light and nm of red light, an ideal combination that encourages plant growth and photosynthesis.

We do want to note that unlike the AeroGarden, there is no screen with instructions telling you that everything is set up properly, how many days until growth, or when food might be needed. You just have to wait for growth and monitor the water level indicator, which we found is very subtle and easy to miss. We do like that the light is is self-timed and turns off and on automatically. Also, the system comes with two extension arms that you can click on when your plants grow tall. We found them helpful as our plants did grow pretty tall and burn on one occasion. However, even though the lights were powerful, we found them to be aesthetically pleasing (even more so than the AeroGarden). It&#;s also worth noting that although the basil grew very slowly at first (we had the extension arm at first and the light might have been too high), once it did grow, we found it to look really healthy and taste great!

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.