Receiving Helpdesk

can you grow plants with regular fluorescent lights

by Josefa Boyer Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

So to answer your question, yes, standard cool-white fluorescent bulbs will work just fine for starting seeds and growing plants.Feb 23, 2014

What kind of lights are best for growing plants?

What to Look for in a Good Grow Light for Indoor Plants

  1. Pick a proper light for your plants. There are two types of grow lights that are both good for indoor plants – LED and fluorescent. ...
  2. Color spectrum affects plants’ growth. Depending on the growth stage of your indoor plants, they will need a different color to produce energy and grow, so you should use ...
  3. Material and weight. ...

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What plants grow best under fluorescent lighting?

What Plants Grow Under Fluorescent Light?

  1. Zamioculcasi (ZZ Plant)
  2. Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
  3. Snake Plant
  4. Chlorophytum Comosum (Spider Plants)
  5. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
  6. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
  7. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
  8. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
  9. Philodendron
  10. Cast-iron Plant

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What type of LED lamp is required for growing plants?

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, LED s provide the best results. ...

What is the best fluorescent light for plants?

Hydrofarm FLC125W Compact Warm Fluorescent Bulb

  • Compact warm fluorescent bulb full spectrum ensures proper development and maximum flowering
  • Use horizontal or vertical inside or outside the plant canopy
  • No heat means more light energy right next to your plants
  • Available in 125-watt full spectrum warm
  • Comes with 1-year warranty

What's the difference between a grow light and fluorescent light?

CFL grow lights are different from conventional CFLs in that they are larger, have higher wattages, and emit a wider spectrum of light. Fluorescent tube grow lights are available in various sizes and types.

Can indoor plants grow in fluorescent light?

Are there plants that grow well using indoor light? The truth is that most plants tagged for indoor and office use do well, especially the foliage plants. In fact, the whitish blue light that fluorescent lights give off is fine for most plants, particularly foliage plants that are good for indoors.

What plants can grow with only fluorescent light?

Best Plants For Office That Can Grow In Fluorescent LightSansevieria. Sansevieria, also known as snake plant or mother in law's tongue, is a lovely air purifying plant that people love to have at home. ... Dracaena Compacta. ... ZZ Plant. ... Pothos. ... Aglaonema. ... Aspidistra. ... Peace Lily. ... Dracaena Warneckii.

Which is better for plants LED or fluorescent?

When it comes to energy efficiency, LED grow lights beat out the best fluorescent grow lights, hands down. When comparing lighting efficiency, it's important to look at the light levels delivered to plants rather than just the electrical watts.

Light Requirements Indoors

Plants with little or no light will become leggy and weak. Too much light, on the other hand, will cause their foliage to curl up. Additionally, if...

Lighting Options For Indoor Gardening

If you’re growing only foliage plants, then incandescent lighting may be sufficient. However, flowering plants benefit from the use of fluorescent...

Using Fluorescent Lighting Indoors

Whether you’re growing seedlings, year-round crops, houseplants or just highlighting prized plantings, fluorescent lighting is the better alternati...

Why do plants need fluorescent lights?

Fluorescent lights can be used to grow plants because they produce the required brightness that enhance plants growth and make it flourish. Fluorescent lights are energy efficient and have the capacity to shorten plant growth. The concerns of most people is the amount of heat that fluorescent lights produce. However, every light produces heat, but ...

What is a fluorescent grow light?

Fluorescent grow lights are designed with the newest technology that you can use to grow plants at any growing stages. Most fluorescent lights are built to be full spectrum brightness. The full spectrum lights consist of white light, red, blue, and IR. The full spectrum lights are used to grow plants at different growing stages.

Why do incandescent bulbs burn?

The heat that comes from Incandescent lights can destroy plants when the light bulb is closer to the plants. Incandescent bulbs give off more red wavelengths, so they can be used to supplement fluorescent light and balance out the spectrum, especially if you’re trying to encourage plants to bloom.

What color light is needed for plants to grow?

Fluorescent lights have complete red spectrum brightness that plants need to grow. It is built with a quality red spectrum that aids photosynthesis in seeding plants. Blue spectrum brightness wavelength is for growth. The blue spectrum makes plants grow faster.

Why are fluorescent lights so popular?

Fluorescent lights are popular over the years because of how fast it is to grow plants indoors. Fluorescent bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, and they produce a spectrum of light that is more useful to plants. Fluorescent lights are by far the most economical and easy choice for houseplants.

What is the purpose of fluorescent light?

Red spectrum of fluorescent light helps to drive photosynthesis down into plants’ roots, which make plants flourish and thrive. Fluorescent lights have complete red spectrum brightness that plants need to grow.

Why hang fluorescent bulbs in greenhouse?

Fluorescent fixtures also tend to be large and bulky, so hanging them high in the greenhouse can create shade and prevent natural light from reaching plants. Generic fluorescent tubes and bulbs are higher in blue wavelengths, so look for “full-spectrum” or include a mix of “cool” and “warm” bulbs.

How long does it take to replace fluorescent grow lights?

In fact, when you consider the initial cost of investing in an LED grow light system, it will usually take up to, if not more than 2 years of replacing your fluorescent bulbs in ...

What color light is best for gardening?

Most fluorescent lights are also white lights, which is the best color of light to use in gardening because white light is a composite of all the colors in the light spectrum, which means it offers to the plants all the benefits from each of the different colored lights in the light spectrum.

How to control light heat and brightness?

To get some of the different controls light heat and brightness, there are ways to dampen the light and heat of the light. Simple filters and films can be placed over the bulb to control how bright or dim the light is. You can also place the light farther or closer to the plant depending on what the needs of your plant are at the time. ...

Do LED lights help plants survive?

However, since plants are only looking for heat and light and don’t care about their carbon footprint, fluorescent lights work just fine as grow lights.

Can LED grow lights be used indoors?

However, they are not the only option. That’s right. LED lights are NOT in ANY way the only option for grow lights for indoor hydroponic gardening systems. What plants need to survive whether indoors, outdoors, or anywhere in between doors, ...

Can fluorescent bulbs burn out?

This is a rapid burn out of the bulb as compared to LED lights that can burn continuously for years without having to be replaced. Fluorescent lights are also harder to control and put on a schedule.

Will fluorescent lights grow plants?

The answer to the question of, “Will a normal fluorescent light grow plants?” is a resounding, ‘YES’. They will grow plants, and they will do it well. There is no reason to fret or save your pennies for an LED grow light system if you already have access to a fluorescent light to use.

Why do we use fluorescent lights in plants?

Using fluorescent garden lights to enhance plant growth allows you to grow a host of plants in an interior space . Standard indoor lights do little to influence photosynthesis, while using fluorescent lighting placed closely to the top of the plants can help drive this important plant process.

What is the best light source for seedlings?

Modern plant lighting has focused on the LED sources of light, but fluorescent lights are still widely available and easy to use. They are an excellent source of light for young seedlings and plant starts.

How many candles do plants need?

Medium light plants, such as tropical rainforest specimens, need around 250-1,000 foot candles ( 2500-10,000 lux), while high light plants need over 1,000 foot candles (10,000 lux). You can increase the amount of light a plant receives even with a low output bulb by using a reflector.

What is a T5 light?

The new T5 fluorescent garden lights are tube lights which provide light on the blue spectrum and are cool enough to touch safely and won’t burn young plants. The number 5 refers to the diameter of the tube. There are also T8 tubes that are similarly efficient.

Do fluorescent lights last longer than LEDs?

Fluorescent lights don’t last as long as LEDs but are easy to find and install. Whether you use them vs. LEDs depends upon the light requirements indoors that your particular crop or plant needs. Fluorescent lights were once the “go to” source of plant lamps.

Is T5 light better than old light?

In fact, new T5 lighting systems produce less heat than the old bulbs and can be placed closer to the plant without worrying about burning foliage. They are also more energy efficient and the light produced is readily used by the plant.

Can fluorescent lights be used indoors?

Fluorescent Light And Plants: Lighting Options For Indoor Gardening. The right kind of grow lights can make all the difference in how your plants perform. Using fluorescent garden lights to enhance plant growth allows you to grow a host of plants in an interior space. Standard indoor lights do little to influence photosynthesis, ...

Can plants grow with fluorescent light?

Plants can thrive with fluorescent light. The performance of a plant will highly depend on the grow light used. The use of garden fluorescent light allows you to grow a variety of plants in an enclosed space. Florescent light hanging closely to the top of the plant can facilitate photosynthesis to take place.

What Plants Grow Under Fluorescent Light?

Let’s take a look at the 12 most attractive houseplants that grow under fluorescent light:

Tips on Growing Plants Under Office Light

With time the light a fluorescent light emits declines, and sometimes it’s not easy to notice a visible decrease. The best thing to do is to replace your lights after 12 to 18 months.

Will any LED light work as a grow light?

Any LED lights can be used as a grow light. However, regular LED lights emit less color or light spectrum required by plants to photosynthesize. Thus, it is vital to ensure that the LED light you are using has enough light spectrum to facilitate photosynthesis.

CONCLUSION

You don’t need sunlight to sparkle your room plants. Go ahead and buy your preferred office plant. Your fluorescent lighting will help these 12 plants add a glow to your room. Fluorescent lighting can help during the winter season since the plants will need light to produce food.

Sansevieria

Sansevieria, also known as snake plant or mother in law’s tongue, is a lovely air purifying plant that people love to have at home. This is a NASA recognised air-purifying plant that thrives well in fluorescent light as well. Fluorescent light doesn’t harm this beautiful plant, and it likes to get dry between watering.

Dracaena Compacta

This stylish and unique Dracaena Compacta plant is a great pick for modern offices. Dracaena Compacta is also known as dragon tree, which fits perfectly on the interiors and elevates the look of the office. It needs very little care, and this is one of the plants that can grow in fluorescent light.

ZZ Plant

Now that we are talking about the best plants that can grow in fluorescent light and fit well into office interiors, how can we forget Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, ZZ plant? This plant needs dry air and indirect sunlight, so this makes it plant fluorescent light. Also, it requires minimum care like little watering and once in a while fertiliser.

Pothos

The striking beauty of the Pothos will make your office space look much better than you can think of. It needs low light, and therefore, fluorescent light will be an excellent option to look forward to. We would suggest you go with Jade Pothos as it is easy to maintain, and it definitely is a plant fluorescent light.

Aglaonema

Adding a top air purifying plant to the office is like adding immense beauty and giving a stress-free environment to your teammates. Aglaonema or the Chinese Evergreen plant is considered to bring good luck to your place, so adding good luck and an air-purifying plant will be a perfect combo.

Aspidistra

The Aspidistra plant is commonly known as a cast-iron plant that survives in any condition. You can water it less than regular and place it in fluorescent light, but it thrives well. It is a rugged plant with evergreen foliage as it doesn’t have any stem.

Peace Lily

Another plant that can grow in fluorescent light is the peace lily plant. This gorgeous plant produces a heartwarming flower that is silvery and white in colour. Its absolute beauty has been the talk of the town, and its low maintenance features make it the most loved office plant.

1. Regular Incandescent Light

The incandescent bulb has been around for ages and they were the first design invented. They work by the passage of light through their small strand of metal that lights up as electricity pass through them.

2. Regular Halogen Bulb

The regular halogen bulbs are of a close match with the incandescent bulb. However, they differ in the passage of their electrical current which is passed through a tungsten filament.

3. Regular Fluorescence Light Bulb For Plants

Fluorescent light works with the passage of electricity along with mercury particles and is filtered by an outer bulb coating.

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