Last Updated on February 1, 2022 by Guillermina
Did you know that there is quite a variety of light bulbs for growing vegetables indoors? In the past few years, you can only use an incandescent light bulb but new innovations have led to stylish light bulbs. Most of these light bulbs have a dual purpose – growing your light bulb and serving as a decoration.
When you buy light bulbs for growing vegetables indoors you need to first identify the type of light bulb that is best for your plant. Among the options, you have freestanding, stackable modular units, countertop models, and lights only. The choice of light depends on the variety of plants you are planting.
Can Any Light Bulb Be Used As A Grow Light?
The quick answer is yes. You can just use any light bulb you have in your home. However, regular incandescent bulbs don’t provide the range of color spectrum light required for plants to grow. A spectrum is composed of different colors like that of the rainbow, which is naturally present in light. When it reaches your lant, it helps it to photosynthesize and grow. If you want a healthy, thriving plant, you would want to use a LED light. The following are the different varieties of LED light designs.
Freestanding Lights
Freestanding lights have one or two tiers for plant trays. They usually require a suitable location to accommodate their size. You can buy a freestanding light in LED or fluorescent bulbs. Some lights have casters so you can move them anywhere you need them to be. Unlike modular units, they have a fixed size so there’s no way you can utilize them for countertops.
Stackable Modular Units
This lighting variety can be used for modular box plants. You can just mount them on top so they can shed light on your vegetables inside. They come in a variety of sizes and designs. When buying light bulbs for growing vegetables indoors, consider stackable lighting if you are growing vegetables from seeds.
Tiny seedlings made need to be placed in a modular box for protection against the wind, pests, weeds, and many other factors. With a stackable light, you can easily mount it yourself.
Countertop Models
Countertop lights are often shaped like a lampshade. This is perfect if you only have 1 or 2 pots of plants to focus it on. Nowadays, you can see a lot of countertops grow light with stylish designs. You will never have to worry whether it will disturb your kitchen décor.
Lights Only – Are these Great Light Bulbs for Growing Vegetables Indoors?
If you like doing things yourself, you can just buy a light-only model, and then you can mount the fixture yourself later. This is the most flexible type of light bulb for growing vegetables indoors so far since you can do anything with it.
How To Grow Plants Indoors With Artificial Sunlight?
- Figure out how to perceive when houseplants need water. Generally, you ought to be more concerned about over-watering than under-watering. Most houseplants are lucky to be somewhat dry than sopping wet. The objective is to give your plants sufficient water to keep the dirt damp. If necessary, pause in between watering and allow the water to drain. If you are planting during the winter, you need to adjust your watering frequency.
- Know about temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Most houseplants flourish in temperatures somewhere in the range of 65 and 75°F during the day and around 10 degrees cooler around evening time. By and large, houseplants require a degree of dampness like that of their regular developing conditions.
- Make sure that your houseplants get the perfect proportion of light. All plants need light energy for photosynthesis. However various houseplants require various measures of light. Except for desert plants, vegetables may have different unique requirements when it comes to lighting. You have to get to know your vegetable first before planting.
- Utilize the right sort of soil. A well-fertilized soil will assist with establishing roots develop by giving the best equilibrium of sustenance, air circulation, and water assimilation. Fertilized soil blends normally incorporate peat greenery, destroyed pine bark, perlite, and vermiculite.
- Select a pot that accommodates your plant. While picking a pot, make a point to think about its material, size, and waste capacity. Utilize a pot that is relative to your plant’s present size-not in excess of a couple of inches more extensive in width than your plant’s root mass. When the plant grows out of its home, you can relocate it into a bigger pot.
- Use fertilizer to supply supplements. To accomplish supported, sound indoor plant development, routinely renew the supplements in the gardening soil. Generally, prepare your houseplants once per month when they’re developing or blossoming.
- Throughout the cold weather months when plants ordinarily stay in a stale express, it’s satisfactory to diminish or stop your manure routine. Recollect that these are basic principles, and explicit plants might require their own novel compost timetable or great type of fertilizer.
Can I Grow Vegetables Indoors In The Winter?
The quick answer is yes. Some vegetables can grow during the winter. With the help of a grow light, you can supplement the light coming from the sun and help your plants develop.
Just a friendly tip – growing indoors during the winter can bring a lot of challenges. Even when you have the best light bulbs for growing vegetables indoors, your success depends on how you take care of your plants. Unlike other plant types, vegetables require ample care especially because you will have to eat them later.
Aside from the fact that it takes time, considering that some plants become dormant during the winter, the risk of pest infestation is high due to the irregular humidity and temperature. In any case, you can always keep these tips as handy guides for growing a perfect indoor vegetable garden.