Light is crucial when growing plants. But if your plants aren’t getting enough light, you can always rely on light bulbs.
Light bulbs help plants photosynthesize by giving them the best type of light to thrive. The amount of light plants need to grow is different for each type of plant.
3 Top Light Bulb for Growing Plants
1. [Best Overall] Ultra-High 95 CRI 6500K E26 A19 LED Bulb
Waveform lighting technology defines how well-LED bulbs produce the best colors for growing plants. Spectral waveform matters, and it’s great for growing different indoor plants.
4.9/5
- Its energy-efficient and ideal for growing healthy plants
- Easy to assemble into the light fixture mounted on the wall or hanging from the ceiling
- Long lifespan offering 25,000 hours of use
2. [Best For The Money] GE Grow Light LED Indoor Flood Light Bulb
When sunlight for growing indoor plants is not on your side, worry not. Get this GE LED grow light bulb.
This is your go-to light bulb, which will change your perception of growing seeds and greens indoors. You will have a distinctive and balanced spectrum grow light bulb that will satisfy your indoor plants growing needs or preferences.
4.8/5
- Its energy-efficient and ideal for growing healthy leafy green plants
- Lasts many hours
- Budget-friendly
3. [Best For Increased Light Distribution] UFO LED Grow Light Bulb
You won’t go wrong by picking the UFO LED grow light bulb. It’s a top pick for growing different plants indoors.
It is the most revolutionary plant light bulb you will come across in the competitive market. You will also like how it perfectly boosts the light intensity and growth rate of plants in an indoor garden.
4.7/5
- It offers a high-quality and diverse range of light ideal for seedlings
- Lasts many hours
- Guarantee increased light distribution
Grow lights are an incredible way to supplement the natural light plants need. But do you have the best light bulb for growing plants for your project?
Worry not. This article will give you information about the best light bulb for growing plants and a guide to help select the best. Keep reading.
Top-Notch Light Bulbs for Growing Plant
Here is our list of the best light bulbs:
- Best for Vivid Colors- Ultra High 95 CRI 6500K E26 A19 LED Bulb
- Best Overall- GE Grow Light LED Indoor Flood Light Bulb
- Best Innovation- UFO Led Grow Light Bulb
- best for Energy Efficient- Hydrofarm Agrobrite Fluorescent Spiral Grow Lamp
- Best Budget- Briignite LED Grow Light Bulb
Best Light Bulb for Growing Plants Reviews
1. [Best Overall] Ultra-High 95 CRI 6500K E26 A19 LED Bulb
4.9
Waveform lighting technology defines how well-LED bulbs produce the best colors for growing plants. Spectral waveform matters, and it’s great for growing different indoor plants.
This ultra-high 95 CRI A19 led bulb is a great choice for horticulture, and users can expect more than just improved efficiency and longevity. It is a high-quality led bulb that emits enough energy at wavelength.
The science behind ultra-high CRI (Color Rendering Index) LED is incredible and helps bring out efficient colors for growing different plants. To understand the science behind this technology, note that the higher the CRI, the better artificial light the bulb will provide for your plants.
This LED bulb has amazing features that make it a top pick among many growers. It will deliver light that truly simulates the natural daylight your plants need.
Ultra-High 95 CRI A19 LED Bulb Features
- This is an A19 LED model that guarantees more than the classic light bulb shape and beauty. It is a great size and excellent for use in any indoor garden.
- It comes with an E26 base excellent for mounting into your light fixture. You will conveniently screw it into any standard socket.
- This light bulb offers 800 lumens, equivalent to a 60 W incandescent bulb. It is ideal for proper illumination of your plants and helps them thrive healthily.
- It is designed to offer a high CRI of 95 and provide an ideal wavelength of light that most plants will use for photosynthesis. It provides more blue and red light spectrum your plants will need to thrive and undergo photosynthesis. High CRI also makes your plants look more vivid with better tones and makes it easy to spot any issues.
- The light bulb is compatible with 90-240V AC, 50-60 Hz, and is an excellent choice for most plants in your garden or any other field.
- It guarantees a color temperature of 6500 Kelvin, similar to the natural midday sunlight plants need for growth. This is an ideal temperature for foliage, producing flowers and fruits.
- It offers a 10W power consumption that is enough for growing different plants per square foot of growing space.
- The light bulb is also not dimmable for your plants’ full light spectrum excellent for dark rooms. It emits light that stimulates the natural lighting helpful to your plants.
- This bulb offers 25,000 hours of lifespan; you don’t have to change it frequently.
Product Specs
- Light Type – LED
- Light Color – Blue and Red
- Wattage – 10 Watts
- Indoor/Outdoor Usage – Indoor
Pros
- Its energy-efficient and ideal for growing healthy plants
- Easy to assemble into the light fixture mounted on the wall or hanging from the ceiling
- Long lifespan offering 25,000 hours of use
- Guaranteed brightness and quality light
Cons
- It can produce a high level of light that can damage your plants
- You might set up the light bulb at an improper distance
2. [Best For The Money] GE Grow Light LED Indoor Flood Light Bulb
4.8
When sunlight for growing indoor plants is not on your side, worry not. Get this GE LED grow light bulb.
This is your go-to light bulb, which will change your perception of growing seeds and greens indoors. You will have a distinctive and balanced spectrum grow light bulb that will satisfy your indoor plants growing needs or preferences.
The bulb is designed to offer ample light to help seeds germinate. With this GE grow light bulb, your seeds might take up to 10 days to sprout, thanks to the ample light it produces.
This GE bulb also allows houseplants, flowers, and cacti to flourish under an ideal amount of light. So, you can grow lettuce, cucumbers, herbs, peppers, and other vegetables hassle-free at home.
The bulb might look like a regular lightbulb you use at home, but it is an exceptional choice for your sun-loving indoor plants. It offers other amazing features you will like.
GE Grow Light LED Bulb Features
- You will like this LED bulb as it allows an indoor garden to bloom and flourish year-round. You will be able to grow plants throughout the year as they provide the perfect high-quality plant light.
- This bulb provides natural light temperatures excellent for growing plants and blends well with any decorative aesthetic. It is perfect for your home garden and doesn’t provide unsightly lighting.
- It is a long-lasting light bulb you can use in your garden for many years without any worries.
- You will like this GE bulb because it is low energy and uses only 9 watts of energy. So, you don’t have to worry about expectedly surging energy bills.
- This bulb uses LED technology great for low heat generation. With this low-heat plant light bulb, you don’t have to worry about your plants getting damaged. Your plants will have the warmth they require to grow without being blackened.
- The GE light bulb offers a balanced light spectrum for different plants and seedlings. It appears white but has a red and blue light spectrum perfect for leafy greens and herbs.
- This bulb is a great choice for indoor growers looking for a model with high output PPF of 16 micromoles per second. It provides perfect PAR for your indoor garden and is ideal for photosynthesis.
- It guarantees a high CRI of 80 that makes your plants in the grow space look colorful.
Product Specs
- Light Type – LED
- Light Color – Red and blue, white
- Wattage – 9 Watts
- Indoor/Outdoor Usage – Indoor
Pros
- Its energy-efficient and ideal for growing healthy leafy green plants
- Lasts many hours
- Budget-friendly
- Guaranteed brightness and quality light
Cons
- You will require a nearby standard lamp to hang the bulb
- It might burn out after a few months of use
3. [Best For Increased Light Distribution] UFO LED Grow Light Bulb
4.7
You won’t go wrong by picking the UFO LED grow light bulb. It’s a top pick for growing different plants indoors.
It is the most revolutionary plant light bulb you will come across in the competitive market. You will also like how it perfectly boosts the light intensity and growth rate of plants in an indoor garden.
Your plants will flourish exceptionally well under this led light bulb as it provides reliable artificial light. Your plants will grow big, bushy, and strong as the bulb provides plenty of coverage.
You will also like the idea that you don’t have to change the bulbs. Furthermore, you don’t need to mix other types of lighting to go from seedlings to harvest.
UFO LED Grow Light Bulb Features
- This UFO LED bulb uses 2835 SMD (surface mounted diode) light-emitting diodes. They are an excellent choice for dissipating heat around the grow space.
- The bulb is designed using SMD technology to lower the working temperatures and increase the life of the plants. Indoor growers don’t have to worry about LED burning out their plants.
- You’ll like how the bulb provides a full spectrum similar to natural sunlight, excellent for photosynthesis and healthy plants. You will rest assured of the best color ratio with your plants getting the proper type of light, mainly blue and red light. Your grow space will have a purple glow when the bulb is turned on that is also aesthetically pleasing.
- The LED chips create a focused beam of light conducive to flowering and fruiting plants. It produces little heat and shouldn’t be placed far from plants to provide more exposure to intense rays.
- It is a 150W LED grow light that will replace traditional models. The bulb will provide useful light to help plants grow faster in all stages they desire in the natural lighting.
- This UFO LED light bulb will offer a higher PAR value than normal LED grow lights. This higher light intensity means a more efficient growth rate for your plants.
- They feature a black cooling coating that helps the bulb dissipate heat without the need for an air conditioner or fan. It can maintain good performance even after 24 hours of use.
- It guarantees a 100,000 hours LED light lifespan. You can use the bulb for hours to increase plant productivity and leave them looking better.
Product Specs
- Light Type – LED
- Light Color – Blue, Red, and White
- Wattage – 150 Watts
- Indoor/Outdoor Usage – Indoor
Pros
- It offers a high-quality and diverse range of light ideal for seedlings
- Lasts many hours
- Guarantee increased light distribution
- Last longer even with extensive use
Cons
- Some people find them a bit expensive
- You might find it difficult to install and set up properly
4. Hydrofarm Agrobrite Fluorescent Spiral Grow Lamp
4.6
Are you wondering how to speed up growth and increase the productivity of your indoor plants? Worry no more.
Invest in a hydro farm Agrobrite fluorescent spiral grow lamp or bulb. Thanks to its amazing features and lighting capabilities, this is a standout grow light bulb you will like.
You will have one of the best grow lights for indoor use. It guarantees unmatched versatility and exceptional illumination.
It is designed to help reduce energy costs while providing the light your plants need to grow healthy. This fluorescent spiral light lamp is excellent for giving supplemental light to houseplants and is perfect for localized lighting of small seedlings.
Hydrofarm Agrobrite Fluorescent Spiral Grow Lamp Features
- This lamp provides a very bright light that plants need to thrive indoors. Seeds may germinate without artificial lighting, but some need more time indoors to grow. However, pepper and tomato seedlings may become leggy if you don’t provide extra light.
- You’ll like this fluorescent light because it provides a better color temperature. It offers 6400 Kelvin of color temperature great for vegetative growth, starting seedlings, and keeping plants healthy.
- This hydrofarm Agrobrite lamp offers an excellent color spectrum with a blue-white range that helps plants produce more chlorophyll to speed up photosynthesis. This bulb helps provide healthy leaves, flowers, and fruits. Always start with the blue spectrum for seedlings as it helps keep them more compact and switch to red when they start flowering and fruiting.
- This fluorescent bulb comes in a compact size that fits different light fixtures and makes great retrofits. It perfectly fits in an E26 socket base, making it easy to mount and guarantee unwavering electrical contact.
- This fluorescent lamp also produces 1600 lumens (FLC26D), equivalent to a 130W incandescent bulb. It also provides 1800 lumens (FLC32D), equivalent to a 160W incandescent light bulb. This means that the lamp will give your plants enough bright light they need to thrive indoors.
- It uses 32 watts of energy per square foot to give better extremes of light intensity for growing plants indoors. This energy-efficient lamp is well suited for the growth stage of flowers and fruits.
- You will also like this grow lamp because it guarantees very low heat emissions, making it safe to place close to your plants.
- It gives up to 10,000 hours of growing light, enough for your indoor plants to grow healthy,
- The bulb will last up to nine years based on three hours of everyday use.
Product Specs
- Light Type – Fluorescent
- Light Color – Brown
- Wattage – 32 Watts
- Indoor/Outdoor Usage – Indoor
Pros
- Increased brightness
- Value for money
- Energy efficient
- Long light life
Cons
- Frequent switching on and off may result in failure
- You will require a light fixture or socket base to install it
5. Briignite LED Grow Light Bulb
4.5
Don’t fret if you are looking for the best budget light bulb for growing plants. Get the Briignite LED grow light bulb today.
It is a standout light bulb model for all stages of plant growth. Whether you are an experienced or experimental grower, you will want to buy this specially designed grow light bulb for your indoor growing projects.
It comes with prevalent features you will like besides providing your plants with enough artificial light. More so, it produces great results for growing plants indoors.
Briignite LED Grow Light Bulb Features
- This light bulb guarantees full-spectrum and natural light, perfect for growing different plants. It is the best choice if you want to grow herbs, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs at all growth stages.
- The A19 grow light bulb provides 4000 Kelvin color temperature and appears cool white to the eyes but offers a red-blue light spectrum. It provides the natural shine your indoor plants need for new growth.
- The Briignite grow light bulb guarantees high brightness by delivering 180 degrees 1000 lumens of bright light output. The high lumen LED chips are equivalent to 100W of a traditional light bulb and provide enough brightness for growing plants.
- This light bulb is designed only to consume 11 watts, saving the indoor garden grower 90% of the electricity bill.
- It is a high-efficiency LED bulb that improves plant absorption of artificial light more efficiently. This is thanks to the balanced spectrum wavelength that gives your plants more PPF of up to 25 micromoles per second.
- You will like how easy it is to install the Briignite grow light bulb. The E26 base fits perfectly to all standard E26 sockets. You don’t need to find other fixtures to fit or hang this bulb. This will save you more money you could use for your indoor plant growing projects.
- The bulb provides a natural home light color that will add aesthetic value to your indoor garden. The 4000K LED bulb will bring out the aesthetic beauty of your indoor garden without unsightly lighting.
- This LED light bulb is designed to provide low heat and a suitable temperature that will not change the color of your plants. It is wise to use aluminum or plastic material to build your cooling system for better heat dissipation.
- The bulb is also designed to offer up to a 50,000-hour lifespan if it operates for 24 hours each day. Hence, you can install and use the bulb without worrying about its efficiency and longevity.
Product Specs
- Light Type – LED
- Light Color – Warm white
- Wattage – 11 Watts
- Indoor/Outdoor Usage – Indoor
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Cost-effective
- Energy efficient
- Long light lifespan
Cons
- It can produce a high amount of light that can damage the plants
- You might damage the plants if you don’t have an effective cooling system
Comprehensive Guide to Buying the Right Light Bulbs for Growing Your Plants
Here are key things to consider when choosing the best grow light:
Use of the Light Bulb
Light bulbs have four uses when it comes to growing plants. Have a look:
- Growing food – If you have an indoor garden, you will need light bulbs for growing herbs and greens correctly.
- Seedlings – Grow light bulbs to help with the propagation of indoor plants from seedlings. They need enough light and warm temperatures to grow healthier.
- Limited light – They are a great choice for rooms with no sunlight or have little light as they provide artificial lighting for plants. Hence, they help indoor plants grow strong and healthy.
- Propagation – If you love propagating plants for different purposes, glow lights provide a better solution for your indoor plants.
Types of Plants You Are Growing
Many indoor plants you have in mind can thrive in any light. But if you want them to grow healthy and as you wish, light bulbs offer better solutions. You have to figure out what plants you need in your garden, and they vary significantly.
Lights with a bluish hue are great for vegetative growth, while red lights are excellent for flowering and fruiting plants. Therefore, you can settle for the best leafy vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Go for brighter bulbs if your plants need a lot of sunlight. Common types of indoor plants to choose from include orchids, succulents, and African violets, among others.
Light Bulb Spectrum and Intensity
When it comes to light intensity, it is the strength of light that plants need, which can be too little or too much. When looking to grow light bulbs, lumen and watts are key light requirements to pay attention to in your projects.
Lumens determine the maximum amount of light your plants can absorb. The higher lumens, the brighter the bulbs and output. Without proper brightness, it’s not easy to grow plants as effectively as you want.
Wattage is important because it shows the power capability of the light bulb. The higher the grow light wattage, the higher the energy input into the bulb.
Types of Light Bulbs
Your indoor plants will require different types of grow lights. The three common types to choose from include:
- LED Light Bulbs – These light bulbs are a popular plant-growing choice. LED light bulbs produce red and blue wavelengths for optimal plant growth.
Such a feature helps negate the need for multiple light bulbs. LED grow light bulbs come in different types, colors, and shapes.
For optimal growth, choose types designed as grow or horticultural lights. It is also easy to fine-tune the color wavelength produced by the LED bulb so they can produce red and blue wavelengths.
Red and blue lights offer full-spectrum illumination and help plants thrive indoors. Red light helps plants develop the right amount of leaves and determine how big they grow.
Blue lights control how indoor cannabis plants respond to the daily provision of light and help them produce flowers. Different plants require different ratios of red and blue lighting, and what works for one plant may not work for another.
- Fluorescent Light Bulbs – Fluorescent lighting is a great choice as it encourages blooming during winter. However, fluorescent lights provide less heat which can harm indoor plants. Common types include T5, TB, and CFL. They require a few watts to provide the same amount of light.
- High-Intensity Discharge (HID) – These light bulbs provide a full spectrum, but you invest in high-quality designs. They are great for generating high yields.
The common type is Metal Halides (MH) lights that create a blueish spectrum for the vegetative growth stage. You can also choose High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights that produce yellow-gold color for flowering.
How Do You Tell If Plants Aren’t Getting Enough Light?
Here are some of the symptoms that will help you know that your plants are not getting enough light
- Spindly or leggy stems
- Small leaves and stunted growth
- Reduced or no flowering
- Lower leaves die-off
- Lack of variegation on new growth or pale color
How Long Should a Plant Grow Light Be Left On?
You should give most plants in your indoor garden at least 8 hours of darkness daily. Vegetables and flowering plants should have 12 to 16 hours of light per day.
What Color Light Bulb Helps Plants Grow?
Blue light is a great choice because it spurs chlorophyll absorption, photosynthesis, and new growth. On the other hand, red light promotes flowering, budding and fruiting.
