Have you been thinking about indoor gardening but your house is not the best environment for plants? Don’t worry too much about it; all you really need is a grow light. If you want your plants to grow well and thrive all year round, you definitely need to invest in a grow light. A grow light is almost equivalent to natural sunlight; it mimics it and provides it with the same intensity and conditions provided by sunlight. It provides it with the full color spectrum needed for your plants at every stage of their development. The best part is that you can adjust the light intensity to best suit your plants at their vegetative and bloom stage.
You may have the best lighting inside your house but without a grow light, your plants won’t grow in a healthy manner. This is because plants absorb and convert energy from natural sunlight to produce enough food for their growth. This process is called photosynthesis, and it’s the only way plants remain green and healthy. It provides enough fuel needed for your plants to develop successfully. A grow light is not natural sunlight, but it’s pretty close to it; it is an artificial source of light and energy that provides the different frequencies in color spectrum needed for your plants to grow and develop successfully.
There are various types, shapes and sizes of grow lights; one of these is the grow light bulb which is very compact and small-sized when compared to the other types. To know more about these other grow light types, read
Best 2000 Watt LED Grow Lights
Best CFL Fluorescent Grow Lights
There are three major types of grow lights; High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights, Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Fluorescent or CFL lights. Choosing between these types of lights really depends on the type of plants you’re growing.
- High Pressure Sodium or HPS grow light is the most powerful type of grow light. It provides a full light spectrum for your plants at every stage of their growth. It is also quite expensive and may need to be replaced very often because of the decrease in its intensity. It also emits a huge amount of heat energy. If you choose to use this type of grow light, you’ll need to get a cooling fan and the best grow tent ventilation kit to reduce the heat and ensure your plants don’t get burnt.
- Light Emitting Diode or LED grow light is very new in the market. They’ve now become very popular among indoor growers and are used with grow tents. It is one of the best grow light option because it gives off red and blue LEDs which are both necessary for the growth of your plants. Most of them don’t include UV Ultraviolet and IR Infrared, but they produce full spectrum light which is very beneficial for your plants. The upside is that they don’t emit a lot of heat so you may not even need to purchase heavy-duty cooling fans. The only disadvantage is that it’s a bit pricey but definitely worth the investment.
- CFL or Fluorescent grow light is the light commonly used in schools, garages, office buildings and other places. It is also pretty good for plants as it provides the necessary light source needed for their growth, but it doesn’t produce full spectrum light.
Types of Grow Light Bulbs
Just like there are different types of grow lights, there are also many different types of grow light bulbs, a lot of these are electric bulbs developed to facilitate indoor growing. The most common types of grow light bulbs are
Compact Fluorescent Lamps or CFL
CFL grow light bulbs are a pretty good choice for indoor gardening. They are best for small growing spaces and can be used for a limited number of plants.
High Pressure Sodium Light Bulb
High Pressure Sodium or HPS grow lights produce a yellow and red light spectrum and are best used for plants almost at their bloom stage. They are one of the most powerful types of light with very strong light intensity. They are mostly used by large-scale growers to encourage fast growth and large yield.
Metal Halide Grow Light Bulb
This type of grow light is really strong, and it produces a cool blue-green light which is best when growing a large number of plants. This cool light encourages full growth and larger yields, but the disadvantage is the short lifespan.
Light Emitting Diode or LED Grow Light Bulb
LED grow light bulbs are very new among indoor growers. They produce red and blue lights and have a higher luminosity when compared to fluorescent grow light bulbs. They produce way less heat and don’t consume a lot of electricity. They also have a very long lifespan.
Grow Lights Tips and Tricks
To get the best out of your grow light, here are a few guidelines you need to follow
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- Turn Off the Light Very Often
: This is very important when using grow lights. As much as plants need light to grow well, keeping the light on all day may cause some problems. Your plants need to rest for a while to remain strong. The time duration for leaving the grow lights on really depends on the type of plants, but it is advisable to leave it on for about 6 – 8 hours daily. This way, you are imitating day and night cycles. You can get a timer to make it easier to automatically turn the lights off and on.
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- Don’t Overwater
: This is a common issue among indoor gardeners. Watering your plants is very good, but overwatering may cause more harm than good. Watering your plants should depend on the type of grow light you are using. If you are using HPS lights, you should water your plants more often because these lights produce a lot of heat, causing your plants to dry up quickly. LED grow lights, on the other hand, don’t require a lot of watering. These lights don’t produce a lot of heat, so you don’t have to water very often.
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- Install Multiple LED Grow Lights
: If you choose to buy LED grow lights and plan to grow many plants in your grow room, it is advisable to mount more than one LED grow light. LED grow lights are usually focused on one section of the room; this means some plants may not get enough light. To ensure maximum light dispersal, invest in more than one grow light, especially if you purchase a grow light bulb. This is to ensure that the light is spread evenly among your plants. You can consult a lighting specialist to determine the number of lights you’ll need.
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- Adjust the Height of Your Grow Lights
: The height of your grow lights need to be adjusted as often as your plants grow. This is why most indoor gardeners invest in adjustable hanging ropes. These ropes allow you to conveniently adjust the height of your grow lights. Adjusting the height of your grow lights ensures maximum coverage and increases the amount of light your plants receive. When the plants begin to sprout, you may have to lower the light and then raise it as they grow.
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- Monitor the Temperature in the Grow Room
: Most grow lights emit a high amount of heat, this is why it’s necessary to keep an eye on the temperature and humidity inside the grow room. LED grow lights produce the least amount of heat but still emit heat. Plants can’t survive when the temperature in the room is beyond normal; you should invest in a programmable thermostat to make this much easier. Also, get adequate cooling systems like inline fans to help cool the room when it overheats. You can also purchase a thermo-hygrometer which is a thermometer that has a hygrometer. This helps you monitor both the humidity and temperature level inside the grow room to ensure the best environment for your plants.
Cannabis Indoor Growing Tips
Here are some tips to ensure maximum yield when growing cannabis indoor
- Use the right genetic material. It is advisable to start growing with a seed rather than a clone because clones are weaker and they get infested by pests and diseases very easily.
- Before you decide to grow, ensure that you have enough space for a grow tent. Planning is a huge part of successful cannabis growing; make sure you get the right type of grow tent and grow accessories.
- Make sure to use the best soil to grow your weed. A very good natural soil provides your plants with all the nutrients and supplements needed for its growth.
- Go easy on the fertilizer. As much as plants need fertilizer for nutrients supply, don’t go overboard with it as this may weaken the plants.
- Choose the best lighting for your cannabis because this is the most vital aspect to grow cannabis successfully indoors.
As previously explained, grow light bulbs are of different types. This wide variety may make it a bit difficult to narrow down the best types in the market. To make it easier to choose, we have created a review on the six best grow light bulbs you can find.
The 6 Best Grow Light Bulbs Are Reviewed Below
Table of Contents
Here are six of the best grow light bulbs available on the market, together with their key features and specifications.
1
GE BR30 LED Grow Lights
The GE BR30 grow light bulb is an LED light bulb that offers a full lighting spectrum to facilitate the growth of your plants. The light bulb provides high-quality light for your plants, allowing them to flourish all year long. This grow light bulb offers a very pleasing light that’s similar to natural sunlight. It doesn’t give off too much heat or mess up the temperature in the grow room. The temperature it provides integrates perfectly with any decorative aesthetic in the room. The grow light bulb lasts very long and is designed with top quality products that improve its durability. It uses about 9 watts of energy and generates very low heat. With this grow light bulb, you won’t have to worry about your light bill.
The grow light spectrum looks white to the eyes but produces a red/blue light spectrum that is best for your plants. This light spectrum ensures that your plants are healthy by facilitating photosynthesis. It also provides your plants with the best light with a very high PPF (Photosynthesis Photon Flux) of 16 micromoles per second. The blue and red light spectrum of the light are well-balanced to enhance the development of your plants at every stage of their growth.
Key Features:
- Full spectrum
- 9 watts of energy
- Low heat generation
- Red/blue light spectrum
- 16 micromoles per second PPF
Specification:
- Brand: GE Lighting
- Model: GE BR30 LED Grow Lights
- Dimension: 4.06 x 4.06 x 5.94 inches
- Weight: 4.8 ounces
- Material: Plastic
- Wattage: 9 watts
- Voltage: 120 volts
Pros
- Offers a full light spectrum
- Maintains energy
- Has a very high PPF
- Low heat generation
Cons
- Light can’t be dimmed
2
Miya 50W LED Grow Light Bulb
The Miya 50W grow light bulb is a full spectrum LED grow light with about 78 pieces of high quality LED chips which produce the right amount of wavelength needed for your plants to grow strong and healthy. It provides your plants with all the benefits gotten from natural sunlight. It is the perfect solution for growing plants indoors all year long regardless of the weather. The LED light chips include 42 red lights, 6 blue, 6 white Infrared and 6 white ultraviolet light. This LED arrangement promotes photosynthesis in your plants and provides the full wavelength needed for your plant’s healthy growth.
The LED lights are very bright but not bright enough to hurt your eyes or the plants. It has a vast range of illumination, and the intensity can be controlled to suit the plant. Most of the light is also fully absorbed by the plants. The Miya grow light bulb has a power of about 50W and consumes 8 – 10W of power. The grow light bulb is eco-friendly and saves a lot of energy. You can save about 80% of your monthly electrical bill with this bulb. The grow light is built with top quality and durable materials that ensure the light bulb lasts long. It is built with a metal aluminum material with finned heat sink design to control the heat produced by the bulb.
Key Features:
- 78 PCS LED chips
- Full spectrum LED
- 50W luminous power
- 8 – 10W power use
- Aluminum heat sink
Specification:
- Brand: MIYA
- Model: Miya 50W LED Grow Light Bulb
- Dimension: 11.22 x 4.21 x 3.78 inches
- Weight: 7.4 ounces
- Wattage: 50 watts
- Material: Aluminum
Pros
- Has 78 high performance LED chips
- Built with durable aluminum material
- Very easy to set up
- Has a broad lighting angle
Cons
- UV can stop plant growth if it’s too close
3
Esbaybulbs Grow Light Bulbs
The Esbaybulbs is a super-efficient grow light bulb with 28 pieces Epistar LED chips. These chips consist of 15 red light chips, 7 blue, 1 IR, 1 UV, 2 warm white lights and 2 daylight white lighting chips. These LED chips boost the growth of your plants at each stage of their growth, providing enough light to keep them strong and healthy. It produces wavelengths ranging between 380 – 730nm. This wavelength promotes photosynthesis allowing each of your plants to grow fast and produce high yields.
The LED grow light bulb offers a reasonable balance between the red and blue light, which boosts the growth of your plants and provides the best wavelength for photosynthesis. The bulbs are small but very powerful; the light intensity pierces every part of the plants from the base to the top. It has up to 28watt of power and consumes only 6 to 9watts helping you save up to 75% electricity bills every month. This power output is the best for your plants; it doesn’t overheat or burn the plants. It is designed with heat-sink metal aluminum material and a turbine cooling structure to balance and reduce the heat produced by the bulb. The metal and turbine cooling design also improves its durability and increases the bulb’s working life.
The bulb is enough to light up a small, grow room without wasting any of its energy. Four large to medium-sized grow rooms, about four of these grow light bulb should be enough. The grow light is very easy to set up and replace.
Key Features:
- 28pcs Epistar SMD5730 LED Chips
- 380 – 730nm wavelength
- 28watt power
- 6 – 9w power use
- Heat-sink metal aluminum
- Turbine type cooling
- 4pcs LED grow light bulbs
Specification:
- Brand: Esbaybulbs
- Model: Esbaybulbs Grow Light Bulbs
- Dimension: 3.6 x 3.6 x 3.1 inches
- Weight: 7.2 ounces
- Wattage: 28 watts
- Material: Aluminum
Pros
- Produces full spectrum light
- Incredible blue and red light balance
- Four LED grow light bulb
- Built with durable material
Cons
- Light intensity may hurt the eyes
4
VIVOSUN 1000 Watt Metal Halide MH Grow Light Bulb
The VIVOSUN grow light bulb is a metal halide bulb with a high power output of 1000W. It has an incredible blue and violet light spectrum which boosts the growth of your plants. It also has a high PAR which stimulates photosynthesis and increases the yield per plant. With this grow light, you get the highest efficiency and power output. The light wavelength is high enough to promote healthy plant growth. Its lumen doesn’t depreciate as easily as other metal halides grow bulbs as it maintains about 90% of its initial lumen after working for up to 5,000 hours.
This grow light is pretty strong and has a high light intensity. The plants absorb about 80% of the light, and they are kept strong regardless of the weather. The grow light bulb is also pretty easy to set up, and it takes about 2 to 3 minutes after set up for the bright light to come up. It is built with very durable material that gives it a long lifespan of 24,000 hours. This MH bulb can be used with an air cool reflector hood or a wing reflector to improve its light dispersal. It is compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts.
Key Features:
- 105000 Lumens
- E39 base
- Blue and violet spectrum
- High PAR
Specification:
- Brand: VIVOSUN
- Model: VIVOSUN 1000 Watt Metal Halide MH Grow Light Bulb
- Dimension: 18.52 x 4.33 x 4.33 inches
- Weight: 1.02 pounds
- Wattage: 1000 watts
Pros
- Very Affordable
- Has an incredible spectrum
- Very powerful
- Has long lifespan
Cons
- Bulb may get faulty
5
VIVOSUN 1000 Watt HPS Grow Light Bulb
The VIVOSUN HPS grow light bulb is the best HPS grow light bulb on the market. It is a 1000W HPS bulb with 140000 Lumens and an E39 base. It is a very high-powered grow bulb, and it provides your plants with enough light that is almost the same as natural sunlight. This grow light is compatible with both electronic and magnetic ballasts so you can worry less about setting it up. It produces an optimized red and orange light spectrum to help promote photosynthesis. It also has a high PAR which helps to trigger the growth of your plants, increasing the yield from one plant.
The lumen doesn’t depreciate as fast as other HPS grow light bulbs, it maintains over 90% of its initial lumen even after using it for up to 5,000 hours. After setting up the grow light bulb, it takes about two to three minutes for it to be fully bright. The company advises to wait 5 minutes before putting it on after the power goes off; this ensures the bulb cools down before it starts to function. It has a long lifespan of 24,000 hours so you can use this bulb as long as you want. It has a dimmable setting that allows you to adjust the brightness of the bulb to suit the needs of your plants.
Key Features:
- 140000 Lumens
- Red and orange spectrum
- High PAR
- Low lumen depreciation
Specification:
- Brand: VIVOSUN
- Model: VIVOSUN 1000 Watt HPS Grow Light Bulb
- Dimension: 17.72 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches
- Weight: 14.4 ounces
- Wattage: 1000 watts
- Lifespan: 24,000 hours
Pros
- Light bulb is very powerful
- Has a long lifespan
- Affordable
- Lumen doesn’t depreciate fast
Cons
- Bulb may get faulty
6
XAMT Bulb 1000W Double Ended HPS Grow Light Bulb
The XAMT HPS grow light bulb is a double-ended HPS high-performance bulb with about 160,000 lumens. It is designed with top quality quartz glass jacket and has a color temperature of 2100K. It produces a high red and blue spectrum to boost photosynthesis. The red and blue spectrum are well-balanced to produce the right amount of light your plants need. The grow light bulb produces 35% more energy than most HPS grow bulbs. Its light spectrum is optimized to encourage the healthy growth of your plants. The bulb has no frame wire so you shouldn’t worry about shadows in the light beam. It is designed to work with high-frequency electronic ballasts. It is very easy to install and has a long lifespan.
Key Features:
- 160,000 lumens
- 2100K Color temp
- Red and blue spectrum
- Dimmable
Specification:
- Brand: XAMT
- Model: XAMT Bulb 1000W Double Ended HPS Grow Light Bulb
- Dimension: 16.97 x 3.46 x 2.44 inches
- Weight: 8.3 ounces
- Wattage: 1000 watts
Pros
- Has a high lumen output
- Good light spectrum
- Price is low
- Encourages photosynthesis
Cons
- High failure rate
Buying Guide Questions
What light bulbs are best for growing plants?
There are different types of grow light bulbs. In this review, we have included at least one of every type available. Our top choice is the GE BR30 grow light bulb. It is an LED light bulb which offers a full lighting spectrum to facilitate the growth of your plants. This grow light bulb offers a very pleasing light that’s similar to natural sunlight. It doesn’t give off too much heat or mess up the temperature in the grow room. The temperature it provides integrates perfectly with any decorative aesthetic in the room. It also lasts very long and is designed with top quality products that improve its durability. It uses about 9 watts of energy and generates very low heat. It consumes low energy and helps save cost. The grow light spectrum looks white to the eyes but produces a red/blue light spectrum that is best for your plants
Which light bulb is most like natural light?
Every grow light bulb in the review is very close to natural light. They produce the same light spectrum and provide your plants with all the benefits gotten from natural sunlight. The GE BR30 grow light bulb is the closest to natural sunlight.
Can any LED light bulb be used as a grow light?
You can definitely use any type of LED light to grow your plants as long as the light bulb is emitting the amount of light needed for the successful growth of your plants. Also, the warmth produced by the light bulb is needed by your plants. Most LED grow lights do not produce a lot of heat, and that may be an issue. If you want to purchase an LED light for your plants, ensure it produces a bit of heat.
Can you use regular light bulbs to grow plants?
Generally, you should be able to use regular light bulbs as grow lights. They produce the intensity and spectrum needed for your plants. However, some regular bulbs, like most LED bulbs, have been customized to produce a specific type of spectrum for your plants. Every light bulb is pretty different; you need them to produce red, blue or other wavelengths needed for your plants to grow. Most white lights have a great mix of these wavelengths needed by the plants.
Can I put a grow light bulb in a regular lamp?
Yes, you can put a grow light bulb in a regular lamp as long as the lamp has the right type of socket and capacity the bulb needs to function.
Are daylight LED bulbs bad for you?
All types of LED bulbs should be safe to use. They don’t pollute the environment with radiation as most lights do. They do not pose health hazards or harm the eyes. They also function at a very low voltage, making them completely safe to use at any time of the day.
What light bulb gives the whitest light?
For bulbs with the whitest light, the GE BR30 produces the whitest light which contains almost all wavelengths and full light spectrum produced by natural sunlight. Not only does it produce the whitest light, but it also provides high-quality light for your plants, allowing them to flourish all year long. It doesn’t give off too much heat or mess up the temperature in the grow room, making it the best bulb for growing plants indoors. The temperature it provides integrates perfectly with any decorative aesthetic in the room.
It is completely safe to use as it doesn’t emit harmful radiation neither does it hurt your eyes. It uses about 9 watts of energy, saves costs and generates very low heat. It produces white light. The light looks white to the eyes but produces a red and blue light spectrum similar to that of sunlight. This light spectrum ensures that your plants are healthy by facilitating photosynthesis. It also provides your plants with the best light with a very high PPF (Photosynthesis Photon Flux) of 16 micromoles per second.
Which light bulb is best for eyes?
The best type of grow light bulb for the eyes are compact fluorescent lights because they produce fewer UV rays and are energy efficient. However, when shopping for grow lights, you think about what is best for your plants. LED, HPS and metal halide grow light bulbs are the best for your plants. Your plants need UV and IR lights to grow well. These factors trigger photosynthesis allowing them to grow stronger and produce the nutrients they need for survival. To avoid hurting your eyes, you could get UV blocking glasses to eliminate the damage caused by the light when you are in the grow room.
Conclusion
Grow light bulbs have become incredibly popular among indoor gardeners. They are used in small spaces as well as large spaces and are very easy to set up and use. Many of these lights have a long lifespan; the LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours while the HPS and metal halide lights last up to 24,000 hours. You can use these lights without needing to replace them frequently. Grow light bulbs provide your plants with the same benefits gotten from natural sunlight.
The above guide on the six best grow light bulbs would make it easier for you to choose the best ones for your plants.