(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best plant growing light bulbs

I’ve used a variety of bulbs screwed into lamp bases, both red-blue grow light bulbs, white full spectrum grow light bulbs, and high kelvin cold white CFL bulbs not specifically marketed as being for growing plants.

My experience is that all of the above definitely work...a CFL screwed into a task light and positioned 2” above an 8” pot gave me really nice, compact growth and gorgeous pink tips on my Echeveria ‘Bluebird’. These bulbs. Pros are that they are super affordable and didn’t burn my babies no matter how close they got. Cons are that I felt they reeeeeally needed to be super close to have a good effect.

I’m currently using these white LED grow lights screwed into a floor lamp that leaves the light positioned about 15” away from my succulents and my succs aren’t as compact as I’d like them to be so I’ve ordered some T5s to mount into the shelving instead. They are working great for my other light-loving plants like Pilea and Fiddle Leaf Fig though, where I’m able to position them directly above (~6”) the plants so clearly it does work, it just needs to be closer than it can reach my succulents. Pros are that it looks nicer than a red-blue grow light and won’t make your landlord think you’re growing weed. Cons are that they’re pricey.

I have this red-blue light positioned above my baby Monstera and the fat skank loves it and is going nuts, so Pro is that it works, Con is that the telltale magenta hue of red-blue grow lights is kind of fug (unless you really love magenta I suppose) and will probably make your landlord think you’re growing weed.

Always happy to share knowledge. :) All my lights are diy pendant lights so I don't have personal suggestions for clamp hood setups but here are a few suggestions:

Clamp light fixture - No personal experience with this one but it's a broader clamp hood to accomodate larger LED lights but they may poke out of the bottom of the hood. Ymmv


LED Light suggestions:

• Sansi - This is the light I use and I really like it. I have no useable windows in my apartment so all my plants are under 4 of these lights and they're all pushing out new leaves all the time. The monstera uses 2 bulbs as its become quite large. Sansi also makes this bulb in a couple lower watts if this one is too intense but you'll have to move your plants closer to the bulbs.
  
  
• GE - No personal experience with this one but the specs are really similar to the Sansi above. Btw/fyi, PPF/PPFD is a more accurate measurement of how much light is available for photosynthesis.
  
  
• iledlight - Again no personal experience but this looks like a super bright light, brighter than the Sansi or GE. I might consider buying this one to try on my monstera... 🤔
  
  Hope this helps and good luck! 🌱☘🍀

You will need to get one that is full spectrum. If you are going for a white light then your best bet is to go with flourescent. The LED full spectrum lights tend to be pink because of the blue and red spectrum. You can find white light full spectrum LEDs on Amazon but they are normally more expensive.


There is one that's not too pricey but it's big. I bought it and it works great. Here is what I bought. Im sure you can find something smaller if needed.


Miracle LED 604533 4-Foot 4' Full Spectrum LED Grow Light, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6N8MLF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_P2bADbNFTY8XQ

According to tank specifications, 7 gal is 45A model, tank 7 gal and filter 2 gal, total 9. This is fairly big tank for corals.

Water pump is 105 gph, replacing it with at least 160 gph should be better. I had similar tank 6 gal total with Mini Jet 606, 160 gph. Its advantage is that it's not wide and fits narrow chambers, allowing place heater above it, and its quiet.

Also I would place a piece of disposable filter floss on top of all filter media to keep it clean.

Looks like it doesn't have light, you could use gooseneck with ABI PAR38 LED 24W, it comes in 3 marine colors: Tuna blue, Blue (actinic) or white and blue, see spectrum of each of them. Or even two: actinic for morning-evening and another one for daytime.

You will need some reef rock, as main part of aquascaping, or take EcoReef Zero route, without it. Apart from RO water, salt, refractometer, test kits and additives, this should be main part of expenses. Depending on where you are, corals should be starting from $10, even $5 on sale. Even one head frag will grow.

I had fair growth of green star polyps, white pulsing xenia, rhodactis, frogspawn and neon green candycane in well fed tank with 18W 50-50 (white-blue) PC bulb, stock light of Nano Cube 6.

Price per watt/light output you can likely do better at Home Depot and the like due to higher economy of scale.

The spectrum is really more appropriate for greens like lettuce. Even then I'd be mixing in some white light. They are making a completely deceptive claim in stating: Please kindly note that plants do not use the entire spectrum of light. The chlorophyll and carotene only absorb the light at the range of two particular wavelength(blue 400-470nm and red 610-720nm).

I have no idea what sort of LEDs they are using (I would bet on cheap Epistar chips with the LEDs made in Shenzchen which is next to Hong Kong) but they are going to be bottom of the barrel at this price point particularly with their low economy of scale since since LED horticulture lighting is considered a niche industry (it's not generally discussed yet in industry trade journals on LED lighting, for example).

Even at about that price point you can do better with a 120 degree beam angle light more suitable for a bucket (but just by looking at this one I can spot an electrical safety issue):

https://www.amazon.com/Kyson-Greenhouse-Hydroponics-Aquatic-Spectrum/dp/B01CZS6EM2/ref=pd_sim_86_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51uHAFN3NLL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=21KFS9S8CDYAWV4ZP4J2

I would pass on the original light linked to particularly for confined grows like with Space Buckets.

I have been using this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019IFWJO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_41s7ybV2D6TK4
for about a month now and my air plants seem to love it. It's about 2 feet above them in my room. I try and keep my Bulbosa's and tropical species further off to the side, so it's not intense direct light they are receiving. While the more hardy desert-type species I can keep directly under the light, which has also had a great affect on the color. As well, I spray them all with a mister with water from my fish tank right before I turn on the lights each day. I soak once a week for 10-15 mins or dunk twice a week.

> When I think of gardening, I think of eerily heavy bass techno

lol. What's that? But can you find this product? And we have led plant growth lights on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071V7SBQ4?th=1

Please search TEQIN on amazon, and you will find more items in our shop.

Any assistance you need, please contact: w2331739684ency@gmail.com or facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/WencyWaung1012?ref=bookmarks

links to the lights i bought which seem to have suited me well so far, and the model i based mine on. i used 5 gal buckets but would do w 7 gals if i started over, more room inside, check the microgrowery sub and this one, lots of info to sift through but everyone was super helpful!

https://www.spacebuckets.com/the-mad-scientist/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077YK18TP/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S1M78G/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sure! Here is a dual bar light type and a circle type. Here's also a more low profile type you can clamp to the shelf above: top down light.. With any of these, for ease of use I recommend getting an outlet timer, takes a lot of the hassle/worry out of making sure your babies get enough sun: outlet timer. Hope this helps!

Thank you! Yes, I have a light kind of like this one that I put my favorite (Vega) under and the rest sit in the windowsill. They still don't grow nearly as well as they do in the summer, but it's better than nothing!

For any plant that looks bulbasaur-ish (Sempervivum, Echeveria, and some Haworthia varaties [Haworthia v. Cooperi maybe?]), yes.

Without light the plant will become etiolated, quickly growing tall as it can and folding it's leaves out as flat as it can in search of light resulting in a tall weak stemmed plant that will often fall over. Haworthias can be OK with just the light from a windowsill though and the leaves don't really grow from a stem that will stretch out with lack of light.

For Sempervivums and Echeverias a few hours under something like this(or any full spectrum light, there are cheaper versions out there) daily is enough to keep them happy. edit: They'd probably also be happy enough in the windowsill but they'd get tall enough to look strange in a bulbasaur pot pretty quickly.

It really is a difficult hobby. The common advice is that people should grow cubensis (magic illegal mushrooms) first- that is considered the beginner entry point for the hobby.

Your best bet would be to buy a shiitake grow kit, which is essentially a pre-made block that you just mist and eventually it sprouts the shrooms. [Example] (https://www.amazon.com/Shiitake-Mushroom-Kit-Growing-Mushrooms/dp/B0009IR4CK#customerReviews). I dont really recommend this though, but its great edible science project. You can probably find cheaper shittake ones online.

Whats a much better alternative is this. Chop yourself a bunch of logs and Drill some holes into them. Plug them up with these and use the wax (provided) and then just put them in a dry place. Wait about a year. You will have a supply of mushrooms that will last about 3 years.

I think the reason you're not getting blooms on some is low light. Cattleyas need 2000-3000 fc (according to the AOS, which is in line with everything else I've read). Oncidiums (which I'm pretty sure is what you other non-bloomer is) like quite a bit of light too, mine are in an east-facing window that gets full sun only filtered by a window screen until noon. The only cattleya I've had for a while hasn't flowered either, I got this light for it and had to raise it up a little because the leaves started reddening so I know it's about as much light as it can handle. Hoping for blooms next year.

For six plants all you need is a 400w HPS (high pressure sodium) bulb for veg and a 400w MH (metal halide) for flower, a 400w digital ballast, an enclosed light hood that you can raise and lower, a carbon filter connected to a 442 cfm duct fan connected to an aluminum foil duct hose, connect duct hose to the enclosed light hood, get some more aluminum foil duct to connect to the other side of the enclosed hood and have the other end of the duct hose going out of your tent or cab. wish I could post a pic of a custom cab I built. IMO I would go with a tent because you can always take it down if you want a break from growing. As far as what type of medium you are going to grow in e.g. hydroponics or soil that is up to you. Soil is easier as hydro doesn't give you much room for error you have to have everything dialed in almost exact like the ppms/temp/ph but once you get the hang of hydro your grows are much faster. If you use the 400w lights for six plants you will get maximum yield from your plants. For veg run the lights 24 hours and flower 12/12. Get a timer for your light bulbs when you decide to put your plants into flower so you don't have to worry about turning the light on and off, I'll include links for everything. Oh yeah I would not use seeds I would wait until dispensaries have clones that way you don't have to wonder if your plant will end up being a male or a female, obviously you want female plants.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVF16JG?aaxitk=OqDYL7cHO0Hl.eJntLB1bQ&pd_rd_i=B00MVF16JG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3ff6092e-8451-438b-8278-7e94064b4d42&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=digital+timer+for+growing&hsa_cr_id=5402338260101&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F41AN07ub6IL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B00MVF16JG

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https://www.amazon.com/Yescom-Scrubber-Hydroponic-Control-Ventilation/dp/B00BI5BIC0

https://www.amazon.com/COOCANKE-Flexible-Insulated-Ventilation-Resistance/dp/B06Y45YY5M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542130261&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=foil+duct+tube&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Yield-Lab-Horticulture-Dimmable-Digital/dp/B00YB4YZNO/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542130298&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=400w+digital+ballast&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Hortilux-HX66620-400-Watt-EyeHortilux/dp/B00598GSVS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1542130342&sr=8-5&keywords=400w+hps+bulb

https://www.amazon.com/Hortilux-Daylight-Halide-Ballast-Compatible/dp/B00WV8XPBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542130397&sr=8-1&keywords=400w+mh+hortilux+bulb

https://www.amazon.com/Hongville-Hydroponic-Cooled-Reflector-System/dp/B077QRGS8S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1542130510&sr=8-2&keywords=air+cooled+enclosed+reflector+hood+for+mh+and+hps

https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-Adjustable-Improved-Internal/dp/B0098R0600/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp__2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0098R0600&pd_rd_r=42bfbd0f-3428-487a-a101-99fd4a212a84&pd_rd_w=VUoI9&pd_rd_wg=Loy0k&psc=1&refRID=0X37K56JC417SB7KVZ2Z

Pretty sure it's a grow bulb. Not a lot of brands use the black like that. This might be a similar product https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NY2L65/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_AEcTCb6RFHT98

LEDs require a specific current, not a specific voltage. I know that sounds odd, but these COB LEDs will continue to consume current until they burn out, so they need a constant current driver in order to regulate the current that's delivered to them. The actual voltage that is delivered can vary, but it's typically somewhere between 12V and 48V.

I have the materials to build just such a setup, but I've read that the Cree COB LEDs I have don't put out a very good light spectrum for plants. I've got the goods, though, so we'll see how it works out.

While I'm talking about it, here are the light sources I have:

• Apollo Purple Reign 400/600/1000 Ballast
  
• Philips 400W HPS
  
• Philips 400W MH
  
• Apollo 400W MH
  
• Apollo 24W LED Red/Blue
  
• GE 24W T5HO
  
• Sola F24T5/HO
  
• ALZO 85W CFL
  
  Curious to see how the LEDs compare. FWIW, the scotch bonnet plant I have underneath the Apollo 24W R/B LED has a pronounced preference for the 400W MH that is orthogonally located about five feet away.

What are you thoughts on something like this?

I picked one up and am convinced it’s been helping my plants that require more light than one room in my apartment can provide.

Yes, I am using it in my spacebucket. To be specific I am using this Mrhua light LOL. It does the job though.

The issue is that reflector. for a 1000w setup, you need to actively cool it with a hood like this

https://www.amazon.com/iPower-Inch-Cooled-Reflector-Light/dp/B00BDGHIC8/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1527539060&sr=8-8&keywords=hid+lamp+hood

Are you referring to this light?

If so, I would dump it immediately and at least use CFLs. That bulb is a blue tinted incandesent bulb which are technically not suitable for growing at all. They are 3-4% efficient, versus cfls which are 7-15%. And compared to quantum board LEDs which are 55-70% efficient.

So they'll output a lot of heat and produce very VERY little usable light for plants.

just seems like my plants are more receptive and perkier under the cfl and under the leds they are droopy and kinda weak really. ph 6.5 , no over or under watering "they stay wet longer under the leds". the led lights are bright but again, doesn't seem like that translates into better growth than my cfl.

in a few weeks time, I just feel that the cfl with highly out perform the led =/ well see though "and again I might be growing under leds wrong" but so far besides the cool colors I'd probably would have gone with this. since I already bought them maybe I'll swap the leds into my flower room for supplemental lighting and get the t5 for veg.

Here is the 250 W MH bulb you want. But this one is also very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgb_Khtqa1Q

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HHQF9JJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AK.QCbC6PDCV8 this one’s better

I am looking to buy this growlight for 6 of my succulents. Will this be enough?

i got this : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079NM682K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shiitake mushroom kit.

Here’s the Amazon link!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075NY2L65/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This:
https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLBMH400-Metal-Halide/dp/B0081IC0DI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475175996&sr=8-2&keywords=400w+mh+bulb

Similar to this -- https://www.amazon.com/GE-Lighting-20996-65-Watt-Plant/dp/B000HJ743U

Here's a link to my last post.

That fancy LED grow light failed after two days, so I replaced it with a 5000K CFL that I had laying around. Maybe not ideal but it gets the job done.

Also, I added sheets of aluminum foil for two purposes: to reduce evaporation and to reflect more light to the plants.

The tallest plant is maybe six inches; the shortest (a habanero pepper) is only two.

This is the link for the lights, they are not super great: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M2D5SGI/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does that help?

I've jut put it under this bulb.

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L88B9ZD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
  they're about 2.5 feet from the light. i do also have some red/blue ones that i plan to stop using (black leds pictured)

It's a 3 gallon tub from home depot with mint cuttings. 4 are in net pots suspended at water lever with Styrofoam. The two in the center at just side attempts.

But it's that one LED bulb providing enough light for the plants?

This is the bulb I got (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013OMDSIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_D6Kmxb6YKTPC8)