The Significance of Fluorescent Lights for Plants

Overview

Maybe you've heard that fluorescent lights are ideal for plants, but you've got no idea why they're better or you don't like the type of light they put out. If lighting for your plants is a priority, however, fluorescents are indeed superior to the more conventional incandescent bulbs for a number of reasons.

Significance

Fluorescent lights are cheaper to operate than incandescent plant lights, and they perform better too. Unlike incandescents, fluorescent lights do not put out heat while they operate. This means they won't scorch your plants. Fluorescent light also emits the proper color of light for plants (red or blue), which helps the plants grow.

Types

Fluorescent light comes in two types: warm and cool. Cool fluorescent lights emit red, yellow, orange and blue light, according to the University of Missouri. These are more popular than warm fluorescent lights. Gardeners can also find special fluorescent lights for plant growth; these emit a greater amount of red-spectrum light.

Purpose

Plant lights provide extra light for plants. If you're growing plants indoors and don't have adequate natural light, fluorescent lights can make up the difference. Plant lights also provide a boost for germinating seeds and enable you to keep plants indoors during the winter.

Amount

The amount of fluorescent light needed to help your plants thrive varies by the size of the plant and the plant's own light needs. The University of Missouri advises giving low-light plants 10 to 15 watts of fluorescent light per foot of plant growth; medium-light plants 15 or greater watts per foot of plant; and high-light plants 20 watts per foot of plant growth.

Alternatives

While fluorescent lights are recommended for growing plants, they aren't the only lighting options. If you're saving up for a fluorescent light system, use an incandescent bulb placed at least 12 inches from the plant. This won't provide as much light as fluorescent lights, but it will help until you acquire the fluorescent lighting.