If you tried finding a suitable grow light for your houseplants, you surely know how difficult it is to select the best grow lights for tropical plants that are not only strong enough to keep your plants alive but also look great. To save you time and money, I tested and reviewed many grow lights for indoor plants currently available on the market in 2023. By the time you’re done reading this article, you should feel confident enough to give one of these plant lights a try.
Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plants
I love using indoor plant lights and I use several kinds for my indoor jungle. But the fact is I didn’t nail the best ones right away. A comprehensive trial and error process, as well as thorough research and testing, helped me choose the best grow lights for indoor plants. Each and every one of these best grow lights were carefully selected and measured to make sure that they are strong enough to keep your plants not just alive but healthy and beautiful.
Based on my firsthand experience I can recommend to you these products that will help your indoor plants live their best life.
Rousseau Pendant Grow Light (Best Overall)
The Rousseau LED Grow Light pendant provides a strong ambient and complete sunlight replacement for tropical plants, cacti, and succulents. It’s rated for 15 years of continuous use and includes 2 cord guides as well as ceiling mount hardware.
SPECIFICATION:
- Wattage: 35 watts
- PPFD at 60 degree angle (at distance of 1 foot/30 cm): 400 umol/m2/s
- DLI at 1 foot/30 cm (60 degree angle, 16 hours): 23 mol/m2/day
- Price: high
- Dimensions: 3″ Diameter x 10″ tall. 18ft cloth-covered cord with switch
- Warranty: This grow lamp is covered by a 5-year warranty and lifetime support. If anything goes wrong with the it within the first 5 years, a replacement will be sent for free; if anything goes wrong after that, they guarantee to work with you to repair it.
The Rousseau LED Grow Light pendant provides a strong ambient and complete sunlight replacement for tropical plants, cacti, and succulents. It’s rated for 15 years of continuous use and includes 2 cord guides as well as ceiling mount hardware.
Specification:
- Wattage: 35 watts
- PPFD at 60 degree angle (at distance of 1 foot/30 cm): 400 µmol/m2/s
- DLI at 1 foot/30 cm (60 degree angle, 16 hours): 23 mol/m2/day
- Price: high
- Dimensions: 3″ Diameter x 10″ tall. 18ft cloth-covered cord with switch
- Warranty: This grow lamp is covered by a 5-year warranty and lifetime support. If anything goes wrong with the it within the first 5 years, a replacement will be sent for free; if anything goes wrong after that, they guarantee to work with you to repair it.
PROS
CONS
- It has a great design which goes well with any interior. This is particularly important and beneficial because there aren’t many high-quality grow lights that look good and don’t make your home look like a nursery.
- It’s 4000K full-spectrum light which means it’s not a purple light but contains enough blue light and red light to successfully imitate natural sunlight.
- You can grow full-sun plants underneath this grow light, it’s that strong.
- You can buy it with or without a timer.
- You can adjust the angle of the beam (which is not possible with its competitor Soltech Solutions), so the light can be either more focused and stronger if you’re growing only one plant under it, or you can make the angle wider, so it covers a larger area. Also, it doesn’t have a glare, while Soltech Solutions does have a bit.
- If you’re from the U.S, by buying this light you would be supporting a small U.S. business.
- Different colors are available; it comes in white and black.
- There is no glare from this full spectrum LED light, which is a common issue with some of the best grow lights.
- And the last, but not least important, you can get 15% off by using the code MRHOUSE15 at checkout.
- It’s not the most affordable light but is still cheaper than a lot of bigger lights.
- The area it covers is relatively small, so It’s only good for growing one larger plant or a few small ones.
PROS
- It has a great design which goes well with any interior. This is particularly important and beneficial because there aren’t many high-quality grow lights that look good and don’t make your home look like a nursery.
- It’s 4000K full-spectrum grow light which means it’s not a purple light but contains enough blue light and red light to successfully imitate natural sunlight.
- You can grow full-sun plants underneath this grow light, it’s that strong.
- You can buy it with or without a timer.
- You can adjust the angle of the beam (which is not possible with its competitor Soltech Solutions), so the light can be either more focused and stronger if you’re growing only one plant under it, or you can make the angle wider, so it covers a larger area. Also, it doesn’t have a glare, while Soltech Solutions does have a bit.
- If you’re from the U.S, by buying this light you would be supporting a small U.S. business.
- Different colors are available; it comes in white and black.
- There is no glare from this full spectrum LED light, which is a common issue with some of the best grow lights.
- You can get 15% off by using the code MRHOUSE15 at checkout.
CONS
- It’s not the most affordable light but is still cheaper than a lot of bigger lights.
- The area it covers is relatively small, so It’s only good for growing one larger plant or a few small ones.
FAQ about Rousseau Pendant Grow Light
Which plants can I grow under Rousseau Sparrowhawk grow light?
Based on my experience and testing, you can grow any plant, succulent or tropical.
How long should I keep the light on and how close to the plant?
For succulents, keep the light on between 12 and 16 hours, at a distance from 1 to 1.5 feet. For tropicals, keep between 8 and 16 hours, at a distance of 1.5 to 2.5 feet. For detailed information for a specific species, visit my Grow Light Finder, type your plant’s name and get precise info. You can read my other article for a more detailed review of the Rousseau grow light.
DOMMIA Shelf LED Grow Light (Best For Shelves)
This is a great indoor plant grow light I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s one of the best grow lights, great for shelves because it’s so thin. Dommia Shelf Grow Light panel is composed of 2 individual light panels that you can connect in a rectangular or square shape. It has more red light, so it’s excellent for promoting flowering.
SPECIFICATION:
- Wattage: 20 watts
- PPFD at distance of 1 foot/30 cm: 100 umol/m2/s
- DLI at 1 foot/30cm (16 hours): 5.76 mol/m2/day
- PPFD at distance of 2 inches/5 cm: 500 umol/m2/s
- DLI at 2 inches/5 cm (16 hours): 28.80 mol/m2/day
- Price: low
- Dimensions: 10.25 by 7.875″ (if assembled as a square) or 20.5 by 3.93 ” (if assembled as a rectangle)
- Warranty: 12-month warranty, 30 days money-back guarantee.
This is a great indoor plant grow light I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s one of the best grow lights, great for shelves because it’s so thin. Dommia Shelf Grow Light panel is composed of 2 individual light panels that you can connect in a rectangular or square shape. It has more red light, so it’s excellent for promoting flowering.
Specification:
- Wattage: 20 watts
- PPFD at distance of 1 foot/30 cm: 100 µmol/m2/s
- DLI at 1 foot/30cm (16 hours): 5.76 mol/m2/day
- PPFD at distance of 2 inches/5 cm: 500 µmol/m2/s
- DLI at 2 inches/5 cm (16 hours): 28.80 mol/m2/day
- Price: low
- Dimensions: 10.25 by 7.875″ (if assembled as a square) or 20.5 by 3.93 ” (if assembled as a rectangle)
- Warranty: 12-month warranty, 30 days money-back guarantee.
PROS
CONS
- You can install it in a cabinet, under a cabinet, or a grow shelf. You can also hang it from the ceiling.
- It’s very thin, practically invisible when you install it under a shelf.
- It’s affordable.
It’s a full-spectrum plant grow light. - It can cover several smaller-sized plants
- It’s great for small plants at close proximity, but not good for larger plants that are further.
PROS
- You can install it in a cabinet, under a cabinet, or a grow shelf. You can also hang it from the ceiling.
- It’s very thin, practically invisible when you install it under a shelf.
- It’s affordable.
- It’s a full-spectrum plant grow light.
- It can cover several smaller-sized plants
CONS
- It’s great for small plants at close proximity, but not good for larger plants that are further.
FAQ about Dommia Shelf Grow Light
Which plants can I grow under it?
Based on my firsthand experience, you can use this type of light for growing smaller to medium-sized houseplants, both succulents, and tropicals.
How long should I keep the light on and how close to the plant?
For succulents, keep the light on between 12 and 16 hours, at a distance from 3 to 5 inches. For tropicals, keep it on between 8 and 12 hours, at a distance of 8 to 10 inches.
For detailed information for a specific species, visit my Grow Light Finder, type your plant’s name and get precise info.
Sansi 36W Grow Bulb (Best For Large Plants)
Sansi LED Grow Light Bulb is a full-spectrum LED light that imitates the solar spectrum and is great for all plant development stages.
SPECIFICATION:
- Wattage: 33W
- PPFD (at 1 foot/30 cm): 510 umol/m2/s
- DLI (at 1 foot/30 cm, 16 hour photoperiod): 29.38 mol/m2/day
- Price: medium
- Color Temperature: 6,000K
- Dimensions: 5.16 x 5.16 x 6.65 inches
- Warranty: 5-years warranty,
- ETL listed & CE certification
Sansi LED Grow Light Bulb is a full-spectrum LED light that imitates the solar spectrum and is great for all plant development stages.
Specification:
- Wattage: 33W
- PPFD (at 1 foot/30 cm): 510 µmol/m2/s
- DLI (at 1 foot/30 cm, 16 hour photoperiod): 29.38 mol/m2/day
- Price: medium
- Color Temperature: 6,000K
- Dimensions: 5.16 x 5.16 x 6.65 inches
- Warranty: 5-years warranty,
- ETL listed & CE certification
PROS
CONS
- It’s a grow light bulb, not a standalone grow light, so you can use it with most floor or desk lamps
- Very strong, you can grow full-sun plants underneath it or tropicals
- Price is relatively good
- It’s a full-spectrum light, with sufficient blue light and red light to imitate the sun
- Use “HOUSEPLANT16” for 16% off of 1-pack
- You need a lamp because it’s not a stand-alone light.
- There is a slight glare from the light, but it covers a wider area than the GE bulb, covered as the 5th light in this article.
- The area it covers is relatively small, so It’s only good for growing one larger plant or a few small ones
PROS
- It’s a grow light bulb, not a standalone grow light, so you can use it with most floor or desk lamps
- Very strong, you can grow full-sun plants underneath it or tropicals
- Price is relatively good
- It’s a full-spectrum light, with sufficient blue light and red light to imitate the sun
- Use “HOUSEPLANT16” for 16% off of 1-pack
CONS
- You need a lamp because it’s not a stand-alone light.
- There is a slight glare from the light, but it covers a wider area than the GE bulb, covered as the 5th light in this article.
- The area it covers is relatively small, so It’s only good for growing one larger plant or a few small ones
FAQ about Sansi 36W Grow Bulb
Which plants can I grow under it?
You can grow both succulents and tropicals under Sansi 36W Grow Bulb.
How long should I keep the light on and how close to the plant?
For growing succulents, cacti, and ficuses keep this source of light on for 12 to 16 hours at a distance from 1 to 1.5 feet. Growing ferns and dracaena plants require this light to stay on for 8 to 16 hours (or 8 to 12 hours) at a distance from 1.5 to 2.5 feet. For detailed information for a specific species, visit my Grow Light Finder, type your plant’s name and get precise info.
GE 32W Grow Bulb (2nd Best For Large Plants)
GE 32W Grow Bulb is a full-spectrum, LED grow light that provides high Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) to bring more light and easily enable photosynthesis and growth. Its white light is very appealing as it appears more natural to the human eye, but it is also easier to spot pests or discolorations and keep your plants healthy under this light, compared to purple lights.
SPECIFICATION:
- Wattage: 32W
- PPFD (at 1 foot/30 cm): 820 umol/m2/s
- DLI (at 1 foot/30 cm, 16 hours): 47 mol/m2/ms
- Price: medium
- Dimensions: 5.2 x 5.2 x 5.94 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited
GE 32W Grow Bulb is a full-spectrum, LED grow light that provides high Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) to bring more light and easily enable photosynthesis and growth. Its white light is very appealing as it appears more natural to the human eye, but it is also easier to spot pests or discolorations and keep your plants healthy under this light, compared to purple lights.
Specification:
- Wattage: 32W
- PPFD (at 1 foot/30 cm): 820 µmol/m2/s
- DLI (at 1 foot/30 cm, 16 hours): 47 mol/m2/ms
- Price: medium
- Dimensions: 5.2 x 5.2 x 5.94 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited
PROS
CONS
- It’s a grow bulb, not a standalone grow light, so you can use it with most floor or desk lamps.
- Very strong, you can grow full-sun plants underneath it or tropicals.
- It’s full-spectrum light, with sufficient blue light and red light to imitate the sun.
- Doesn’t have a glare, the way the Sansi 36W bulb does, because the beam is more focused. This is why it provides a stronger light than Sansi 36W.
- Excellent for smaller-sized plants, tropicals, and succulents.
- It covers a slightly smaller area than Sansi 36W, but as Sansi, the area it covers is relatively small, so It’s only good for growing one larger plant or a few small ones
- It has a hint of a purple in the light, which can be seen in the shadows that the light makes. It’s not a big deal, doesn’t make a difference in growing plants indoors, nor a big difference in ambiance.
PROS
- It’s a grow bulb, not a standalone grow light, so you can use it with most floor or desk lamps.
- Very strong, you can grow full-sun plants underneath it or tropicals.
- It’s full-spectrum light, with sufficient blue light and red light to imitate the sun.
- Doesn’t have a glare, the way the Sansi 36W bulb does, because the beam is more focused. This is why it provides a stronger light than Sansi 36W.
- Excellent for smaller-sized plants, tropicals, and succulents.
CONS
- It covers a slightly smaller area than Sansi 36W, but as Sansi, the area it covers is relatively small, so It’s only good for growing one larger plant or a few small ones
- It has a hint of a purple in the light, which can be seen in the shadows that the light makes. It’s not a big deal, doesn’t make a difference in growing plants indoors, nor a big difference in ambiance.
FAQ about GE 32W Grow Bulb
Which plants can I grow under it?
You can grow both succulents and tropicals in any stage of growth.
How long should I keep the light on and how close to the plant?
Succulents, cacti, and ficuses need this grow light on for 12 to 16 hours at a distance of 1 to 1.5 feet, while tropicals need it on for about 8 to 12 hours at 2 feet. For detailed information for a specific species, visit my Grow Light Finder, type your plant’s name and get precise info.
Sansi 15W Grow Bulb (Best For Medium Plants)
This full-spectrum grow light produces a mix of wavelengths ranging from 400nm to 780nm, which is perfect for all stages of plant development. Its white light is less disturbing and more serene, providing a tranquil ambiance for plant growth. Highly efficient and easy to install, Sansi 15W Grow Bulb covers the entire visible spectrum of 400nm-780nm and its red color temperature is close to 5000k.
SPECIFICATION:
- Wattage: 15 W
- DLI at 1 foot/30cm (16 hours): 13.36 mol/m2/day
- PPFD at distance of 1 foot/30 cm: 232 umol/m2/s
- Price: low
- Color Temperature: 4,000 K
- Dimensions: 4.72 x 3.31 x 3.23 inches
- Warranty: 5-year guarantee
This full-spectrum grow light produces a mix of wavelengths ranging from 400nm to 780nm, which is perfect for all stages of plant development. Its white light is less disturbing and more serene, providing a tranquil ambiance for plant growth. Highly efficient and easy to install, Sansi 15W Grow Bulb covers the entire visible spectrum of 400nm-780nm and its red color temperature is close to 5000k.
Specification:
- Wattage: 15 W
- DLI at 1 foot/30cm (16 hours): 13.36 mol/m2/day
- PPFD at distance of 1 foot/30 cm: 232 µmol/m2/s
- Price: low
- Color Temperature: 4,000 K
- Dimensions: 4.72 x 3.31 x 3.23 inches
- Warranty: 5-year guarantee
PROS
CONS
- It’s a grow light bulb, so you can use it with most floor or desk lamps
- Full-spectrum light, has sufficient blue light and red light to imitate the sun
- Excellent for smaller-sized plants, tropicals, and succulents
- Has no glare
- Very affordable
- Use “HOUSEPLANT16” for 16% off of 1-pack
- It covers a slightly smaller area than Sansi 36W
PROS
- It’s a grow light bulb, so you can use it with most floor or desk lamps
- Full-spectrum light, has sufficient blue light and red light to imitate the sun
- Excellent for smaller-sized plants, tropicals, and succulents
- Has no glare
- Very affordable
- Use “HOUSEPLANT16” for 16% off of 1-pack
CONS
- It covers a slightly smaller area than Sansi 36W
FAQ about Sansi 15W Grow Light
Which plants can I grow under it?
It’s best for growing smaller-sized plants, tropicals, and succulents.
How long should I keep the light on and how close to the plant?
For succulents and cacti, keep it on for 12 to 16 hours at a distance of 0.5 to 1 feet. Tropical plants need it on for 12 to 16 hours at a distance of 1 to 2 feet. For detailed information for a specific species, visit my Grow Light Finder, type your plant’s name and get precise info.
Research
Why You Should Trust Mr. Houseplant
I have been growing house plants for over 10 years. I have been growing house plants under full spectrum LED lights for over 6 years. This allowed me to learn about different types of grow lights, how to measure their intensity, how to determine the proper distance between the light and the plant, and other intricacies of growing indoor plants under grow lights. I owned a venus flytrap production business for several years. And during that time, I grew venus flytraps under fluorescent lights, which helped me significantly expand my knowledge about grow lights.
During my houseplant career, I had the opportunity to use and test many different brands of full spectrum LED lights – Rousseau, Sansi, GE, Soltech Solutions, Spider Farmer, and many other well-known and less-known grow lights.
I compiled the list of the Top 5 Best Indoor Plant Lights based on my personal tests of the products, my personal experience with grow lights, and the feedback of my community of over half a million people that follow me on social media.
How Mr. Houseplant Selected And Tested Products
I identified the key decision making factors for grow lights and tested 15 grow lights to see how they measure for each of the factors. The key decision making factors were: 1) grow light intensity 2) design 3) price 4) coverage area 5) glare 6) features that set it apart from the competition and 7) warranty
I tested 15 grow lights with a PAR meter (a grow light meter) at different distances to determine the full spectrum light intensity and the coverage area, and how well the lights keep their intensity at different distances. I checked whether the grow lights produce a glare. I’ve had these grow lights for over 3 years and have been using them every single day on my houseplants. I tested how different indoor plants react to each of these lights, at different distances, after exposure of several weeks to several months. I also looked whether the grow lights have features that set them apart from the competition.
Based on the key decision making factors previously mentioned, I determined the top 5 best indoor plant lights.
Please note that using a PAR meter (a grow light meter) is the only reliable way to test grow lights.
Why Are Grow Lights So Important
As a plant lover, you already know that light is plant food and that plants cannot live, let alone thrive without it. The more light you provide, the happier and healthier your plants will be. More light provided by grow lights helps your plants to photosynthesize more, grow faster, and produce bigger leaves and more sugars for their development.
The good thing is that you can achieve the equivalent of bright indirect light or even direct sun with grow lights if you’re not lucky enough to have large windows with an unobstructed view of the sky, especially if you use good, tested grow lights.
To get great results with best grow lights for indoor plants, you need to be aware of the importance of selecting a good grow light that produces enough light of sufficient intensity to keep your plants alive. I see people buying lights that are very weak and only useful at very close distances of 2 to 4 inches away from the plant.
Measuring an indoor plant light requires a relatively expensive device called a PAR meter. The price of a PAR meter is usually around 500 USD or more. But you can occasionally find a more affordable PAR meter.
To save you from the hassle of buying a PAR meter and learning how to test grow lights, I tested dozens of different indoor plant lights and selected the best ones for you.
What Are Indoor Plant Lights Used For
Grow lights are used by both houseplant lovers and professional plant nurseries for supplementing natural light or fully replacing it, for growing plants of good quality and plant propagation. These lights stimulate photosynthesis and provide the right color spectrum for the plants to grow and thrive.
Whether you will use grow lights depends on the amount of natural light available in an apartment you live in and your plant’s needs for light.
If you grow plants in an apartment that has small windows or north-facing windows (if you’re living in the northern hemisphere), or in a basement apartment with minimum or no light for most of the day, you will need to use an indoor plant light to supplement or fully replace natural light. If you’re living in the southern hemisphere (South America, Australia, part of Africa) and have south-facing windows, they receive the least amount of light, so in that case, you might need to consider grow lights.
Seasonal changes and not enough light during wintertime can also nudge you to use grow lights to supplement the amount of light your houseplants usually receive during other seasons.
Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plants
I love using indoor plant lights and I use several kinds for my indoor jungle. But the fact is I didn’t nail the best ones right away. A comprehensive trial and error process, as well as independent research and testing, helped me choose the best grow lights for indoor plants. And I’m so happy I can recommend to you these products that will help your indoor plants live their best life.
Each and every one of these grow lights were carefully selected and measured to make sure that they are strong enough to keep your plants not just alive but healthy and beautiful. I measured their intensity with a PAR meter (a light meter that measures light useful for plants, light between 400 and 700 um). I have also been using these grow lights on my houseplants for a while, and some of them for several years.
Enjoy The Efficiency and Aesthetics of The Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plants
If you’re in doubt and would like to explore more lights, use my Grow Light Finder, a simple yet incredibly effective system, to select the perfect plant grow light for your houseplants. Whether you’re a plant enthusiast or a professional, you’ll find it very useful.
In case you need a consultation to set up best grow lights at your home or you have more questions for me, please, don’t hesitate to book a personal consultation with me.
I hope you have all the information you needed to set up a highly efficient grow light system for your houseplants and enjoy them regardless of the amount of natural light you have in your home.
Yours Truly,
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