Fluorescent Plant Light

Reader Contribution by Barbara Pleasant
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by Adobestock/Stephen

What are the best grow lights for starting seeds indoors? Learn about fluorescent plant lights and what fluorescent bulbs are best for growing to start seeds indoors.

Suitable supplemental lighting is better for starting seeds than the light coming through most windows would be. A setup of lights will allow you to grow a much wider range of vegetable varieties, which will make your garden even more interesting and fun. Until recently, most seed starters used inexpensive fluorescent T12 shop lights, with the height of the lights adjusted so the plants were very close to the bulbs — within a half-inch for full-sun plants, such as tomatoes and peppers.

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But two new and better choices, T8 and T5 bulbs, are now available. In fluorescent-light lingo, the “T” stands for “tube,” and the number represents the bulb’s diameter. Old-line T12 fluorescent bulbs are still cheap and easy to find, but for a few dollars more per bulb, you could upgrade to more slender T8 bulbs, which are up to 40 percent more efficient. Plants get plenty of light when grown within 2 inches beneath T8 bulbs. You can usually find a 4-foot-long, Energy Star-certified, two-bulb T8 fixture at retail stores for about $20, plus another $10 for the bulbs.

  • Updated on Jan 8, 2023
  • Originally Published on Nov 7, 2014
Tagged with: Barbara Pleasant, gardening, grow lights, lighting, Reader Contributions, Seed Starting
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