Does Lamp Light Help Plants? 10+ Tips for Using Grow Lights

Does lamp light help plants? Absolutely yes, and even more so! However, in fact, it is advised to invest in grow light fixtures rather than utilizing ordinary lights for indoor plant development, as grow light fixtures are made to specifically fit the needs of grow light bulbs and give plants better light exposure. Some people even wonder, “Can a regular lamp help plants grow?” without getting hold of the most effective lamp to promote plant growth. This article focuses on that issue and helps you find out the most useful tips for using growing lights for plants.  

How Do Plants Use Light?

Lighting affects the overall growth of plants throughout the process called photosynthesis, during which chlorophyll A is the primary pigment responsible for capturing light energy. While chlorophyll reflects green light, it absorbs mainly blue and red wavelengths, which means that plants reflect green light rather than absorb it.

The photosynthetic physiology theorized by Marc W. Van Lersel believes that red and blue light have a higher quantum yield of CO2 assimilation than green light. In all cases, a light source emitting red and blue colors is more energy-efficient than one that wastes energy by emitting light at the incorrect wavelength. This explains the importance of choosing the right lamp with usable light wavelengths and intensities for plants. 

Therefore, to the questions like “does a light from a lamp help plants?” or “will a lamp help plants grow?”, the answer is yes but be careful that specific kinds of lamps have different color emissions for plants. 

What Types of Lamp Lights Can Be Used to Grow Plants?

So, “Can a regular lamp help plants grow?” - Yes, many people are using regular lamps to grow plants. However, these lamps do not adequately deliver the full light spectrum for plants to completely grow and thrive. 

In fact, a variety of bulbs can solve these disadvantages of regular lamps and help grow houseplants effectively, including high intensity discharge bulbs, halogen, fluorescent, incandescent, and LED lights. Since every type of plant may need a different amount of light intensity and duration to undergo photosynthesis, it requires a few studies of plants’ demands before growing a plant with a lamp.

Types of Lamps	Features	Usage	Price
LED bulbs	Long lifespan Low heat production Higher light intensity	Suitable for large growing areas and plants like succulents, herbs, and flowering plants, like African and violets.	$7.9
Fluorescent light with Fluorescent tubes	Low heat production Weak light intensity	Ideal for plants with low to medium light requirements, like bromeliads, ferns, orchids or African violas.	$9.9
Fluorescent light with Compact fluorescent light (CFL)	Low heat production Broad light spectrum	Ideal for low-light plants  such as carnivorous plants, ferns and monsteras.	$11.98
High intensity discharge bulbs with Metal-halide (MH)	Massive light intensity  Blue-light spectrum	Suitable for vegetative growth of leafy greens, herbs, microplants, and sprouts, like spinach and basil.	$17.9
High pressure sodium (HPS)	Strong light intensity Long life span Orange or red spectrum	Ideal for vegetables in flowering stage, especially vegetables, herbs, flowers and cannabis.	$13.6
Incandescent light bulbs	High heat production Ultra-short life span	Can be used for herbs, spider plants, aloe vera and venus flytraps.	$7.9
Halogen Bulbs	Short life span Combustible	Not recommended as grow lamps but can be used for succulents, herbs, and microgreens.	$20

Note: Please note that prices as shown are valid at the time of publication and are subject to change without prior notice.

Can A Regular Lamp Help Plants Grow?

Yes, regular lamp bulbs can support plant growth, but less efficiently than grow lamps because regular bulbs may not provide the specific spectrum needed for optimal plant growth, while grow lamps are tailored to offer a balanced spectrum of red and blue light, essential for photosynthesis and healthy plant development. 

Incandescent bulbs, which are common in household lamps, consume more electricity and emit more heat compared to LEDs. Therefore, when selecting a light source for plant growth, it’s important to consider not just the light’s ability to support growth, but also the light spectrum, intensity, and heat output. Grow light bulbs are designed to fit into all of these features and would be an example when answering the question, “Does lamp light help plants?”

10+ Tips for Growing Plants with Lamps

Here are 10+ tips Hirosart has curated to help you grow plants effectively with lighting:

Set the Lights on a Timer

“Does light from a lamp help plants?” - Yes, and you had better have the light controlled in the timeline. A grow light timer is used to set up day and night routines, making the light from the grow lamp function as intended. If the plant does not receive any natural light, set the timer over 8 to 16 hours to simulate the amount of natural sunlight. Six to eight hours of direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is considered "full sun" for outdoor plants.

Position Lights Close to Your Plants

To maximize plant growth with lamps, position the lights close—about 6 inches from seedlings—to ensure they receive ample light without overheating. As plants mature, maintain a distance of 1 to 3 feet to accommodate their size and reduce heat stress. Utilize adjustable chains or stands for grow lights to easily adapt the height as your plants develop. 

Pay Attention to the Light Spectrum

Blue, green, red, far-red, and UV are the main light spectrum wavelengths to take into account. For plant growth, the UV light spectrum, which spans from 100 to 400 nm, is thought to be significant. Grow lights with specific wavelengths can be tailored to the needs of different plant species and growth stages, mimicking natural sunlight and providing plants with the optimal conditions for growth.

Ensure Optimal Plant Selection

You can choose plants whose light requirements align with your existing light conditions, whether in your home or office, to ensure they grow well without additional lighting adjustments.

Low-light Plants

"Low light plants" are well-suited to environments with minimal natural or artificial light, like shaded areas or rooms that receive little direct sunlight. However, it's essential to provide them with proper care, including occasional watering, appropriate soil conditions, and occasional fertilization. Some popular low light plants are: 

• Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
• Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
• ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
• Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)

Medium-light Plants

Likewise, "medium-light plants" require more light than low light plants but can still perform well in areas where they receive indirect or filtered sunlight. Additionally, while medium-light plants can tolerate moderate light conditions, they may still benefit from occasional exposure to brighter light to promote growth and vigor. Examples of medium-light plants include: 

• Philodendron (Philodendron spp.) 
• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) 
• Dracaena (Dracaena spp.) 
• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) 
• Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

High-light Plants

"High-light plants" grow best in environments with direct sunlight or intense light for a significant portion of the day. These plants are commonly grown in outdoor gardens, but they can also thrive indoors if provided with sufficient light and proper care. Some common high-light plants are:

• Succulents (Echeveria, Aloe vera) 
• Cacti (Christmas Cactus, Prickly Pear) 
• Herbs (Basil, Rosemary) 
• Flowering Plants (Geraniums, Marigolds) 
• Tropical Plants (Hibiscus, Bougainvillea)

Choose the Right Grow Lights

“Does lamp light help plants?" - Absolutely yes, provided that you choose the right lamp with two features, including the color of the lights and the kind of bulb. 

Light color is significant because it must replicate the full spectrum of light found in natural sunlight, encompassing all colors from red to blue. For most types of plants, including seedlings and houseplants, full-spectrum lighting is ideal.

Additionally, you will have to choose between fluorescent and LED lighting. Full-spectrum light can be produced by either, although LEDs are more cost-effective, energy-efficient and beneficial to the environment. 

Alter Light Schedules in Different Seasons

“Can lamp light help plants grow?" - Yes, and the use of lamp light can be more effective if you can match the changing daylight hours of each season by adjusting light schedules. This helps healthy plants develop, as plants rely on natural daylight cues to regulate their growth, flowering, and fruiting cycles.

In spring and summer, the duration of artificial light exposure needs to increase as the days lengthen by extending the light period to 14 - 18 hours per day to mimic the longer days of spring and summer. Remember to adjust timers on grow lights to prevent sunburn from the heat of summer days. 

During the fall days, you should shorten the light period to 12 hours per day to signal to plants that the transition to fall has begun, along with adjusting timers over several days to weeks to avoid shocking plants with abrupt changes.

In the winter, plants frequently enter dormancy when they experience decreased sunshine, reduced light intensity, and low temperatures. Therefore, it is advised to further reduce the duration of artificial light exposure to 8 - 12 hours of light per day to simulate natural winter light conditions and adjust timers accordingly to provide consistent light during the shorter daylight hours.

Alter Light Intensity

The intensity and duration of light exposure can impact the rate at which a plant grows. While ideal lighting conditions can encourage rapid development, insufficient light may slow down the pace of growth. 

Different plants have varying requirements for light intensity and exposure. Most plants require a minimum of 6 - 8 hours of sunlight per day for healthy growth. Meanwhile, plants originating from shady environments may prefer lower light levels.

Grow lights and sunlight, however, can be problematic if plants are exposed to very high levels of intensity. Here are some common signs that your plant isn't receiving the right amount of light:

• Yellowing or pale-colored leaves: Yellow leaves at the lower parts of the plant could be sign of insufficient light due to chlorophyll production failure.
• Beached or brown leaves: These signs can appear both on a plant placed near a window or under a grow light, showing that there is too much direct light.
• Stunted growth: Insufficient light can slow down metabolic processes, leading to stunted growth and making plants fail to produce new leaves
• Leaves dropping: This is the plant's way of conserving energy by shedding leaves it can no longer support due to insufficient light and photosynthesis.

Understand Your Indoor Plant’s Needs

As the amount of light required varies by type of plant, follow the care instructions provided with the plant or do research on specific plant types.

Type of plant	Hours of light/day	Examples
Day-neutral	Approximately 12 hours	Coleus, foliage plants (pothos, philodendron, etc.)
Short-day	Less than 12 hours	Chrysanthemums,  Poinsettias, begonias, kalanchoe, etc.
Long-day	14 - 18 hours	Cacti, garden flowers, vegetable seedlings, etc.

Make sure to water seed starts or seedlings regularly

Establish a regular watering schedule based on the specific needs of plants and environmental conditions. In general, seed starts may need watering once or twice a day, while seedlings require watering every 1 - 2 days to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Regular watering is necessary if the soil dries rapidly due to high light exposure or warmer temperatures. 

Keep Your Plants Clean and Safe

Plant diseases, such as fungal infections and bacterial diseases, can spread rapidly in dirty and humid conditions. Therefore, keeping plants clean reduces the likelihood of pest problems and minimizes the need for chemical treatments. Lighting apparatus can be cleaned for maintenance if needed, but avoid getting it wet, or else electric risks can happen.

Factors to Consider When Using Lamp Light for Plants

Size of Grow Space

Indoor grow spaces, in particular, require adequate lighting to support plant growth. Knowing the size of the space helps determine the appropriate setup, including the number, types, and placement of grow or lamp lights, ensuring uniform light distribution and sufficient intensity for plants.

Light Spectrum

Different light wavelengths have distinct effects on plant growth. Blue light promotes vegetative growth, whereas red light encourages flowering and fruiting. Optimize the color spectrum to match your plants' growth stage as per common recommendations, with ultraviolet (100–400 nm), far-red (700–850 nm), and infra-red (700–106 nm) wavelengths referred to as radiation.

Light Intensity and Duration

Besides the light spectrum, light intensity and duration are also two factors to consider when answering the question, “Does lamp light help plants?”. 

Most plants require 12-16 hours of light per day for optimal growth, with the suggested duration of light exposure as below. 

Low Light

• Key features include PPF 50 - 150 umol m-2s-1, 50 - 250 foot-candles  and 10 - 15 watts.
• A low-light plant would be ideal for limited-light environments like a north-facing window or a dimly lit corner.
• Low lighting may be insufficient for starting seeds indoors.
• Plants grow slower and require less water in low-light environments. To avoid overwatering, feel the soil.

Medium Light

• Key features include PPF 150 - 250 umol m-2s-1, 250 - 1000 foot-candles and 15 - 20 watts
• A medium-light plant would be appropriate for east-facing windows and prefer indirect or filtered light rather than intense, direct sunlight.
• Artificial lighting is required to start seeds in medium light.
• These plants will take longer to dry out. To prevent overwatering, feel the soil.

Highlight

• Key features include PPF 250 - 450 umol m-2s-1, more than 1000 foot-candles and more than 20 watts
• A high-light plant is well-suited for space with bright, direct sunlight, such as south or southwest-facing windows.
• Seeds requiring more time indoors like tomatoes and peppers may become weak without additional lighting.
• High-light areas tend to become warm, causing plants to dry out more quickly. Check and water the plants frequently.

Note: To determine how effective a bulb is for plant growth, calculate its Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) by counting how many photons in the 400- to 700-nm waveband fall on a given surface every second. In this case, the surface is a plant's foliage.

Consistency and Light Cycle

As any abrupt changes in light duration or intensity can stress plants and disrupt their normal physiological functions, use timers or automated lighting systems to regulate the timing of light exposure and provide plants with a consistent light source matching their specific light requirements. 

Heat Generation

Certain lamps, such as high-intensity discharge lamps, produce heat when functioning, causing plant damage and overheating. To solve this problem, ensure proper ventilation and airflow, and use LED lamps as an option producing less heat.

Types of Plants

Choosing plants that match the light conditions in your indoor space ensures they receive the necessary light intensity and duration for optimal growth and development. Only after selecting the type of plants should you decide to install artificial grow lights to provide more light energy to your plants.

FAQs

Can any LED light be used as a grow light?

You can use regular LEDs, but LED grow lights will provide better results because LED bulbs and strips only give off white light, while plants require blue and red light to thrive. 

Is it better to leave the grow lights on all the time?

No, it is not. Leaving grow lights on all the time is not recommended because it hinders the plant's rest period and increases the electric cost 

Do grow lights work as well as sunlight?

No, it does not. Although grow lights are highly effective for promoting plant growth, natural sunlight remains more powerful with a full light spectrum. 

Do I need a grow light to start seeds?

No, most seeds do not need to be placed under a light until after they have germinated.

Can I use a table lamp as a grow light?

Yes, a table lamp can help you grow plants. However, it depends on the type of plant and light bulb you choose. If you are looking to grow a small table plant, low-light could be a good choice.