How to Select Grow Lights for Flowering Plants

Find out the amount of sunlight your flowering plants need to grow. The amount of sunlight they need helps you determine how much artificial light they'll need from the grow light. Some flowering plants grow best in direct sunlight, while others can grow in complete shade.

Research color temperature to help you determine what type of grow light is best for your flowering plants. This largely depends on the natural habitat of the flowering plants. The color temperature of the grow light is measured in degree Kelvin. Higher degrees Kelvin mean a cooler light, which would be blue. This is best for plants that grow in cooler climates. Lower degrees Kelvin means a warmer light, which would be more orange or red. This is best for plants that grow in warmer climates.

Pay attention to the wattage for each grow light you're considering. Higher watts are needed for a larger area. The more flowering plants you have, the higher the wattage you need for your garden. Generally, a 50W grow light bulb is plenty of light for a garden of about 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet. Midsize gardens of about 4 feet by 4 feet need a 400W bulb, and large gardens of 8 feet by 8 feet need at least a 1500W bulb.

Look for a feature that allows you to control the amount of artificial daylight that your flowering plants receive. Plants prefer a certain amount of darkness to grow healthy and strong, so a feature that automatically adjusts for day and night settings makes growing your flowering plants easier. This feature is generally available with high-intensity discharge grow lights.