One doesn’t need much convincing when it comes to growing plants indoors as the benefits speak for themselves. They enhance the quality of air, reduce indoor pollution, supply fresh oxygen inside the house, make one feel more active, and reduces stress. Many plant specialists today are urging people to opt for greener homes and after hearing the benefits, one can’t argue otherwise. True they need a little care and maintenance, but if the benefits exceed the effort, then why not?
When it comes to their maintenance, even indoor plants need some form of artificial light to grow. There are some rooms in every house that receive less natural light as compared to others. The reason why sunlight is important in their growth and development is because it features the perfect balance of wavelengths needed by plants to bloom. But what can one do when sunlight doesn’t naturally reach an area? It’s time to invest in some artificial lighting.
This article will cover all the different options available and will also list down the 10 best indoor plants that happily bloom in artificial lighting.
Sources of Artificial Light
1. LED lights
They produce less heat, are energy-efficient and are also customizable – all three qualities that an indoor plant needs to grow under artificial lighting conditions. Every LED bulb is different, which is why a combination of different colours is needed. The reason they are a more preferred choice among plant lovers and gardeners alike is because the wavelengths they emit are fully utilized by the plants, eliminating the chances of any energy being wasted. They’re also the most popular choice for growing marijuana at home and you can look ahead if you’re trying to find marijuana seeds for yourself.
2. Coloured Lights
Your second option involves the use of coloured light. Plants have been known to react well to coloured light spectrums. Reds and blues found at the opposite ends of the light spectrum help plants get the energy they need to stay healthy and to grow. People who leave their indoor plants under yellows and greens often complain about them wilting or their lack of freshness. It is high time you know that yellows and greens both are colours that get reflected by leaves. As a result, plants aren’t able to generate any energy from them.
3. Fluorescent Tubes
Most of us are aware of fluorescent tubes as they are widely used in tanning beds. They promise a balanced spectrum of light and are much longer lasting than regular incandescent lights.
4. Incandescent Lights
As they emit a lot of heat, it is best that they be placed at a fair distance from the plant’s foliage. In an incandescent light, the red wavelength is the most prominent so that light can equally be supplemented and balanced out. Red light encourages the growth of plants. If that is what you want, incandescent lighting may be your best bet.
5. Horticultural Grow Lights
These lights are packed in tubes and installed as flowing fixtures. They come equipped with the full spectrum of wavelengths that encourage growth in plants. They are exceptionally great to look at when gardeners and plant lovers plant their hybrid seeds.
6. Halogen Lights
They are slightly less energy-efficient than fluorescent lights and they are known to produce a lot of heat when turned on. However, they also promise a full-spectrum of lights like incandescent lamps, allowing the plants to grow naturally in an indoor environment.
Plants for Unnatural Light
Houzz rated these 10 plants as the best for being placed indoors;
- String of Pearls
- Devil’s Ivy
- ZZ Plant
- Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Maidenhair Fern
- String Of Bananas
- Umbrella Tree
- Snake Tree
- Air Plants
