How to Grow Indoor Plants with Artificial Light

Artificial light can be used to supplement or replace natural light of indoor plants. It can be the sole source of light for plants which require moderate or low light. Artificial light is also a good light source for plants which cannot tolerate direct sunlight, because artificial light is not as harsh on plants as sunlight.

Things You'll Need

• Foot candle meter

Instructions

Choose an Artificial Light Source

1. Choose an artificial light source according to the needs of your indoor plants, your budget and your space.

2. Choose incandescent lights to supplement the light of plants which receive some natural sunlight. Because incandescent bulbs give out more heat than light, it is unlikely you'll place the light close enough to the plant to give it the light it needs without burning the plant with heat. However, at a distance, they can supplement light and supplement heat for plants which thrive in warm temperatures.

3. Use mercury vapor lights as a primary light source, if you plan to grow a lot of plants under artificial light. Mercury vapor lights are more powerful than incandescent and give out less heat, therefore making them good primary light sources for indoor plants. However, they are the most expensive source of artificial light and are usually only used by serious indoor gardeners who grow a lot of plants.

4. Grow indoor plants under fluorescent light to supplement or replace artificial light. Fluorescent bulbs are the coolest burning and most energy efficient source. They also provide enough light to be a primary light source.

Care for Plants Under Artificial Light

1. Place the light source an adequate distance away from plants to provide the most amount of light without burning the plant's foliage. Incandescent bulbs should be 1 foot away from the plants for a 25-watt bulb, 2 feet away for a 100-watt bulb, and 3 feet away for a 150-watt bulb. Mercury vapor lights should be placed 5 feet away from the plants. Fluorescent lights can be placed as close to the plant as you desire.

2. Measure the amount of light plants are receiving with a foot candle meter. Most plants require at least 250 foot-candles of light, but some require as much as 1000 foot candles. A food candle meter can be purchased at many garden centers.

3. Turn on the artificial lights for 12 to 16 hours per day. Plants which do not receive any natural light can take their artificial light at any time of the day. When using artificial light to supplement the light of indoor plants, coincide the time the artificial light is on with the time of day the plant receives natural light. Most indoor plants need 10 to 12 hours of darkness each day.

4. Reduce the number of hours each day the artificial light is on in the winter if your indoor plants require a winter rest period. Many indoor plants need less light in the winter.

5. Water, fertilize and repot indoor plants growing under artificial light exactly as you would if they were growing in natural light.