How to Properly Light an Indoor Plant

Fluorescent tubes make up for lost sunlight.

In photosynthesis, a plant's foliage takes in light and transforms it into sugar and starches to produce energy. The sun is the usual source of light for this process. But when you grow houseplants, that option isn't always available. In that situation, use 40-watt fluorescent tubes installed in a height-adjustable fixture to supplement enough light for proper plant development. One tube provides 250 foot-candles of light, sufficient to support plants with a low light requirement.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cool-white 40-watt fluorescent tube
• 1 warm-white 40-watt fluorescent tube
• 1 twin-tube light fixture with adjustable height

Instructions

1. Select between 2- and 4-foot-long 40-watt fluorescent tubes based on how many houseplants need lighting. Get one cool-white and one warm-white tube and a twin-tube fixture.

2. Set the light fixture 6 inches above the uppermost leaf. Keep the light on 16 hours a day to supplement eight hours of sun. Reduce the number of hours the tubes stay on if some natural light comes into the room. In general, give the fluorescent light two hours off for every hour of sun exposure.

3. Raise the light fixture as the plant grows. Increase the distance between the light tubes and the top of the plant if the foliage gets burned.

References

• Ohio State University Extension; A General Health Management Guide for Indoor Plants; Stephen Nameth, et al.
• University of Hawaii at Manoa; Growing Plants Indoors Under Supplemental Lighting; Kent Kobayashi
• University of Missouri Extension; Lighting Indoor Plants; David H. Trinklein; May 2002