- Examine the variety of plant-growing lights available. Originally available in fluorescent tubes only, growing lights or fluorescent equivalents can now be found in spotlight and compact bulb form. If you do not find a wide variety of lighting specifically labeled for plants, explore fluorescent options for home lighting.
- Evaluate your existing light fixtures before purchasing others. Sometimes just installing a new plant-spectrum light tube in the fixture over your kitchen sink lets you use the windowsill and surrounding area for plants; an artificially sunny kitchen windowsill can grow herbs and other plants as easily as one lit by nature. Downward-facing wall sconces are another asset for plant tables or single large plants placed on the floor.
- Get creative with spaces that may be suited to plant culture. The windowsill isn't always the answer. An apartment dweller can even install fluorescent tubes under a large table and grow African violets on the floor below. Consider rigging lights over old-fashioned laundry sinks in the basement or on a mudroom shelf over the coat hooks. Bay windows that lack spectacular views beg for grow-lighting and a display of pretty houseplants.
- Create and adapt existing lighting fixtures to serve as grow lights. A gooseneck floor fixture can be fitted with plant-nurturing spotlights or compact bulbs. Coolie-shaded work lights are inexpensive and highly adaptable, often clamping to a simple wall bracket. Newly fashionable teardrop and pendant lights can be placed exactly where needed for plants while enhancing your decor.
- Remember that for healthy growth, plants need dark periods too. Resist the temptation to keep the plant lights on 24 hours a day. Perpetual daylight confuses plants and exhausts them by excessively stimulating them to grow. Plants, like people, need sleep for healthy growth.
