Hey everyone! I've recently gotten some advice that my plants need more light, so I'm getting some plant lights. I'm curious about how to best use them—should I run them during the day when there's still natural sunlight coming in? Or should I wait until the afternoon as the sun starts to set? I only have south-facing windows, but they have UV protection films, so the sunlight is pretty filtered. Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
Totally get it! With filtered light, even the best windows sometimes aren't enough. Try turning your lights on in the morning for about 8 to 10 hours. Think of it like a vitamin boost for your plants!
The general recommendation is to use plant lights during the day to supplement any natural light you're getting. Many people underestimate the light levels indoors, even by the windows. Typically, having them on for about 12 hours works well, but you definitely want to allow your plants some darkness too, around 8 hours is often suggested. It really depends on your situation—if you’re in a small apartment and need to sleep during the day, you might want to adjust the timing. Most good plant lights come with timers, so aim for 12 hours of light if you can. Oh, and make sure the light is positioned around 10 to 12 inches above your plants for best results!
I was going to reply, but this is great! There's also a lot of helpful info on the photone website about measuring light for plants.
Thanks for the tips! I was wondering if they should have some dark time or if they benefit from constant light.
Using your plant light should mainly be about giving your plants the extra brightness they need alongside the natural light from the windows. Even with those UV protection films, they can definitely benefit from more light!
Awesome, thank you for confirming that!
Thanks! I’m glad to hear that the ones I picked have timers, so that’ll help a lot!