I'm looking for some effective shop lights that can help me grow tomatoes and peppers. Regular grow lights are priced a bit high for me, and I've heard from many people that shop lights can do the job just as well. What specific features should I be checking for? Can shop lights support the plants throughout their entire growth cycle, or are they just for starting seedlings?
3 Answers
You'll find that shop lights can be a budget-friendly option for starting seeds. They work pretty well for seedlings, but once your plants need to start flowering or fruiting, you'll definitely want to upgrade to actual grow lights. I've used LED shop lights from Barrina and had decent results for young seedlings, but just be aware that they might not cut it for full plant growth.
If you're looking for something more permanent, I'd suggest checking out Johnny's Selected Seeds' "Guide to Choosing a Grow Light." It’s super helpful and covers all the must-have specs. While shop lights can get you through the early stages, they lack the right spectrum needed for the plants' entire life cycle, especially when they start producing fruits.
For starting your seedlings, LED shop lights should do just fine. I've personally used the Barrina brand and they worked well without breaking the bank. However, as mentioned previously, once the flowering stage hits, your tomatoes and peppers will likely need more light intensity than shop lights can provide. Just keep them about 1-2 inches above your plants during the seedling phase for best results.