The right lighting serves two jobs in the garden. Indoors, grow lights give houseplants, seedlings and herbs the light they need to thrive. Outdoors, decorative lighting sets the mood on patios, porches and paths after sunset.
Choosing a grow light
- Full spectrum LEDs mimic natural sunlight and support every stage of growth while using little energy and running cool.
- Style: clip-on and gooseneck lights suit a few plants on a desk or shelf, ring lights suit succulents, and hanging panels or lighted plant shelves cover larger collections and seed trays.
- Timers: built-in timers give plants a consistent daily light cycle without you remembering to switch them on and off.
- Height: adjustable stands and hanging cords let you raise the light as plants grow.
Outdoor and decorative lighting
Lanterns, string lights and solar accents add warm, welcoming light for evenings outside. Solar lights charge during the day and turn on automatically at dusk, with no wiring needed, which makes them easy to place along paths, in flower beds or on patio tables.
Tips for success
Most seedlings and leafy plants need many hours of light each day, so start with the timer settings recommended for your light and adjust if plants stretch toward it or leaves bleach. Outdoors, layer a few light sources at different heights for a cozy, inviting glow.