Fluorescent Grow Lights

Fluorescent grow lights have taken big strides in recent years. If you're imagining flickering shop lights accompanied by an annoying buzzing sound, you'll be amazed at the quality available now.

Energy-efficient fluorescent tube lights come in a variety of lengths -- from 1 to 12 feet. You'll likely want the 2- or 4-foot tubes because they fit standard light fixtures and they're easiest to find.

Fluorescent Grow Lights with Stands

Fluorescent tubes are classified by their size in diameters. Standard fluorescent tubes are called T-12 and measure 1-1/2 in (3.8 cm) in diameter. The downside of T-12 tubes is that they use old-fashioned magnetic ballasts that operate with more electricity and will get hot.

Most indoor gardeners prefer T-8 (1-in (2.5 cm) diameter) and T-5 (.625-in (1.6 cm) diameter) fluorescent grow lights. The advantages here are that the slimmer T-8 and T-5 fluorescent tubes use electronic ballasts and are more energy-efficient, run cooler, quieter, and do not flicker.

The T5 Light Fixture (shown above) includes 4 full-spectrum T-5 fluorescent lights. Technically, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), these lights offer superior light spectrum that both foliage and flowering plants need for healthy growth.

The Compact Tabletop SunLite Garden (shown above) holds 2 full-spectrum T-5 fluorescent tubes (included).

This is one of the simplest, most energy-efficient light fixtures available. It can be situated anywhere you want a table bursting with lush foliage and beautiful blooms.

Green Thumb Tip

Rotate your plants every week to ensure that they get the same amount of light. The center of a fluorescent bulb is brighter and more intense than the ends of the bulb.

Bright enough for seed starting, this light produces the right kind of light to develop healthy, stocky seedlings with strong roots.


Tight on space? You owe it to yourself to check out this Compact 2-Tier SunLite Garden. Just a scant 2 ft wide, it goes just about anywhere. This easy system helps your seedlings and herbs thrive under full-spectrum T-5 fluorescent lights. These grow lights are power-savers, using 45% less energy than standard fluorescent bulbs.

Could it get any easier? Oh, yes. Get the Power Strip with Timer so you can set the lights to come on at the same time everyday automatically.

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