How to use grow lights for indoor plants? 2020 Guide for Beginner

Growing indoors means that you don’t have to concern yourself with changing weather conditions. Not to mention, the chances of pests and disease attacking your plants is much lower than in an outdoor garden.

However, growing indoors means that you’ll need to simulate the growing environment using technology. The most challenging part about growing indoors is finding the right Cannabis Grow Lights for your garden. There are plenty of benefits and uses for indoor grow light systems.

• Grow your plants from seedling to harvest, without any sunlight


• Start seedlings early before transplanting to the garden in early spring


• Use specialized lighting systems for propagating and flowering


• Finish outdoor plants that don’t have enough light left in the season


• Propagate your plants and your root cuttings


• Grow plants inside all year-round

Successful indoor gardening relies on controlling the environment of the grow space. Take into consideration the following aspects during the setup of a small indoor grow room space.

Most plants like between 40 to 60 percent humidity, but the ideal humidity can change depending on the stage the plant is in, or type of plant.

Marijuana prefers a humidity of 40 to 70 percent during the veg state, but only 40 to 50 percent during flowering.

In contrast, the habanero chile does best in high humidity, and a hot environment, but will not tolerate damp soil. It is important to research the specific plant you intend to grow.

Plants grown indoors are comfortable at temperatures that we are comfortable with, usually between 65 to 80 degrees, depending on the specific plant.

Good ventilation helps regulate temperature, assists in achieving desirable levels of CO2 and humidity, and eliminates odors that certain plants, such as cannabis, create.

A ventilation system usually consists of an oscillating fan, Extraction Fan, ducting and a carbon filter to remove odor.

Soil, hydroponics or Aeroponics are all growth mediums discussed previously.

Water, Fertilizer and Nutrients

Plants need to be fed. Water is the most crucial nutrient. Good water must be free of chlorine and fluoride.

Consider a water filter in your indoor grow room. Water must also have the correct pH and balance of mineral salts to optimize the growth of plants and you need testing tools to regulate the water.

Primary Nutrients: NPK, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium are the primary ingredients in most fertilizers.

Secondary Nutrients: Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, help with the structure of the plant cell wall, production of chlorophyll, formation of amino acids and root growth.

Micro Nutrients: Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc are needed for fruit and seed growth, plant metabolism, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, enzymatic action and more.

Grow Lights and Timer

Grow lights are a key consideration of any indoor grow project. Grow lights are also a controversial topic with various opinions on what type of grow lights are best.

(Usually, from what we’ve seen around the block, LED grow lights are best. Of course, it depends on the plants you’re growing)

A pH meter is used to test the water and is especially important if you chose hydroponics as your growth medium.

A conductivity meter is also crucial for a hydroponics system to make sure the mineral balance is correct and that you are not under or overfeeding your plants.

There are meters available to test your indoor grow room humidity, CO2 and air circulation, as well as a thermometer to measure temperature.

Stakes, Supports and Trestles

You want to think about and anticipate plant growth and give the plant the structure and space it needs to grow. A plant that grows as a vine may need a trestle.

Cannabis plants will also benefit from trellising, tomato cages or steaks to support the plants’ heavy limbs.

Pests, insects, plant disease and fungus are all a possibility with an indoor grow garden, and they can devastate your crop. Think ahead and decide how you might combat these problems, and be vigilant by checking the plants regularly for problems.

Consider natural and organic methods such as the use of beneficial insects like ladybugs or the Minute Pirate Bug which not only has a cool name but is incredibly useful in eating problematic pests.

Carbon dioxide is the most important building block your plants use to grow, flower and produce fruit.

Plants that grow outdoors, where air circulation is good, get enough CO2, but plants in small indoor gardens often do not get enough CO2.

In a small enclosed space, plants can use up much of the CO2 present and end up lacking this essential element.

Plants low on CO2 have long limbs with fewer leaves and fruiting potential. These plants are thin and delicate, yielding smaller fruits.

A CO2 tank and CO2 burner are the most common ways to add additional CO2 to your grow space.

A tank poses certain security risks and buying one could possibly draw unwanted attention. A CO2 tank will also need to be replaced, which is inconvenient.

A CO2 burner uses a flame that poses a fire hazard and the flame adds heat to the grow space. However, a CO2 burner is the preferred choice for growers who need supplemental CO2.

Too much CO2 can also damage plants, so a CO2 monitor is critical when using a burner or any supplemental CO2. There are monitors available that integrate into CO2 generators and turn the system on and off when the CO2 needs to be increased or decreased.

CO2 falls to the floor so you must have a way to circulate air, such as an oscillating fan. It is also important to note that you only want to add CO2 in your grow space while the grow lights are on, or in the on-cycle.

Many CO2 burners are designed to hang above the plants, so you need an appropriate structure in place to hang this equipment.

growers choice roi-e720

By far the most powerful LED in its class with a standard PPF of 1850 umol/m2/s and a “BOOST” mode that raises the output to 2050 umol/m2/s, for professional cultivators who demand ultimate light output.

The ROI-E720 was engineered with greater dimensions to provide more versatility and better canopy coverage, especially to the outer edges of 4’x4’ cultivation areas.

The ROI-E720 is IP65 water-resistant rated, UL8800 certified, and Horti DLC certified for energy efficiency rebate eligibility. With unbeatable safety, reliability, savings and performance, the ROI-E720 is unquestionably the right choice for cultivators who demand only the best.

mars hydro sp250 for sale

The Mars Hydro SP-250 Full Spectrum LED Grow Bar draws 196 watts at the wall and covers up to a  2'x4' area for flowering.

This fixture is ideal for a seedling to harvest grow in a grow tent or in a grow room. Use as primary lighting or supplemental lighting.

• HIGH EFFICIENCY ENERGY SAVING PLANT LIGHT, Consuming only 230 watts true output with 684 PCS LEDs, more scientifically and energy-efficient! Perfect for 2' x 4' stage, higher intensity in a MARS HYDRO grow tent, reflective area, or by crossing over using multiple SP250


• INCREASE YIELD & CROP QUALITY IN LED GROW: Newest SMD LED technology provide highest PAR/LUMEN output(925umol@18"), designed to replace a single-ended 2000watt HPS; makes you get 30% higher yield compare OLD blurple led lights, Max 2.5g yield per wattage (power draw)


• UV IR FULL SPECTRUM INDOOR LED GROW SYSTEM, Cover with UV and IR, extremely good for plants grow and bloom, make your growing life easy and convenient; and designed in noise-free fanless led light bar, also a good choose for plant indoor grow side lighting


• WATERPROOF GREENHOUSE GROWING LIGHT, IP65 waterproof standard, quantum lights board covered by glue to protect the water from the light, no worry about high humidity greenhouse growing environment, 50% longer lifespan compare with other brand lights


• COMMERCIAL LED GROW LIGHT, Come with waterproof and dimmable Mean Well Driver, auto sensing power supply works on both 120VAC and 240VAC and 277VAC, suit for Large Rooms and Commercial Setups

Choosing a best full spectrum led grow lights is important, above recommends you can consider and take for a choice.