Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plants (Pet-Safe Setup)

Do you really need a grow light?

Maybe. Here is the honest answer.

If your home is dim, your plants will stretch and fade. A grow light fixes that. It gives them the bright light they crave when a window cannot.

This is a big help in winter. It is also great for a calathea or Boston fern stuck in a north room. The plant gets its light, and you skip the leggy, sad look.

What to look for

• Full spectrum. Pick a “full spectrum” light. It covers all the colors plants use.
• A timer. Plants want 8 to 12 hours, then dark. A built-in timer does this for you.
• The right fit. A clip light suits one plant. A strip suits a whole shelf.
• Warm white tone. A soft white glow looks nicer in a living room than harsh purple.
• Safe cords. Look for a sturdy cord and a stable clamp or mount.

My top grow light picks

Best for one plant on a desk

Have just one plant? A clip-on light is perfect. The GooingTop LED Grow Light clips to a shelf and bends on a gooseneck. It has a soft daylight tone and a built-in timer. A great, cheap first light.

Best for a shelf of plants

Growing a whole plant shelf? Use a strip. The Barrina LED Grow Light Strips stick under a shelf and cast even, daylight-white light. They link together, so you can light a long row. A favorite of plant-shelf fans.

Best for a stylish living room

Care about looks? A designer bulb blends in. A screw-in light like the Soltech Aspect Grow Light looks like a normal pendant lamp but feeds your plant. It costs more, but it earns its spot in a nice room.

Best simple bulb

Want the easy route? A GE Grow LED Bulb screws into a lamp you already own. No new fixture needed. Just swap the bulb and point the lamp at your plant.

Setting it up safely with pets

Grow lights are safe. The cords are the thing to watch.

• Tuck and tape down cords so a curious pet cannot chew them.
• Use a cord cover if your cat is a known chewer.
• Mount clip lights firmly so they cannot fall on a pet.
• Set a timer so the light is not left on all day.

The bottom line

A grow light is a small buy that saves struggling plants. Start with a clip light for one plant. Step up to strips for a shelf. Pick a designer bulb if looks matter.

Give the extra light to a pet-safe plant and you cannot go wrong. Browse my pet-safe plant picks for ideas, and keep the signs of plant poisoning handy just in case.

Sources

• LawnTrend — Best LED Grow Lights
• Home of Strings — Barrina Grow Lights Review

Written by Mo Ruman, a self-taught plant parent who cross-checks every plant against the ASPCA database. Not a vet — when in doubt, call your vet. More about Kijani Paws · Ask me anything.