Artificial Light for Plants: Fluorescent vs. Incandescent

Standard fluorescent bulbs (cool/warm white) provide usable light spectrum for plants; incandescent/halogen do not (wrong spectrum, excessive heat, inefficient).

Fluorescent Guidelines

• Standard tubes = "grow lights" for most home use
• Close as possible to plants
• Minimum 8 hours/day if sole light source
• Must shine FROM ABOVE — floor lamps useless
• Only adequate for low-light plants alone
• Supplement, don't replace, natural light for medium/high light plants

Incandescent Reality

Even "plant light" incandescents waste energy as heat. Avoid.