Fluorescent Grow Lights: Distance, Duration, and Plant Selection

Fluorescent light intensity drops sharply with distance. In your plant room:

Distance Guidelines

• 0–12 inches: High-light plants (succulents, citrus, seedlings).
• 1–3 feet: Medium-light plants (african violets, begonias, many tropicals).
• 3–6 feet: Low-light plants only (pothos, snake plant, cast iron, peace lily).

Maximizing Your Setup

• Use low-light plants at 3+ feet.
• Add more fixtures.
• Use reflectors (mirrors, white boards) to bounce light.
• Replace tubes yearly—output degrades.
• Run lights 16 hours/day on timer.

3-Foot Spotlight Over Pond

Marginal for water lilies/umbrella plants. They need high light. Consider dedicated high-output LED fixtures for aquatic plants.

Match plants to light reality, not hope.