Installing a Fluorescent Grow Light System

If you want to have a healthy indoor garden, you should invest in a reliable fluorescent grow light system. A good grow light system need not be expensive. A simple but functional fluorescent grow light system that is made from inexpensive materials is enough to make your plants grow healthy. To install a fluorescent grow light system at home, here is what you should do.

Step 1 – Find the Right Fluorescent Bulbs

You need at least 40 watts of fluorescent light to make your seedlings grow. The cheapest way to set up your fluorescent grow light system is to use one of those daylight spiral compact light bulbs. Clip-on compact light bulbs are not only cheap, they are also very easy to install. When selecting compact light bulbs for your grow light system, you should choose bulbs that are marked “daylight” and not those fancy bulbs marked “cool white” or “soft white.” Unless you only intend to light one plant, you should go for a compact bulb with high wattage. Aim for fluorescent compact bulbs that are at least 27 watts.

Aside from using compact bulbs, another option is to use the traditional fluorescent bulb. Traditional fluorescent bulbs are made of long tubes and are ideal for growing plants. Traditional fluorescent lights come with fixtures that can be plugged directly to a regular home wall electrical outlet or wired directly to a circuit. When shopping for traditional fluorescent lights, look for brands that offer both T8 and T12 size tubes. T8 tubes are ideal for small indoor gardens while the T12 tubes are more suitable for bigger gardens.

Step 2 – Construct the Mounting Frame for Your Light

After selecting the right fluorescent lights for your indoor garden, prepare the mounting frame for your grow light system. To do this, measure the length of the area where you intend to set up your grow light system. Use this measurement to determine the length of your mounting frame.

You need not set up a complicated mounting frame for your grow light system. A simple frame made of wood will do the trick.

Step 3 – Install the Grow Lights

If you plan to use compact bulbs, install some electrical sockets on the mounting frame. The sockets should be around 6 to 10 inches apart to generate optimum light for your plant. After installing the sockets, connect the sockets to the power source. Once the sockets are properly connected to the power source, install the compact fluorescent bulb on the socket, then turn on the power.

If you plan to use the traditional fluorescent light, simply attach the fluorescent light fixture on the mounting board. Make sure that you tighten the screws properly to prevent the fixture from falling off. After putting the light fixture on the mounting frame, connect the fixture to the power source then attach the fluorescent tubes to the fixture.