When weighing the options of whether to buy a fluorescent grow light or a more expensive LED grow light models, you really need to be honest about the commitment you’re willing to make to indoor gardening.

If you only need supplemental indoor light for a few houseplants, or you are growing just a few starters before the season, you might want to consider going with a fluorescent grow light. If your needs are modest, fluorescent may be plenty. They cost a fraction of the LED Panels, although they will need to be replaced more often and will take more energy to use.

If you are using your fluorescent lights continually, you should replace them every year or so. Keep in mind that the light will continue to function even though its performance has deteriorated, which can cause your plants to suffer if the bulbs are not replaced periodically. This can add to the cost. But if you are really only buying a few bulbs a year, that cost is minimal. More modest gardening projects simply aren’t worth the $50 to $500 investment.

Until the last decade or so, if you wanted a fluorescent light you were limited to the rectangular model we’ve come to associate with basement workbenches or office lighting. The lights typically had a low wattage and limited performance. Recent advancements in the technology, however, have created a market for a variety of lighting models, from single bulbs to circular models to spot lights that cover larger areas.

Fluorescent lights do consume more energy, which can be considerable if you have an ambitious indoor growing system. If you are lighting numerous plants in order to grow vegetables or fresh herbs, it can result in a significantly higher electric bill that is easily noticed. LED lights, however, operate 90 percent more efficiently than incandescent lights, and may be a better option if you are planning an extensive indoor garden.

Compact Fluorescent grow lights are most ideal for simple operations, such as providing extra light to houseplants or growing a few starters for an outside garden. If your commitment to indoor growing is minimal, and you only need to start a few plants, fluorescent lights are the more affordable option. However, if you are planning to grow a larger number of plants over a longer period of time, LED lighting may be more cost effective. Your investment will last longer and you’ll spend less in electricity bills.