Living in an urban area can make plants all that more important to your household. When your connection to vegetation is limited, the green luminance of houseplants become like a lifeline to nature, a green reminder in our urban lives. The trouble is that growing houseplants indoors can be difficult with poor natural light, especially in the winter months when there’s less daylight to be had.

An LED plant light makes it possible for houseplants to thrive year round. Using the exact wavelengths that plants utilize in the photosynthesis process, an LED light gives your plants the exact spectrum of light they need to grow, so that all of the light is absorbed and none is wasted. It’s like providing a sunny spring day for your plants throughout the year.

LED lights used to be only for more commercial growers and serious plant enthusiasts. Recent advancements in LED technology has made it more affordable, although the initial investment is still considerable compared to HPS lighting models. A 14 watt light to cover a 1.5 square foot area can be had for as little as $50, making it a more affordable option for the modest gardener. Because LED lights operate with 85 percent more efficiency than fluorescent models, 14 watts of LED provides plenty of power, enough to grow as many plants as can fit in a 1.5 foot area.

LED is an investment you make for life. Lasting 5 times longer than HPS grow lighting systems and 10 times longer than a Metal Halide Grow Light, an LED plant light can last decades, even if it used every day. That saves the landfill and is good for the earth. You get your money back, providing you plan to use the light for at least several seasons.

Your choice in light depends on your level of commitment. If your indoor gardening interests include several plants that need continual light and you think you might need the light for more than a year or two, LED lights can get your operation going without having to be replaced. If your gardening needs are more simple and you just have to provide supplemental light to a small number of houseplants during poor lighting months, a more traditional CFL Growing System might fit your needs better without the high investment costs.

Indoor gardening is a great way to grow a green thumb in the city. Whether you have an interest in growing a few houseplants or a more ambitious operation to provide fresh vegetables throughout the year, an indoor lighting system turns gardening into a realistic possibility, even when you don’t have the room for an outdoor garden.