Do I need a grow light if I have natural light in my home?
It depends on your situation. If you have a bright conservatory or south-facing room flooded with light, your plants may
be perfectly happy without supplemental lighting.
However, the amount of light that gets into an average home, especially during autumn and winter, is surprisingly low
compared to what plants experience in their natural habitat.
Consider this: Even plants that grow on a forest floor with filtered, dappled light are receiving more consistent light
than many indoor spaces provide. Windows filter out a significant portion of usable light, and as you move further from
the window, light levels drop dramatically.
A grow light can help if:
- Your plants are more than a metre or two from a window, or closer for high-light plants like succulents, cacti, or
fiddle leaf figs that crave direct sun
- You have north-facing or shaded windows
- You want to keep plants in darker corners or hallways
- Your plants struggle during the shorter days of winter
- You notice leggy growth, smaller leaves, or loss of variegation
You probably don't need one if:
- Your plants are low-light tolerant varieties (like pothos, snake plants, or ZZ plants) AND sit close to large,
unobstructed windows
- You're fine with slower growth, reduced vibrancy, and your plants just "getting by" during the darker months.
- Your plants are already thriving year-round without any signs of stress
Ultimately, your plants will tell you what they need. If they're happy, there's no need to change anything!