Fluorescent grow lights are inexpensive and efficient much like LED grow lights. They are very popular with indoor gardeners for these reasons. In the table below, there is a list of 10 of the best fluorescent grow lights based on customer ratings and feedback, as well as value for money.
Hydrofarm FLT24 | Hydrofarm FLCDG125D | Hydrofarm FLT22 | Durolux DL844S | Apollo CFL 250W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our User Rating | |||||
Bulbs | 4 x T5 (2ft.) | CFL | 2 x T5 (2ft.) | 4 x T5 (4ft.) | CFL |
Lumens | up to 8,000 | 10,000 | up to 4,000 | 20,000 | 10,850 |
Color Temperature | 6400K | 6500K | 6400K | 6500K | 6400K |
Cord Length | 10 ft. | 8 ft. | 10 ft. | 8 ft. | 13 ft. |
Voltage | 120V | 120V | 120V | 120V | 120V |
Wattage | 24W each bulb | 125W | 24W each bulb | 230W total | 250W |
Hanging | + Overhead + Horizontal + Vertical | + Overhead | + Overhead + Horizontal + Vertical | + Overhead + Horizontal + Vertical | + Overhead |
Inc. Hanging Hooks | |||||
Dimensions | 23" x 13.5" x 3" | 18" X 10" X 4.5" | 22.5" x 7.25" x 3" | 47.5" x 12.5" x 4" | 19" x 19" x 5" |
Weight | 10 lbs | 8 lbs | 7 lbs | 12 lbs | 6 lbs |
Warranty | 5 years (ballasts components) | 1 year | 5 years (ballasts components) | 1 year | 1 year |
Price |
DuroLux DL824 | Hydrofarm FLT44 | Apollo CFL 125W | Durolux DL848S | Hydrofarm FLC0125D | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our User Rating | |||||
Bulbs | 4 x T5 (2ft.) | 4 x T5 (4ft.) | CFL | 8 x T5 (4ft.) | CFL |
Lumens | 10,000 | up to 20,000 | 6,300 | 40,000 | N/A |
Color Temperature | 6500K | 6400K | 6400K | 6500K | N/A |
Cord Length | 8 ft. | 10 ft. | 13 ft. | 8 ft. | N/A |
Voltage | 120V | 120V | 120V | 120V | 120V |
Wattage | 24W each bulb | 54W each bulb | 125W | 460W total | 125W |
Hanging | + Overhead + Horizontal + Vertical | + Overhead + Horizontal + Vertical | + Overhead | + Overhead + Horizontal + Vertical | + Overhead |
Inc. Hanging Hooks | |||||
Dimensions | 23.5" x 12.5" x 4" | 46" x 13.5" x 3" | 19" x 19" x 5" | 47.5" x 12.5" x 4" | 21" x 14.5" x 9" |
Weight | 7 lbs | 15 lbs | 6 lbs | 13 lbs | 10 lbs |
Warranty | 1 year | 5 years (ballasts components) | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
Price |
Our User Rating – Our own opinion based on our product research on our own and other user’s testing and feedback. Click on one of the featured products and you’ll be brought to Amazon’s product page, where you’ll find genuine customer reviews which we recommend you to read.
Best Value / Top Rated – Products that we feel stands out in a specific area such as value for money or reputation have been given one of our awards.
If you know little to nothing about about fluorescent grow lights, I recommend that you read this article here. Also, here are some tips and information on fluorescents.
- There are two types of fluorescent grow lights – Compact Fluorescents (CFL) which are designed in a round shape and T bulbs which are long straight tubes.
- Fluorescent grow lights give off very little heat, so you place them as close to the plants as necessary.
- The construction of the hood allows you to hang the fluorescents vertically, which provides sideways lighting resulting in vegetable plants such as peppers and tomatoes to grow very tall.
- Fluorescent grow lights are great for evenly distributing light and doesn’t overload young plants.
- T bulb fluorescents are based on T numbers, and the higher the number, the wider the diameter of the bulb. The most popular size for growing plants is T5, because they’re small yet they still give off just as much lumens as bigger bulbs.
- Fluorescent grow lights are energy efficient which means less costs on your electricity bills. The upfront cost is also cheap.
Just like with other grow lights, it’s important that you get a fluorescent grow light designed and manufactured by a reputable brand since they will have extensively tried and tested their bulbs to make sure that they have a long lifespan.
Even though they are inexpensive and energy efficient, fluorescent grow lights tend to diminish in spectrum power over time, therefore, plants will not grow as well since the light they need will be reduced, even though humans can still see the visible light.
Therefore, it’s recommend that the bulbs are replaced every 6 months of continuous everyday use. Obviously if you use it less, then this time period could be extended. As a great alternative to fluorescents, LED grow lights share the same characteristics and their bulbs lasts longer too.