How to Pick a Grow Light (Without Having a Science Degree)
Not all grow lights are created equal—and not all of them look like purple alien beams from a sci-fi movie. Here are my personal favorites, tested and approved by both me and my plants:
💡 Amazon Tabletop Rectangle Lights (Best All-Around Value)
I use these in three different spots at home.
Affordable, compact, and shockingly effective.
Use them in pairs for the best coverage—they shine bright but in a focused area.
Perfect for shelves, desktops, and anywhere you need a boost without turning your room into a lab.
💡 Sansi Lights on Adjustable Stands (Best for Tall Plants)
These are serious lights with great reach and brightness.
Adjustable stand makes them super versatile.
They’re not cute, but they work.
Great for Monstera, climbing plants, or a group of medium-to-large plants.
💡 Sansi Bulb in a Cute Desk Lamp (Best for Style)
I popped one of these in a vintage desk lamp and it looks like it belongs in my space.
You’d never guess it’s a grow light.
Bright enough for a small setup or trailing plant, and the aesthetic doesn’t clash with your vibe.
💡 Tall Bar-Style Light from Amazon (Best for Moss Pole Climbers)
Stands upright next to a pole—perfect for supporting vertical growth.
Sleek, minimal, and works like a charm for any pole-trained plant.
Pairs well with a climbing Philodendron or Monstera.
⚠️ Skip These: Lights That Look Helpful but Aren’t
🟢 Cheap Round Clip-In Lights (Least Favorite Overall)
These are the kind that poke into the pot on a little stake or clip onto the side of a shelf. They look handy, but the coverage is tiny and the positioning is always awkward. You have to keep them really close to the plant to get any benefit—and even then, they’re barely pulling their weight.
Most are underpowered, short-lived, and basically useless beyond a single pothos cutting. I wouldn’t buy them again.
🟣 Purple UFO Lights & Strip Kits
These work… in theory. But in real life? They’ll make your room feel like a low-budget alien rave. If you have a garage grow tent, cool. If you’re trying to keep a Monstera happy in your living room? Hard pass.
💡 Cute, Under-10W “Grow Lights” (A.K.A. Mood Lighting)
If it doesn’t list the wattage, or it’s under 10 watts, it’s probably not doing much. Some lights look like grow lights but are really just plant-themed ambient lighting. They won’t hurt your plants, but they definitely won’t help them grow.
Tip: Good grow lights are usually 20W+ for real growth support.
🤷♀️ Mystery Listings with No Specs
If a light doesn’t say how many watts it is, what kind of LED it uses, or what area it covers? That’s a red flag. Don’t spend money on something that looks cute but leaves your plants leggy, pale, and wondering what they did wrong.
