Microgreens Lights

Growing microgreens indoors is easy, but you need to provide the right grow light for it. Here's everything you should know about microgreens' light needs.

Did you know that nutritionists consider microgreens superfoods? If you haven’t planted microgreens seeds indoors yet, now is the right time.

Consuming microgreens on a daily basis will improve your health. Eating them may protect you against many diseases, including cancer and heart disease.

It is so easy to grow your favorite microgreens at home. All you have to do is provide a suitable environment and fulfill plant requirements.

Supply them with potting soil, water, air, and direct sunlight. You will have thriving microgreens in no time!

In this guide, we will be focusing on the light aspect. That means choosing a suitable grow light for you to grow microgreens indoors.

We did comprehensive research to find the best grow lights for microgreens. Below you will find our top five list of microgreens lights.

We will talk about microgreen grow lights. But first, we should discuss the general light needs of microgreens.

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Light Needs Of Microgreens

growing microgreens

Successful cultivation of microgreens at home is achievable. The key lies in the appropriate quantity and quality of light.

Not any light can make your microgreens thrive. So, choosing a suitable grow light for your plants is crucial.

Microgreens need reasonable quantities of blue light and red light.

Blue light is necessary for the growth of plants’ foliage and stems. This fact is vital for microgreens.

Research suggests blue light can also increase the levels of antioxidants in microgreens. Scientists also found that red and green light can boost antioxidant levels in microgreens.

Flowering plants need red light. But microgreens will also enjoy healthy amounts of it.

Besides blue light, red light, and green light, microgreens can use some UV light.

We recommend not using grow lights that emit UV light in highly used areas of the house, such as the kitchen or living room. The grow lights listed below are all UV-free for that purpose.

Microgreens

The spectrum of your microgreens’ light should be rich in blue light. It should also contain suitable quantities of red light and green light.

But the light spectrum isn’t the only quality we need to discuss. For the light quantity, microgreens will thrive under moderate to high light intensity.

Your microgreens will do better with higher light intensity. With more intensity comes more flavor and nutrients.

For that reason, the ideal light for microgreens should emit high quantities of light.

But it is important to note that very high light intensity can damage microgreens. That means you need to keep enough distance between your microgreens and the grow lamp.

Not all grow lights will work well for growing microgreen seeds. Here we’ve listed five of the best grow light that can work well with microgreens.

Best Microgreens Lights: Top Five List

First on our list is the LED grow light Viparspectra V300. This LED light will work well with cultivating microgreens.

This LED light has a light spectrum that is very rich in blue light, optimized for microgreens. The spectrum also has the desired amounts of red light and some green light.

Viparspectra V300 is a plug-and-play grow light that is very easy to use. You can hang it in the kitchen and grow your microgreens under it.

With a light output of around 200 μmol/s, Viparspectra V300 has a coverage area of around 3′ x 3′ (≈ 1m x 1m).

The light that Viparspectra V300 emits is purplish. This feature makes it problematic for some growers.

But the device retails at a very affordable price, and it is perfect for starters. The Viparspectra V300 is beneficial for those just starting indoor gardening. Its price and quality are both excellent. 

You can get your Viparspectra V300 here.

Another grow light to consider when growing microgreen seed is the Mars Hydro TS 600. This grow light is perfect for microgreens and it is also easy to use.

This device is more efficient than Viparspectra V300.

Mars Hydro TS 600 has a light spectrum that is very rich in blue light, red light, and green light.

It has a coverage area of about 2′ x 2′ (0.6m x 0.6m), lower than that of Viparspectra V300.

The device emits a sunlike light that doesn’t dazzle the eyes. So, if you consider purple light unpleasant, this device may be more suited for you.

Unlike Viparspectra V300, Mars Hydro TS 600 uses no cooling fans. Thus this device is noise-free.

The two issues are you can’t control the light intensity or light spectrum of Mars Hydro TS 600. The design of the device is also somewhat unattractive.

We recommend getting the Mars Hydro TS 600 to grow your microgreen plants. If the light intensity and design are not a major issue, this is the grow light for you.

That said, Mars Hydro TS 600 is an affordable high-intensity grow light (you can check its price here). It will make your microgreens thrive.

You can also learn more about Mars Hydro TS 600 here!

Since the rise of LEDs, fluorescent grow lamps have not been a popular option. When it comes to growing microgreens indoors, though, they still work well.

There is only one reason we included fluorescent grow lamps in our list. That is because, in general, growers use them for microgreens’ growth and cultivation.

Most indoor growers have been cultivating their microgreens under high-output T5 fluorescent lamps.

T5 tubes are the most efficient fluorescent lamps.

Fluorescent lamps emit most of their light in the blue spectral range. So, your microgreens will enjoy high quantities of blue light and green light.

There are two drawbacks of fluorescent lamps. They are less efficient than LED grow lights, and they emit more heat.

Ensure there is enough ventilation or install a fan in your growing area to dissipate the heat. You don’t want cooked microgreen plants, do you?

Despite all that, fluorescent light is still effective in growing microgreens. Fluorescent is also very affordable.

One of the best brands of fluorescent light is VIVOSUN. They sell a complete T5 fluorescent lamp fixture that fits four fluorescent bulbs. This unit also has a good coverage area (you can check its price here).

Next on our list is the HLG 65 Quantum Board grow light. Most indoor plant growers use HLG Quantum Boards.

It is efficient in helping to cultivate heavy-flowering and fruiting plants. One of the lower models, HLG 65 QB, is an excellent choice for microgreens.

HLG 65 QB uses 120 top-rated Samsung diodes. These diodes emit an optimized spectrum of light for microgreens.

The device has a coverage area like Mars Hydro TS 600 but a higher efficiency rate.

Indoor growers support using HLG Quantum Boards for their high quality and durability.

But with HLG QBs, the customer needs to assemble the unit; that is not a feasible option for everyone. Still, it is effortless to set up, and there are also tons of tutorials online on installing Quantum Boards.

HLG 65 QB is still an excellent light for microgreens plants. The grow light sells at a higher price than that of other grow lights on our list (check its price here). But with HLG, you get what you pay for.

If you are an experienced indoor plant grower, we recommend getting the HLG 65 QB.

For beginners, a cheaper brand might be a better option for you.

GE LED grow light bulbs are perfect for indoor growers seeking more versatility.

These bulbs can fit in any lighting fixture of your choice, so you can get creative using them.

PAR38 lamps are the highest intensity grow light bulbs manufactured by GE Lighting That being the case, they are still far less intense than other LED lights mentioned here.

One PAR38 grow light lamp has a coverage area of around 8″ x 8″ (20cm x 20cm). That means you’ll need more than one LED bulb to grow a good quantity of microgreens.

GE PAR38 grow light (with a balanced light spectrum) puts out even quantities of blue, green, and red lights.

Those GE bulbs are inexpensive (you check their prices here on Amazon), but you need a fixture to run them.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can easily learn how to use these bulbs with your microgreens.

Final Recommendations

Growing microgreens indoors is rewarding, so don’t be reluctant to start. Microgreens are a superfood, and now is the right time to start growing them in your indoor garden.

But remember, choosing a suitable grow light for your plants is essential. Please don’t fall for the more enticing and cheaper grow lights we find everywhere on the market.

Not all LED grow lights, or fluorescent lights will work well in growing microgreen seeds. Make sure to pick one that will work well with your plants.

What grow light will you be using to grow your microgreens? Will you be using a LED grow light or a fluorescent bulb? Do you have a personal favorite?

Share your thoughts and suggestions in a comment below.

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Jad Daou

Jad has always been passionate about growing plants. When he finished high school, he majored in biology, which makes him very knowledgeable about agriculture.