If you are an indoor gardener, you know the challenges of sustaining a plant during the winter months.
Thankfully, CFL bulbs can make that phase easy for you.
In fact, all the best CFL grow lights are inexpensive, and easy to set up and maintain. Thus they have become very popular among growers.
In this article, we will learn all about CFL lamps and how they can benefit you and your garden
Table of Contents
Best CFL Grow Lights: Quick Overview
- SunBlaster CFL grow light (Easy to use): Premium quality, easy to use, and bright lights
- AgroBrite CFL grow light (Best for Floor Plant): Adjustable height allows versatility to plants
- Hydrofarm CFL grow light (Best Compact System): Its easy to maintain and simple to use
- Hydrofarm Single CFL (Best Spiral Grow Light): The unit produces bright light and can fit into any standard socket.
- Sunlite Series CFL (Best Plugin Grow Light): While it performs as a top grow light, its offers versatility of use
Update: We have set a very hard benchmark before adding any new products in this list. We also review this list in every 3 months to add/replace new/existing products. I know you trust our list of cfl grow lights, and that’s why we believe it’s our responsibility to serve you the best.
Best CFL Grow Lights 2023: a Detailed Review
Choosing the best CFL grow lights of 2023 wasn’t an easy task for me. I have invested more than 6 months in research to manually test more than 30 different bulbs before making this list.
I have given priorities to factors like quality, longevity, customer support, ease of use and energy efficiency while making these coveted list of best CFL grow lights. Let’s start!
SunBlaster SL0900151 13 Watt CFL Grow Lamp
Features
- Quality lights.
- Easy to use.
- Extremely bright.
- Energy efficient.
This light is ideal if you are looking for options to complement your indoor plant setup. The best thing is these lights can be used throughout the year. It replicates the natural light of the sun all around your home.
You get four 13-watt CFL bulbs with this pack, each with a temperature range of 6,4000 Kelvin. The bulbs are highly energy-saving and produce around 900 lumens.
According to most users, the bulbs are extremely easy to use. They come with a simple screw-into option and fit in any standard light socket.
Pros
✅ Ideal for terrariums plants.
✅ Improves plant quality almost immediately.
✅ Good quality cold light.
✅ Produces light heat and is quite bright.
Cons
❌ It may be too bright for some.
❌ One bulb in the four pack is often bummed.
The Final Verdict
The quality of these lights at the given price is excellent and the plants seem to enjoy it.
AgroBrite Hydrofarm FLF27DF 27-watt CFL Floor Plant Light
Features
- It comes with adjustable height.
- The bulb provides white natural light allowing the plants to grow better.
- The lamp features a sturdy base.
- You can use both CFL and LED bulbs.
Besides being an excellent addition to your indoor garden and nursery, the AgroBrite Hydrofarm FLF27DF 27-watt CFL Floor Plant Light is aesthetically pleasing and adds the required edge as your indoor plant light.
As mentioned by many users the bulb included with this unit closely represents the natural daylight colors which enable the plants to grow healthy and reveal the bright colors of the leaves.
The adjustable head of the unit grows with your plants between 48 to 61 inches – which is another significant benefit. It also features a gooseneck design which allows you to change the direction of the light in any way you want.
The bulb has a life of up to 5000 hours and requires 120 volts to function.
Pros
- Ideal for use in the office.
- Improves quality of plants.
- Perfect for indoor use.
- Extremely bright.
Cons
- The bulb is small.
- The bulb burns out quickly.
The Final Verdict
It’s an ideal unit to be used in an office setting. The arm allows the scope of adjustment, so you can use it as per your need.
Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLCDG125D
Features
- It produces 125 watts.
- 6400K color temperature.
- 7000-lumen output.
- It features a lifespan of 10,000 hours.
- The unit features a CSA certificate.
- 1-year warranty included.
The Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLCDG125D is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and simple to use for any growers. The setup fixture this unit comes with is easy to hang and ready to work right away.
The product uses 125 wattages and produces lumens worth 7000. You can easily grow up to three plants in this space. However, it’s recommended to grow up to 2 plants in the 2″x2″ area for best results.
Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLCDG125D like a few other CFLs is designed to work on the growing phase and has daylight as white light. According to experienced growers, this white light is best suited for the vegetative stage, however, you can use it through the growing period too.
Overall it’s one of the best CFL grow lights of 2023 and is effective and simple to use.
Pros
✅ It is a trusted brand.
✅ Produces low heat.
✅ A versatile unit, expandable, and uses a larger outage bulb fitting.
✅ Effective design.
✅ It has a tabular form and thus produces more light than the spiral varieties.
✅ It can change the color spectrum.
Cons
❌ It only fixes in Mogul sockets.
❌ The bulb can only produce 200 watt.
❌ The unit doesn’t function well for the flowering or budding phase.
The Final Verdict
The installation process is fuss-free. All components are assembled and ready to use.
Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLC32D
Features
- Bright light.
- Produces 1800 lumens.
- Long-lasting.
- Ideal for indoor plants.
The best thing about this bulb is that it fits into any standard light socket. It offers diversity while giving clear white light to your plants.
This CFL bulb is expected to last you for 10,000 long hours. Thus you can easily use it for your seedlings or overwintering potted plants.
Many users have used this light in combination with a reflective aluminum fixture and hung it over their growing plants for better results.
The resulting plants were strong and sturdy which may not have been possible without an additional light source. While the unit has many benefits, please remember it’s a bright light and thus should be directed away from the user’s eyes.
The unit produces a very low amount of heat, so that’s not a problem. Using this light, you can illuminate an area of 2 feet. It’s best to pair the light with a timer so that you don’t need to switch it on and off manually.
Pros
✅ Extremely bright light.
✅ It fits any standard socket.
✅ Ideal for seedlings and house plants.
Cons
❌ It requires a fixture.
The Final Verdict
This is a premium quality bulb for the given price range.
Sunlite Series FML27/65K/2PK
Features
- 27 watts of energy required.
- Produces 1500 lumens.
- It features 80 CRI.
- 6500K color temperature.
If you are looking for an energy-efficient unit that produces bright light, look no further! The Sunlite Series FML27/65K/2PK uses only 27 watts of energy and produces 1500 lumens of visible white light.
The tubes produce around 6500K daylight which is comfortable for the eyes. You can also set up the lights in a large dorm.
Unlike many other grow lights in the market, this unit will last you long- up to 10000 hours. The unit also features a 4-Pin Gx10Q-4 base.
Besides as a grow light, you can use this light for other purposes like reading writing, or in the living room since it has a color render of 80.
Pros
✅ Produces cool lighting.
✅ Long lasting and bright bulb.
✅ Ideal for plants.
✅ Great value for money.
Cons
❌ The brightness is too high.
❌ Bulb turns off at times.
The Final Verdict
The Sunlite Series FML27/65K/2PK are quite versatile and you can use them for many other activities in addition to growing plants.
Are CFL grow lights any good?
CFL lights are undoubtedly the best type of grow lights you can use. Besides, it is quite popular as a household light.
CFL lamps are highly favored by gardeners as they work amazingly well for growing indoor plants too. These bulbs emit a great amount of light, produce low heat, and are cost-effective. Besides these lights are cheap and widely available.
What is better CFL or LED for growing?
It’s difficult to choose one over the other as both have their advantages and disadvantages. LEDs have a full spectrum of light and are highly versatile. These can be installed both indoors and in your grow garden.
However, they are more expensive. CFLs are low-priced quality options that are readily available. These work great for low-cost grow tents and are ideal for growers who have just started.
A detailed rundown of both LED and CFL lights will help you get a clearer idea:
Energy efficiency: LED lights are more energy efficient than CFLs.
Some LED lights can be placed closer to the plants and thus they make way for more photosynthesis. But the same does not happen with the CFLs. It’s best to keep them far away from the plants for the high temperatures they produce.
As the distances between the plant and light increase, less energy is available for photosynthesis. The running rates of energy are lower for LED lamps compared to CFLs. However, LED lights are more expensive than CFLs.
Best CFL Grow Lights Buying Guide
The sheer number of options available in the market is very confusing. However, getting just any CFL light will not solve your concerns.
Thus it’s important to look into a few factors before you make your purchase of best CFL grow lights 2023.
The wattage of the CFL
Wattage is the amount the electricity the bulb will require to produce light. Of course the more wattage the bulb has the more light it will emit. A high-watt light is surely good for your plants.
CFLs are best for use in small spaces. Ideally, a bulb with a wattage of 80-90 per square foot should be good. A bulb with that wattage should be beneficial for 1-2 plants growing in an area.
Lumens
Lumens are the amount of visible light produced by a bulb per square foot. This essentially follows the same principles as wattage.
As a rule of thumb- the higher the lumens, the more light the bulb emits. For CFLs up to 10,000 Lux is good as long as your space can accommodate the heat.
Color and temperature
Color temperature is measured in Kelvin and is one of the most important metrics. This light spectrum is important as Photosynthesis depends on it. For the process to work seamlessly, the CFL should emit within 2700K to 6500K wavelengths.
6500K appears as cool daylight. This light is ideal for use in the vegetative stage. 2700K appears warm or soft warm. It’s best for after the vegetative stages.
Indoor/outdoor CFL
Do not be under the impression that all CFLs are best for both indoor and outdoor use. Some CFLs are designed for indoor use. Such bulbs can only tolerate temperatures up to 20 degrees F along with other elements.
Outdoor-specific CFLs have additional protection. Thus they can tolerate harsher conditions. Owing to the different build of both indoor and outdoor options- make sure you select ones that are suited to your needs. Always check labels before purchasing.
Certificate
Certification like Energy Star is an important certificate to consider. It implies that the product aligns with the quality standards and is this safe for use.
The quality of the bulb and the light has a great impact on your garden. Most CFLs available in the market have a fewer number is lumens, wattage, and kelvins.
But that’s not the ideal measurement.
- A proven measurement for tracking the effectiveness of your CFLs is PPFD or DIL.
- PPFD also known as photosynthesis photon flux density is another unit of PAR.
- DIL or daily light integral is the total amount of photons in a full photoperiod.
- But most manufacturers don’t mention these two units.
- It’s crucial to search for blubs that mention two of these units.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use CFL for flowering?
Yes, you can. But plants require additional care when it comes to light and temperature during their blooming stage. You will require a low-power light that produces white color. Thankfully, CFLs of this category are available.
How many CFL lights do I need for one plant?
It’s best to opt for 150W of CFL per plant and stick to smaller-size bulbs if possible. You can use the regular bulb sockets too, only make sure you are using the ones with a medium base.
How far should CFL lights be from seedlings?
Since light is emitted from all around the bulb, it’s best to utilize as much of that light as possible. It’s best to keep the plants 4-6 inches away from the plants to ensure maximum utilization of the illuminated light.
Can I use regular CFL bulbs to grow plants?
Yes. In fact, any CFL light can function as a grow light. It’s essential to get a higher wattage than the ideal color. As for the light spectrum, it has been observed that blue leads to a shorter vegetative growth while red and yellow encourages a longer one.
How many watts CFL for seedlings?
Seedlings mostly require around 100 watts per square foot of growing area. In addition to the watts, they require the right color temperature to grow and thrive as well.
Conclusion
Best CFL grow lights are pretty popular among growers, especially beginners. In this article, we have covered all that you need to know to grow your plants using LED lights.
We hope this helps.
