Turn A Thrifted Lamp Into A Perfect Grow Light For Your Indoor Plants

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Indoor plants are an attractive design element and on-trend with the biophilic interior decor style. According to a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, indoor plants can actually reduce stress, and similar studies have found that plants in an office can increase workplace happiness and productivity. But while there's no question that indoor plants will make a great addition to your living space, your living space may not be a great place for indoor plants. 

You may have envisioned adding greenery to a bookshelf or mantel, but those spots may be far from a natural light source. There are some houseplants that thrive in low light, but most need at least some dappled sun throughout the day. Whether your home has poor natural light, or you just don't have the set up to place plants by a window, you can still enjoy indoor plants with the help of artificial light. 

When you think of grow lights, you may picture large rectangular fluorescents hovering over plants like a baby chick incubator. But you don't have to abandon your stylish decor by turning your living room into a commercial green house. You can turn any thrifted lamp into a grow light. And as long as the lamp works, the only DIY skill needed is screwing in the proper light bulb. 

With an LED bulb, you can turn that cute vintage floor lamp you thrifted into artificial sunlight for houseplants. Both fluorescent and LED bulbs will work as grow lights for your indoor plants, however, LED bulbs are more energy and cost efficient (and they won't make your home look like an office building). You can even buy LEDS that look antique to match your thrifted lamp. You can also buy official "grow lights," however, they are more expensive and unnecessary. All you need is a "daylight" or full-spectrum LED bulb. Another option is to spring for a smart LED bulb, such as an Amazon Basics Color Changing Bulb, which is still more budget-friendly than a grow light, but provides the same option to isolate color wavelengths (Blue wavelengths help with root growth and chlorophyll production, while red helps with flowering).  

In most cases, you can use a modern LED bulb in an old lamp, but make sure the base is the same size as the socket, and always check second-hand lamps for outdated or frayed wiring. You can purchase an Armiika Lamp Rewire Kit if you need to swap out the wiring (Please consult an electrician if you don't know how to do this).

For best results, place your lamp around 18 inches from your plant and leave it on for 14 hours per day. If you notice burned leaves or spindly growth, you may need to adjust the light as necessary.