- 1). Determine the best location for your plants and plant light. It will need to be within easy reach of an electrical outlet, near a water faucet, and in a place that allows the beauty of the plants to contribute to your home. Keep it away from heating ducts or radiators that might dry out the plants, and away from cold air drafts. ,You may also locate them near a window to supplement the spectrum of light provided by the plant light.
- 2). Set up your plant light so that the light source is 6 to 12 inches above the uppermost leaves of the plant or plants you're lighting. Seedlings need the light source to stay no more than 6 inches above the top leaf. More mature plants will thrive with the lights further away. Hold your hand under the lights at the level of the leaf tops, though, and if your hand feels pretty warm from the lights, move them up a bit. If you're lighting more than one plant, arrange them so that they all get light, and make sure taller plants aren't shading smaller ones. If you're using a table or pedestal for the plants, make sure it is sturdy and level. Well-watered plant pots become very heavy, so even a short fall can do serious damage to the root system.
- 3). Set the plant light timer to provide the optimum light. Most plants will be happiest with 16 to 18 hours of light per day, with a resting period of darkness in between. Seedlings can be left under 24-hour light from the time the seeds germinate until the first true leaves form, but in all other instances, make sure your plants get at least 6 hours of darkness per day. If your plant light does not have a timer, you can buy a mechanical timer.
- 4). Monitor your plants. Water as needed, and adjust the distance from upper leaves to the lights so plants don't grow too close to the light source. In the worst case, the leaves will actually blacken and "burn." Replace the light bulb in your plant light at least once a year. Over time, light bulbs produce less light, and may not produce enough of the red and blue spectrum light that is most important for healthy plant growth. Keep the light bulbs dusted, too, to prevent the buildup from dimming the light.