FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hi Guys! I usually grow my carnivorous plants outside (Sars and VFTS) but i’m going to have to go to college soon and have no clue how the dorm life will affect my plants so I was wondering if you guys knew of any affordable but good lights?

I found one on amazon, but I have no clue of this would be good or not?

Grow Light for Indoor Plants - Upgraded Version 80 LED Lamps with Full Spectrum & Red Blue Spectrum, 3/9/12H Timer, 10 Dimmable Level, Adjustable Gooseneck，3 Switch Modes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082YWKWGH/re ... aGbCMNN1NP

I tried to use some of these gooseneck lamps, and I wasn't impressed. The amount of light that they gave off was disappointing, even with the brightness maxed-out.

On January 1st, I spotted the Mars Hydro TS 600 on sale for $60 (it's $80 on the manufacturer's site, $90 on Amazon), and I pounced on it. When this panel lights up, it's like a miniature sun formed in the room. My plants are doing very well under it.

This is my 2¢ worth. Hopefully the indoor growers will chime in here.

I second the Mars Hydro. I use T5s, Mars Hydro and some Yescom panels and the Mars Hydro gives the best reaction from the plants. Seeds tend to start quicker under it as well. It does get hot though and it will heat up the area around it. Unlike other lights though, you can keep the light a decent distance away from the plants and it will still be effective, which is great if you're growing Sarracenia.

Yeah I use the TS-1000 in about a 2x2 grow tent and like the dimmer on it. When it is 100% output, it feels like a sun going supernova.

Late to the party, but I figured I'd offer some pointers.

I acquired a similar one than what you had in the original post. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WV ... UTF8&psc=1 to be precise. It is "underwhelming" to say the least. I have it for a mini fish bowl terrarium, and the bulbs even at full power need to be within 6" of the plant or it doesn't do anything for the plant. Better than nothing, but only marginally.

Wanting to upgrade, but not go big, I tried one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NN ... UTF8&psc=1 and I'm pleasantly surprised. It's a heavy bulb, and it puts out some light. I started off putting it in a desk lamp https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R5 ... UTF8&psc=1 but the bulb was too heavy (the lamp kept falling over) and it kept it too close to the plant. So I put it in a standing floor lamp I got at Lowes. I was able to put 3 different 1020 trays of plants under that light, about 3' away, and the plants seemed to love it.

Just recently I decided to try and upgrade to a "real" grow light. Most of my carnivorous plants don't need a TON of light, but I'm building up some indoor hydro plants too, so more light is preferable. I was really close to getting either the Mars Hydro https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PLYR5HG/?c ... _lig_dp_it or the SypderFarmer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TVD1Y3K/?c ... _lig_dp_it, but ended up going with a light by Florawave light by Carnivero instead (https://www.carnivero.com/collections/f ... 9017689201). I wanted my dollars to support a fellow Carnivorous Plant enthusiast, if I could.

I can tell the Florawave light works great for carnivorous plants, but doesn't have the power the MarsHydro or SpyderFarmer would (it's also half the price, for what that's worth). I also won't be able to continue to grow my hydro vegetables and my carnivorous plants under the same light much longer. I have to put the Florwave light about a foot or 18 inches above my plants in order to get enough light for the celery I'm growing, but at that height some of my nepenthes are starting to blush. But we'll see. Maybe I'll get a MarsHydro at some time in the forseeable future.

But I think a MarsHydro would be a bit of an overkill for a dorm room with a VFT. Just my two cents. Personally I'd go with the GE bulb I mentioned. Get a cheap light fixture (or a swivel shop light fixture) from HD or Lowes and it'll provide plenty of light for about a dozen VFT or Sundews.

I hope that helps!