If you are living in a cold area where the sun barely shows up, you probably ask the same question. For us, humans, lack of sun exposure isn’t too good. But what about the plants, and the succulents in particular? Let me start with saying that succulents are versatile plants. They can survive with minimal care–that’s why they are wild plants as well, living lonely in semi-desert areas, pleasing the eye of an occasional passersby. But can they survive without natural light?
The answer is yes. Succulents can survive with no natural light whatsoever. They can grow or without exposure to either direct or indirect sunlight. Succulents can live in apartments, offices, and other places with no natural light, and also no windows (though it is sad, many of us work in such an office).
Succulents can thrive under artificial light. But using artificial light is quite complicated as it requires a specific amount of light needed, in order for the succulents to grow well instead of getting burned as one extreme, or deprived of light as another. Let me tell you how to do it right,
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Growing succulents indoors under artificial light
Growing succulents using artificial light requires around 15 watts per square foot of illumination. While using fluorescent light, succulents should be placed 12 – 15 inches under the light. The higher the wattage the light has, the farther you should place your succulents–to avoid them from getting burned.
Plants do well if the duration of light is constant. About 12 – 18 hours exposure a day is best for the succulents, in my personal experience. As I already mentioned, using artificial lights can be challenging, especially if you’re a beginner. You need to use reflectors to catch and concentrate as much light as you can into each plant. You also have to rotate the plant every two weeks to make it grow evenly, and ensure that all parts get some light exposure.
Related: Can Succulents Grow in Shade?
What is the difference between LED Grow Light and Regular light? Which one is better for succulents?
Grow lights have specific light spectrum wavelengths and support photosynthesis. This is why it is good to use them for indoor plants, such as succulents. It is also convenient for homes as it uses low energy but produces great power.
Grow lights are good for growing succulents. The only problem is that they are more expensive than normal lights. Regular lights, on the other hand, are of course less expensive. They can do as artificial lights for indoor succulents, but they tend to be hotter, and can easily burn the plants.
What grow lights should I buy?
In choosing grow lights, price is only one of the things you need to consider. You can buy either the cheap or the expensive light. As you may already know, quality always has its price. Let me give you a quick list of 4 lights I have personally used in the past–the list should help you decide which one to buy.
1. JumpStart Grow Light System – This light is ideal for seedlings, cuttings, flowers, and house plants, especially for succulents. It’s effective as it grows seedlings faster with 15-20% more lumen. Also, it uses a simple toggle clamp for easy lamp height adjustment. Some advantages:
- Comes with a built-in timer
- Easy to use and schedule with a single press of the button
- With adjustable height
- Easy to assemble
- With T5 grow light output
2. DuroLux T5 Grow Light – This light is 30% more light than other light systems. It has a 2000 lumen-light output – a powerful grow system indeed. Some features:
- Comes with a 20000 Lumen that produces a high light output
- With 95% reflectivity
- Comes with chains and hooks for easy installation
- With 8™ power cord
- Easy to adjust the light output using two switches
- One of the safest grow lights on the market
- With 5-year warranty
3. Nova LED Grow Light – This light keeps plants cool and it also has low power usage making it convenient for homes. They also added a secondary magnifying lens to every bulb, to make sure you use the power for the greatest possible effect.
- One of the best grow lights in the market
- One of the most efficient lights that saves your energy
- Also, the safest grow light you can use for the plants
4. Agrobrite Fluorescent Grow Light System–It includes 4 6400K T5 tubes and has up to 20,000 Lumens. It is also convenient to use for plants as it has three ways to hang overhead, vertical or horizontal.
- Comes with 8 6400K T5 tubes
- With steel housing
- Offers three ways to install including overhead, vertical, and horizontal
- With 10™ power cord
- Can produce up to 40,000 lumen
Is LED grow light good for succulent plants?
LED or Light Emitting Diodes are small yet efficient bulbs used to customize the light spectrum, and typically used in a panel to emanate more than one wavelength at a time. This makes LED effective grow light for all growth stages. It is a monochromatic source of light designed to provide the right spectrum for the growth of your plants.
LEDs save both power and space, making it convenient for growing succulents. Using other regular lights can be dangerous to succulents as they might burn the plant due to high temperatures. In contrast, LEDs do not generate much heat making them safe and perfect for indoor succulents. LED bulbs are also different as they are customizable which means you can choose different color wavelengths. Check my favorite LED grow light on Amazon. In my experience, succulents under this light grow as well as they do under natural light!
Final Thoughts
Succulents can thrive indoors, but in order to do so they need a regular source of light. You can place your succulents near the window to expose them to natural light in the morning. If this is not possible, you can use one of the grow lights I just described. Choose one that fits both your needs and the needs of your plants.
And don’t forget that light isn’t the only thing your succulents need indoors. Appropriate amount of water is also crucial for their healthy growth. Check my guide on how to water succulents indoors–it can save you a lot of trouble :). That’s it for today. I sincerely hope that after reading this post you once again know a bit more about growing succulents, and will achieve even better results with your plants. Good luck to you!
