Grow lights that don't turn the room purple
Look for a white or balanced-spectrum light. University of Minnesota Extension says white or balanced bulbs suit most plants at any stage (UMN Extension). Red-and-blue lights glow pink or purple. Our grow light filter shows the light color you'll see in the room.
Many grow lights give off a pink or purple glow, because they mix red and blue LEDs. In a kitchen or living room, that glow can be a lot. Lights sold as white or full spectrum look much more like ordinary lamps.
What the colors do
University of Minnesota Extension describes three kinds of grow bulb (UMN Extension):
- Blue or mixed: suited to starting seeds and leafy greens.
- Red or mixed: suited to bud formation in flowering plants, and keeping plants shorter.
- White or balanced: suited to most plants at any stage of growth.
So for herbs and greens in a room you live in, a white light isn't a compromise.
How to tell from a listing
- Words like "white", "full spectrum white" or "balanced spectrum", or a single color temperature in kelvins (K), usually mean a white light.
- "Red and blue", "pink" or a purple product photo usually mean a colored glow.
- Some makers sell the same bulb in two versions. Check the exact model before you buy.
Compare them
Our grow lights page has a filter for "Light color you'll see". Pick "Plain white" to see only lights that look like normal lighting, or go straight to grow lights that look like normal lighting.