Grow lights are an essential gardening tool when starting seeds indoors during the last part of winter and early spring. The sun’s rays are not strong enough in the Northern Hemisphere to allow seeds to germinate and grow inside.

Seeds require light to germinate and put forth stems and leaves. Properly installed and used lights enable seeds to develop into strong plants that are planted outside at the earliest time in order to capitalize on the growing season.

Once the seed germinates and breaks through the seed casing, the stem and leaf pushes up through the soil. Once it gets there, the energy has been depleted and it needs a source of energy, which is the sun or light. If they do not receive enough light, they remain weak and are susceptible to fungi and other diseases. Continue reading →