Top 3 Best Grow Lights for Cactus [2024 Edition]
Not all of us have a natural talent for growing plants. If you tend to accidentally harm your leafy pals, you might have been told to get a cactus or succulent instead.
“Trust me, they’re super easy to take care of!” your friend may have said.
And it’s true, these spiky plants don’t need much water. But here’s the catch: they crave a lot of light instead.
Depending on where you keep your cacti, they might not be getting enough light. They actually need really bright light, like what the sun gives off. That’s where grow lights come in. They provide the special light cacti need to thrive. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to the best grow lights for your cacti buddies. Get ready to shed some light on their success!
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- Easily adjustable light height for growing plants
- Great for African violets, other houseplants and for getting an early start with garden Vegetables
- Sturdy, durable and energy efficient
- Frequency:60Hz
- Auto turn on and off timing function
- Red and blue led combination
- 9 dimmable modes
- 3 cycle timing modes
- Suitable for indoor potted plants or indoor gardens
- High-efficiency white led light
- Low energy consumption grow lighting
- Sunlike full spectrum led indoor growing
- High reflective & noise free-fanless led grow system
- Upgraded commercial led grow light
Best Grow Lights for Cactus
Jump Start 2′ T5 Grow Light System
The Jump Start T5 System is an excellent grow light for many plants and a popular choice for cacti and supplements. It comes with a built-in timer that allows you to set a 12 hours on, 12 hours off schedule, ideal for cacti.
The light hangs from a 2 or 4 feet tube (depending on which one you buy) with legs on either side. As your plants grow taller, you can adjust the light’s height with an easy-clamp system that doesn’t require any tools. If you’d like a more extended setup, you can also purchase an extension kit.
- Ideal for growing seedlings faster with 15-20% more lumens
- Easy-to-use timer with no programming required
- High output 6400 kelvins full-spectrum tube
- Can provide more light to your plants due to an internal reflective surface
- Somewhat fragile and if it breaks, you may have to purchase a new system
- Height is better for shorter plants or batches of seedlings
EZORKAS 80W Quad Head Timing Grow Lights
EZORKAS has produced a great grow light for many different environments, ranging from a greenhouse to your desk. It uses a powerful clip to grip any surface with up to a three-inch thickness, making it ideal for tables or a windowsill.
Its control panel allows you to pick from multiple features depending on the needs of your plants:
- Switch: Red Light On, Blue Light On, and Both Red and Blue Lights On
- Dimming: Choose between 9 dimmable modes!
- Timing: 3, 9, or 12 hours at a time
The mix of red and blue LED chips contributes to more significant plant growth, vibrant colors, as well as improving photosynthesis and germination (flowers!) function. It has a 360-degree adjustable gooseneck so you can adjust it as your plants grow.
- Lightweight design and clamp allows you to move it and use it in different places
- Has a versatile timer so that you can grow other plants and not just cacti or succulents
- Has a USB connector so you can plug it into your computer or the wall
- Reasonable price means you can buy multiple if needed
- Depending on the power adapter you use to plug in the grow light, the wattage may not be enough for your plants
MARS HYDRO TS 1000W LED Grow Light
MARS HYDRO has satisfied the most enthusiastic cacti lovers with their full-spectrum hanging grow light. You can choose from multiple sizes and wattage, but the 3×3 and 1000 watt model will be sufficient for most hobbyists.
Its LED technology provides a high par/lumen output. You can rest assured your energy bill won’t spike as it only consumes 150W. It has a highly reflective aluminum hood, which provides more light for your plants and more excellent heat dissipation, increasing your light’s lifespan. It comes with a 3-year hassle-free warranty if this isn’t the case.
Read our full review on MARS HYDRO TS 1000W LED Grow Light.
- Full-spectrum lighting is best for all stages of plant life
- Water-resistant
- Low energy consumption compared to its output
- Highly reflective aluminum hood
- Slightly higher price range than other grow lights
- Dimmer is somewhat tricky to use
Cactus Lighting Needs
Contents
Succulents and cacti are highly adaptive plants and can typically survive in any location you put them in, but if you want them to truly thrive, grow lights are beneficial. Cacti, on average, require 20% more light than succulents.
Everything is best in moderation, though, and too much or too little light can be detrimental for your cactus. Sunburn on the prickly plants looks like a yellowing or splotchy area on the skin. Underexposure most commonly leads to etiolation, which is stretching of the stems and leaves.
So what does your cactus need?
The best practice is to research the specific plant you’re caring for, but most cacti thrive when they receive between 10-14 hours of sunlight every day, and no more than that. When researching grow lights, look for these qualities:
- The brightness of the grow lights: Using 2,000-lumen bulbs for 14 hours a day would emit the same exposure as the summer sun.
- Power consumed by the lights: The more power consumed, the higher your energy bill will be.
- The lights’ color temperature: Measured in kelvins, cacti do well with a color temperature that begins at around 5,000 and closely matches sunlight.
- Amount of heat radiated: Not to be mistaken with the color temperature of the lights, heat radiated from the bulbs can damage your plants, and must be placed the correct distance away.
Keeping these qualities in mind, here are some of the best grow lights for cactus that I have found during my research.
Shine Some Light on Your Cactus
Even if you’ve found a suitable place for your cactus and are happy with its growth, I know from experience that winter can be a challenging time for lots of plant owners. There is significantly less sunlight at a weaker strength than other seasons, and you could begin to witness unwanted etiolation in your cactus.
For the happiness of both you and your cacti, consider purchasing a grow light to supplement their growth.
If you’re also into succulents, do check out our top 5 recommended grow lights you can get today.
What is the best indoor lighting for the winter months in the north east fo prickly pear cactus ?
Hi Norm,
You can go for MARS HYDRO TS 1000W LED Grow Light. If you prefer a non-hanging grow light, you can opt for grow light strips like these ones (http://succulentalley.com/top-10-led-grow-light-strips/) or strong mini grow light like this: (http://succulentalley.com/grow-light-for-succulents/#Best_Mini_LED_Relassy_15000Lux_LED_Grow_Light)