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Starting plants from seed opens up a world of possibilities. After years of trial and error, I finally found lights for indoor seed starting that I can’t live without, and I’m thrilled to be able to share what I found.

The best light system for starting seeds

When I first started seeds indoors, the best option on the market was fluorescent shop lights. At the time, they were inexpensive and easy to find in home improvement stores. Jump forward ten years, and the lighting market has changed dramatically. LEDs are the light source of choice, and it’s nearly impossible to find fluorescent fixtures anymore.

Thanks to LED technology, however, shop lights are now dramatically lighter, cooler, and easier to maintain.

After lots of research and testing, my pick for the best light system for starting seeds is the Bbounder LED Utility Shoplight.

Features that I love

Here are the features of the Bbounder shop lights that I love most:

• Adjustable. All four light fixtures come with chains for suspending the lights above the seed trays. This makes it so easy to adjust the height of the lights as the seedlings grow.
• Cooler than most. When I am starting seeds in the summer for fall planting, I want to carefully control ambient temperatures so I don’t overheat the seedlings. The Bbounder lights generate a small amount of heat, but are still cool enough that I can grab the tubes after an entire day of being on.
• Linkable. All of the four tube lights that come in this set are linkable. This means that I only need one outlet for the entire light system. This is especially important to me when I also need outlet space for heat mats in the winter.
• Space-saving. Unlike the old fluorescent shop fixtures, these lights take up no additional room beyond the size of the tubes themselves. Because they are so streamlined, I can fit more trays and lights on my shelving system.
• High lumen output. The most critical factor to seedling success is adequate light. Without enough light, seedlings will become excessively leggy and weak. High lumen output is crucial, and these lights pack a punch with 4000 lumens. They are very bright.
• 5-year warranty. The fixtures are designed to last for 50,000 hours, and include a 5-year warranty.

Any cons?

To be honest, I can’t think of any cons for using these for seed starting. They are bright, lightweight, and tough. I’ll be sure to post an update if anything changes, but for now, I’ve found my lighting system for life, and I’m happy that I can share this info with others.

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Callie Works-Leary

Founder of The Dallas Garden School, Callie is an expert garden educator with 17 years of personal and professional gardening experience. She specializes in growing food, small-space gardening, managing community gardens, and plant propagation. She has an MBA from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College, and served as a horticulture intern for the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Callie is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, The Herb Society of America, the National Garden Bureau, and is a Certified Texas Master Gardener.

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