---
title: "do you leave your grow lights on overnight?"
description: "do you leave your grow lights on overnight?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/fQipaoQNS2SCTJGI4q9l9w/64a8b285c948a843355dab71"
community: "Equipment & Materials"
author: "Taez"
published: "2023-07-08T00:49:09.196Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/equipmentAndMaterials.jpg"
---

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# do you leave your grow lights on overnight?

_Posted by Taez on 2023-07-08_

do you leave your grow lights on overnight?

## 9 comments

### Dave\_opuntiaface commented on 2023-07-08

Not on purpose ha. But what was said above, yeah, they need the night to rest. I set a timer on my lights so they run 8-2 and then 3-8:30. I’m still figuring that out, though.

#### Taez replied on 2023-07-08

smart!! thank you!

#### Zan~ Anxious Planter replied on 2023-07-08

If you have a smart plug you could probs rig it to do sunrise to sunset mimic the day cycle you have irl. That’s what I do for my aquariums. I haven’t gotten a grow light quiet yet, so I can’t exactly attest for how efficient the method is but it’s worth a shot.

#### Zan~ Anxious Planter replied on 2023-07-08

But also tbh the average plant needs minimum 6-8 hours so if you have a bunch look up light requirements and time and add it up and find the average wich in most cases is gonna be like 10 hours average.

### Mads commented on 2023-07-09

I live with a Day Sleeper… so the struggle to maintain proper light cycles is real. When he’s off work he’s up all night, so of course he needs the lights on… during the day he usually sleeps in the living room, so any plants in that room that aren’t in the windows don’t get light if he shuts the curtains. 🙈

#### Dave\_opuntiaface replied on 2023-07-28

I just had that life, as well.

### Danika commented on 2023-07-11

I have heard that if you are supplementing a plants light with grow lights (LED or other), rather than light from the sun, you should add 2hrs to however much sunlight they usually need (indirect or direct). So if a plant usually thrives with 12hrs of light, but its only light source or main light source is a grow light, you should try to give it 14hrs of said grow light. But def let it rest at night for some period of time.

This probably varies depending on the intensity/wattage/color rendering temperature \& distance from light to the plant. But you get the idea. Use best judgment as to how strong or bright your grow-light is and adjust accordingly.

### Sen commented on 2023-07-12

No just 12 hrs per day

### Monstera Monster commented on 2023-07-13

I don’t put them on at night. Mine have timers and only stay on for 12 hours. My plants seem to be doing alright.

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