--- title: "Tfw you don't have grow lights yet and the new apartment you just…" description: "Tfw you don't have grow lights yet and the new apartment you just moved into only has east-facing windows that don't get enough sun I'm gonna be leaving them…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/64ddc101807ce71da59e22dd" community: "Anything about plants" author: "skejap" published: "2023-08-17T06:41:05.903Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/_xudIbUEECt41cbMLt3fOjUSb6D-BoQwUvqwlVSv8FU/e3ddf5111fe045b7a98434af3cc6c88c.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md) # Tfw you don't have grow lights yet and the new apartment you just… _Posted by skejap on 2023-08-17_ Tfw you don't have grow lights yet and the new apartment you just moved into only has east-facing windows that don't get enough sun I'm gonna be leaving them in a sunny spot outside my apartment during the day – hope people will read the note \& understand 🥲 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/_xudIbUEECt41cbMLt3fOjUSb6D-BoQwUvqwlVSv8FU/e3ddf5111fe045b7a98434af3cc6c88c.webp?size=large) ## 5 comments ### Sunny commented on 2023-08-17 Consider getting a grow light bulb to use with a regular lamp. The bulbs cost as low as $3.50 for 2 bulbs on Amazon. I would be filled with anxiety that my plants would walk away or get accidentally damaged when I was gone. #### skejap replied on 2023-08-17 I've actually been looking into those – do you have any advice for using them? (Like how long to keep them on, how far away to place them from plants, etc) ### Mullein commented on 2023-08-17 I feel ya! I used to have an art studio office. At first I had a space with tons of west and south windows and it was amazing. Then I moved to a different studio room with only two north facing windows 💀 I ended up getting led grow light fixtures. I’m glad my plants made it through. Now I have them at my new apartment with much more light… besides the fact that it’s been like the cloudy summer ever in my region 🤪 #### skejap replied on 2023-08-17 Glad your plants got through it! My old house had plenty of south-facing windows and full sun spots outside, but now I've only got two windows that get light for just a few hours in the morning 😅 I don't have any experience with grow lights though so may I ask for some tips for a newbie? 🙏 #### Mullein replied on 2023-08-17 I was given mine, but they’re from Amazon. The brands there change all the time for the more affordable products, so it doesn’t really matter which you choose imo. I have one with a clip-on gooseneck with 5 adjustable light rods. It’s full spectrum but the light looks pink, which I’m not a huge fan of. It has a timer with options for 3,9,or12 hours. This one can get pretty close to the plants without burning them. But just to be safe I recommend starting about a foot or two away from the plant and keeping it on for shorter times as you working your way up to 12hours. The other one I have has three rectangular light panels on a tripod. It’s also full spectrum but I prefer it because the light looks like a normal warm white light. It has a 3,6,or12 hour timer. This one is a bit farther away from my plants just because of the way my setup is arranged. Again, I would play it safe and increase the light slowly over time, keeping an eye out for burned leaves. Grow bulbs also work if you want to use your own light fixture, such as a reflector dome lamp. I’d go with LED for low electricity cost/use and no heat emitted. Grow bulbs can range from pretty affordable to really high, like idk $60 for one bulb. I’ve never tried the fancy ones. I personally don’t think you need it unless you want a state of the art plant collection haha. I don’t currently use grow bulbs, but when I did I had the fixture fairly far from my plants to get them all covered. Depending on your fixture, the light could be a narrow beam. I hope some of that info helps! Happy growing ☺️ --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_