Do Plants Grow Better With Sunlight or Artificial Light? A Difficult Question

Many individuals just getting started in home gardening may be asking, “Do plants grow better with sunlight or artificial light?” There is no easy way to answer this question; instead it is important for a person to consider the requirements of the type of plant they are trying to grow. Most types of plants will do well with either one of these lights, so long as they are well cared for. This will mean providing the right amount of artificial light for a plant depending on whether or not it normally thrives in shady conditions or in direct sunlight.

It is a well understood fact that plants need light in order to survive. The reason for this is that plants use the energy they receive from light in a process called photosynthesis. Since each plant requires a different amount of light to survive, it is not usually possible to grow a sunny and a shady plant side-by-side, regardless of whether or not they are receiving either type of these lights discussed. Rather than asking, “Do plants grow better with sunlight or artificial light?” a person should be considering the particular requirements of the type of plant that they intend to grow.

While there may be certain plants that just do better with natural sunlight, the majority of plants will do just fine if their needs are met by an artificial light. This will mean not placing a plant that typically prefers shade under intense artificial light for extended periods of time. Likewise, a plant that prefers intense sunlight will not flourish if the artificial light is receiving is not bright enough or left on for long enough period of time. Which type of light will a plant grow better with? Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends.

Different types of plants can grow just fine side-by-side under artificial light if they have the same light requirements. Another thing to keep in mind when mimicking sunlight with an artificial light is the fact that plants only use a certain spectrum of light for photosynthesis. This will mean that for a plant to grow with either type of these lights, the artificial light will have to be one designed specifically with plants in mind in order to provide the right spectrum of energy. Hopefully, this will provide some insight into the question, “do plants grow better with sunlight or artificial light” and make it easier for a home garden to do equally as well indoors or outside.