Growing a plumeria indoors in Toronto CAN, what indoor light type is recommended?

Question

In the article by Shelley Piece titled “How to grow plumeria plants indoors” she recommends a fluorescent light for 14-15 hrs daily if you don’t have a great window spot. I’ve recently lost my great window spot due to a new condo blocking my sunrise. 2.5 years ago I plotted a “Y” cutting from a plumeria plant. Last summer it had about 30 leaves between the 2 arms. Without my old light source it is struggling to ‘wake up’ after it went mostly dormant this winter. As such, I’m looking into acquiring a indoor grow light. Why did Shelley recommend a fluorescent light in her article? From the research I’ve done thus far, it seems an LED bulb would be ideal. My apartment is warm enough and I will begin to mist and fertilize the plant as Shelley’s article describes to encourage growth and possibly even flowering! But I need a reliable light source! Any further discussion on this matter is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Fluorescents are an inexpensive option that is tried and true. They work, bluntly put.

LED can be the best light source if you get a high end panel. That is, you need a panel that has more than just red and blue diodes. Plants need a decent range of the light spectrum in order to perform their best.

As long as it is a good spectrum set, and not just red/blue diodes, and they are fitted with lenses, then they can be considered "good" LED. Those with straight diodes and just red/blue will tend to fail, or frustrate any gardener.

You should be looking at panels by how much area that you are trying to light. This is the best way to figure out what size panel and how much power that you need.

Generally, around 100 watts per square foot, or slightly more in actual draw, not equivalent output, is recommended, though you can get away with a little less.

LED can be the better light source, as long as you are willing to spend the money for a GOOD panel. Otherwise, they are nowhere near as good as a fluorescent panel.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/led-grow-light-information.htm