Are t5 lights good for vegging
William Cox
Published May 14, 2026
T5 lights are generally a great choice for veg plants. They are also known to emit very little heat. Thus, T5 for veg grow light can also be used on fragile plants like on seedlings and clones. T5 lights are also low power consuming and very efficient, thereby allowing you to save cost on the electricity bill.
Can you veg with T5?
For the vegging stage of growth, you’ll want to use a T5 fluorescent grow light with a 6400k spectrum of light– that’s going to give you a white/blueish spectrum. When it’s time to flower you’re going to go with a 2700k bulb to give you a yellowish/white spectrum of light that stimulates flower growth.
Are T5 lights good for growing vegetables?
T5 fluorescent bulbs supply high light intensity with very little heat, making them a good choice for growing plants indoors. … A combination of cool spectrum and warm spectrum T5 bulbs supplies the needed blue and red wavelengths for optimum plant growth.
How many T5 lights do I need for veg?
long and have 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 bulbs per fixture. If you are thinking of growing only a few small plants, you might get away with having a 1- or 2-bulb set-up that is 2- or 4-ft. long, but if you want to grow a whole bunch of plants, you will have to invest in an 8- or 12-bulb set-up that is 4-ft.What are T5 lights good for?
A T5 grow light is a fluorescent light that uses high output T5 bulbs that are strong enough to grow plants. They’re a type of light known as fluorescent lights, and offer a much softer light output compared to high intensity discharge (HID) bulbs like HPS, MH, and CMH grow lights.
Is T5 full spectrum?
Finally! A plug and play High Output LED T5 bulb that cranks out a full BLOOM spectrum with only 21 watts (2′ version) or 41 watts (4′ version) of power usage (Compare a standard T5 HO bulb at 54w). … The Bloom iSunlight® T5 HO replacement LED lamps are an excellent choice for the complete cycle of your plants life.
Are T5 better than LED?
The main advantage of LED over T5 lights is that it is more efficient, which will save cost (bulbs & power) in the long run. … LEDs also do not produce UV light by default (unless UV diodes are used), while florescent lighting does.
Are T5 lights good for seedlings?
T5 grow lights are often favored over other types of grow light for seedlings because they are less harsh on young plants. They are also preferable to starting seedlings off in a windowsill because they emit a greater amount of the light plants need during this phase of development.Can you flower under T5?
Yes, you can use a T5 fluorescent light to flower a pot plant. The benefits of using this type of lighting is the lack of heat that they generate. Because they’re not super-warm, you can place your plant tops within just a few inches of the light.
Do T5 lights get hot?Yes they get pretty warm. They operate at 95 degrees F. I run two fans on mine – one at end blowing down length of fixture and one at side blowing across the vent holes in the fixture. While they get quite warm, is is safe and still cooler than the sodium of halide bulbs.
Article first time published onHow close should T5 lights be to seedlings?
The T5 fluorescent grow light distance for seedlings should be a bit further away. I’d start by hanging the light 6 to 10 inches from seedlings. Use the same distances whether you are using a large T5 fixture or just a regular fluorescent light bulb.
How much heat does a T5 give off?
Manufacturers usually provide light output data at the optimal temperature for each lamp type in their catalogs: 35°C (95°F) for the standard T5 and T5 HO lamps and 25°C (77°F) for the T8 lamps.
Which is better T5 or T8?
If you do not need as many lumens, the lesser wattage T8 would be the better choice since it offers lower lumen and watt consumption. If you need higher levels of lighting, the T5 might be ideal for your situation.
Are T5 grow lights any good?
With the exception of LEDs, T5 fluorescent lights are some of the most efficient bulbs that you can buy. You’ll save a ton of money compared to HID, HPS, or MH bulbs if you’re growing seedlings, greens, or herbs, both is energy costs and the cost of venting away excess heat.
What does T5 stand for?
What does T5 mean? The “T” in lamp nomenclature represents the shape of the lamp-tubular. The number following the “T” usually represents the diameter of the lamp in eighths of an inch (1 inch equals 2.5 centimeters). T5 lamps have a diameter equal to 5 times an eighth of an inch, or 5/8″.
How many T5 seedlings do I need?
To figure out the size of the system you’ll need, you’ll just have to decide how many greens, clones, or seedlings you’d like to grow. Four-bulb 24w T5 fluorescent lights will give your plants a total of 8,800 lumens. The footprint would be around 2ft x 14in at 12 inches above your plants.
Are T5 lights good for growing coral?
The T5s will do the rest. This includes growing corals without fussing over unnecessary bells and whistles. And with T5 lighting, there are no hot spots to worry about. You simply place your coral at the correct tank depth and let them grow.
Are T5 lights good for reef tank?
T5 fixtures and bulbs are a great option to illuminate your tank because the bulbs have a small diameter which allows more bulbs to be placed over the tank – mix and match the bulb color to best highlight your corals and fish.
How much electricity do T5 lights use?
A four-lamp bay using high output T5 lamps uses 220 watts of power including the power used for the ballast; a six-lamp T5 bay uses approximately 342 watts of electricity. Four-lamp T5 bays use about 6,840 kilowatts (kW) of electricity per hour, with six lamp bays consuming about 10,260 kW per hour.
How much area does a T5 cover?
T5 light to cover a 2-ft. by 4-ft. area.
What is a T5 LED light?
Made to effectively replace linear fluorescent tubes, T5 LED tubes are an energy efficient alternative for linear fixtures, strip lights, shop lights, and troffers. … T5 LED tubes are available for plug-and-play, ballast bypass, or hybrid operation.
Do you need a ballast for T5 lights?
T5 lamps need special ballasts to operate. In most cases, the T5 ballasts will not work with T12 or T8 lamps, although at least one manufacturer offers electronic ballasts that can operate either T5 or T8 lamps with appropriate wiring.
How long do T5 grow lights Last?
Time: With typical daily photo periods of 8-12 hours, T5 bulbs carry the average life-span is 9-12 months. If it’s been more than 12 months since your last bulb change, it’s probably time for a change.
How far away should LED grow lights be from seedlings?
There is no universal rule for setting the distance but it’s recommended that LEDs are placed 12 to 18 inches away from the plants. Light is among the most vital factors to consider when growing plants because it triggers the photosynthesis process.
Do fluorescent lights get hot?
Fluorescent lights do not get as warm as their incandescent counterparts. Fluorescent lights never get hot, but a small amount of heat energy is created when keeping a fluorescent light on.
How hot do T8 bulbs get?
Like T12 lamps, T8 lamps are available in a variety of color temperatures, including warm (3000 K), neutral (3500 K), cool (4100 K), and very cool (5000 K).
Can seedlings get too much light?
Yes, it is true that your seedlings need lots of bright light to grow healthy and strong—but they also need a period of darkness in order to thrive. … In general, seedlings should receive roughly 14 to 16 hours of light a day when situated in a south-facing window.
Do Grow lights have to be above plants?
Grow Light Placement Tips TIP: Place grow lights directly over plantings to mimic natural sunlight. As a rough guide, incandescent grow light bulbs should be at least 24 inches over your plants. Fluorescent and LED lights have a lower heat signature, so they can be placed 12 and 6 inches over plants respectively.
How high should grow lights be above seedlings?
Where Should Grow Lights Be Located? For seedlings, LED grow lights should generally be mounted between 24-36 inches above the plant canopy – however, this depends on the power (wattage) of the light source.
How many watts is a T5?
The wattages for standard T5 lamps are 14, 21, 28, and 35 watts. The high-output T5 (T5 HO) lamps are available in 24, 39, 54, and 80 watts (49-watt T5 HO lamps are also available from GE Lighting).
Is T5 energy efficient?
T5 bulbs use about 45% less energy than T12s. For some applications, one T5 bulb can replace two T12 bulbs, providing even greater energy savings (a process called “de-lamping.”)