How long do T5 grow bulbs last? 2020 Indoor Grow Guides

If you’re sick of putting your seedlings in a windowsill that doesn’t get much sun, or you just want to super-charge your indoor gardening process, you should consider a T5 grow light. Your seedlings, herbs, and greens will respond immediately to the increased amount of light you’re giving them.

A good rule of thumb as to when you should change your T5 grow bulbs is when they start losing their efficiency or when they start to appear dimmed because in this case if you continue to use these bulbs you will be paying the same amount of money for electricity but you will get less powerful light that won’t be as useful to your plants and they will grow slower.

Factors that Affect Bulb Life
Photo Period: This is the length of time a bulb is running each day. For example, a bulb running for 12 hours per day should be replaced more often than a bulb that operates 8 hours per day.
Heat/Cooling: Generally, the hotter the installation, the shorter the bulb life.
Ballast: Programmed-start ballast designed specifically for high-output fluorescent bulbs typically provide better bulb life than instant-start ballasts and other types of fluorescent ballasts. This is because programmed start ballasts are easier on high-out T5 bulbs during start-up.

In conclusion, if you want to save money and really exchange bulbs only when their output has become less efficient they you should change T5 at 18 months. For a check, install a new bulb and compare it to the old one.

Best Fluorescent Grow Lights for Sale 2020

Lithonia Lighting 14W Fluorescent Grow Light


The Lithonia Lighting 2-Light 14-Watt White Fluorescent Grow Light allows for indoor gardening year-round. It includes energy efficient T5 fluorescent bulbs that produce light comparable to natural sunlight. The fixture is chain-mounted and includes a cord-and-plug, on/off switch and a convenience power outlet for linking multiple fixtures.

The grow light allows for indoor gardening year-round and features a rugged post painted metal housing with a white finish. T5 fluorescent bulbs us 75% less energy than incandescent and last up to 20,000 hours.

Eco Farm T5 Fluorescent 54W Grow Light



With maximized coverage due to steel housing and rated at 8000 lumens, Eco Farm T5 Fluorescent grow light system is one of the best of its kind.

Its light is quite powerful and can be made more efficient by using it with other setups to increase coverage. It is also an added feature that Eco Farm Fluorescence Light system is not that roomy and can fill up quite easily in your garden. So once you buy it, everything comes in order itself.

T5 fluorescent grow light is an excellent choice for your vegetative plant growth stages, and in some cases, even for support of bloom and production with the correct lamp choices. Your lighting needs may be a mixed bag at times depending on what you are attempting to grow and what stages of growth your plants are within. Because of this, choosing a light you can get the most out of can be a definite advantage.