Tried a cheap LED grow light and a $40 bulb on the same 6 plants, and the result stung

Rowan Lewis · 2026-10-21T03:30:09.952198+00:00

I set up two trays of basil and pothos cuttings on my shelf in Eugene last fall, one under a $25 Amazon panel and one under a plain $40 white LED bulb in a desk lamp. Six weeks later the cheap panel tray was leggy and pale while the bulb tray was compact and dark green, and I'm still trying to figure out why the expensive-ish one won so easy. The panel ran hot too, which I didn't expect from something that low watt. Anyone got a light they actually trust for a small shelf setup, or is this just how it goes with the budget stuff?

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Tried a cheap LED grow light and a $40 bulb on the same 6 plants, and the result stung | Botany Lovers - Free To Speak