Depending on your particular growing needs, there are both low intensity and high intensity fluorescent grow lights available. High intensity grow lights are similar to the grow lights used in commercial greenhouses, but are made for home use. Low intensity fluorescent grow lights work well for plants that need less light such as seedlings.
Grow lights work well in protected areas that are heated such as the basement, porch, or an extra bedroom. Grow lights are either cool or warm, depending on the color spectrum. Cool lights, which are primarily in the blue spectrum, are good for promoting foliage growth. Warm lights, in the red-orange spectrum, are best for flowering and fruiting.
The light quality of high intensity grow lights mimics the color spectrum of natural sunlight, more so than the typical fluorescent grow light. Besides being a stronger light, some of the other benefits of high intensity grow lights are that gardeners can grow taller plants (>6-8 inches) and not just seedlings or small plants, and they are easy to use and install.
Simply plug the light into a standard 120v outlet and suspend the light from two hooks mounted in the ceiling and you’re done. Or, you can buy a model such as the Jump Start Light System
pictured above that has shelves and lighting built as a single unit.
Photo source: www.Hydrofarm.com