5 Ways to Tell If Your Plants Need More Light
Most plant problems aren't about watering. They're about light.
If your plants aren't growing the way they used to, or they're looking a bit sad no matter what you do, there's a good chance they're not getting enough light. Here's what to look for.
1. Leaves reaching and turning toward the window
If your plant looks like it's craning its neck toward the nearest window, it's telling you something. Plants grow toward their light source, and when there isn't enough of it, they'll stretch and twist to find more. You'll notice the side facing the room looks bare or sparse while everything leans one direction.
2. Small new leaves, or no new leaves at all
Light is energy. Without enough of it, your plant simply doesn't have the fuel to produce full-sized leaves. If the newest growth is noticeably smaller than the older leaves, or your plant has just... stopped growing altogether, low light is usually the first thing to check.
3. Long, leggy stems with big gaps between leaves
This one's especially common with vining plants. Instead of compact, bushy growth, you get long bare stems with widely spaced leaves. Your plant is essentially sprinting toward any light it can find, putting its energy into length rather than fullness.
4. Leaves losing colour or going pale
Healthy plants need light to produce chlorophyll, that's what keeps leaves deep green. When light is low, leaves can start fading to a washed-out yellow-green, or variegated plants may lose their patterns entirely and revert to plain green. If your plant looks duller than when you bought it, light is the likely culprit.
5. Soil staying wet for days after watering
This one surprises people. When a plant doesn't get enough light, it slows down, including how quickly it drinks water. If your soil is still damp a week after watering and it used to dry out in a few days, the plant has effectively gone dormant from lack of light. This also increases the risk of root rot, so it becomes a compounding problem.
Sound familiar?
Most of these problems get blamed on overwatering, wrong soil, or just bad luck. Yes these can play a part, but nine times out of ten, the answer is simpler than you think, your plant just isn't getting enough light, especially if it's not right next to a window.
The fix doesn't mean rearranging your whole home or giving up on that dark corner.
It's why thousands of plant people use grow lights.
A grow light is a lamp designed specifically for plants. Unlike a regular household bulb, it produces the full range of light wavelengths plants use for photosynthesis, similar to what they'd get from direct sunlight. You place it wherever your plants are, and they get the light they need to actually grow.
Meet Pianta
Pianta is a full-spectrum grow light bulb that gives your plants the same light they'd get from a bright window, wherever you put it.
Pianta LED Grow Light Bulb
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Now just £35
Sellout Risk
HIGH
Full-spectrum light tuned for plant growth
Natural warm-white light
Fits E27 or B22 lamp fittings: just screw in and switch on
50,000 hour lifespan · 90-day risk-free trial
Discover our versatile bundle options:
Our Pianta Grow Light is designed for standard lamp fittings, allowing you to choose a light fitting that suits your interior design style.
We also offer popular bundle options featuring our fixtures, save on these bundle deals!
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Pianta Grow Light and Stelo Clip-On Bulb Holder
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Included in the bundle:
x1 Pianta LED Grow Light Bulb
1x Stelo Gooseneck Clip On bulb Holder
The flexible and sturdy gooseneck design allows for easy and precise adjustment of light direction.
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£57
£60
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Included in the bundle:
x1 Pianta Grow Light Bulb
x1 Plug-in Pendant lamp with 5m textile cable
x2 wall fairleads, to attach the cable neatly to your wall
x1 Ceiling hook to suspend the light above your plants
No hardwiring is required, but a drill and screwdriver are needed to install the fairleads and ceiling hooks.
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£60
£65
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Pianta and Adjustable Floor Lamp
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Included in the bundle:
x1 Pianta Grow Light
x1 Adjustable Floor Lamp
It can be adjusted from a minimum total height of 1 meter to a maximum height of 1.7m, allowing you to move the grow light up as your plants grow!
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£114
£120
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Experience the Grow Gang Difference
"Damn these are bright! Can fill a room on its own. Ordered these as my plants don't get enough sunlight here in the UK and they went dull due to hibernation. Now my plants are flourishing!"
Verified Buyer
"This is my 3rd PIANTA light and I could not praise them enough how beneficial they are to my plants. The light is a decent size, very well made and aesthetically pleasing. You will not regret it. 😊👍🏻⭐️"
Verified Buyer
"A fantastic light. My alocasias are putting out new leaves within 2 weeks of having this light. All my plants are benefitting from it and producing new growth. Super easy to fit bulb into existing light. The light is bright but not too dazzling works perfectly in any room. Extremely happy plants extremely happy customer!"
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FAQ'S
How long should grow lights be on for?
This will depend on the type of plant you are growing and on how much natural light your plants are getting. As a rough rule of thumb to effectively mimic the sun's natural light it should be on for 8- 16 hours a day however if there is already a lot of natural light, it can be used for just a few hours a day to top up the light and keep the plant thriving.
Even plants need a good nights sleep! Make sure not to run the light for longer than 16 hours a day so your plants can rest.
How can i tell if my plant isn't getting enough light?
Common signs your plants are not getting enough light:
Slow or no growth
Lighter leaf colour
Smaller new leaves
Older leaves dying
The Pianta Grow Light will ensure they have enough light.
How far should grow lights be from plants?
The Light should be pointing directly at your plants. Be careful not to keep the light too close as it can burn the plant, between 0.3m - 1m is a good distance to start with, then move as required. Keep an eye on your plants as they will give you feedback.
Refer to our blog for more guidance!
What Light Fittings can I use with the Pianta Grow Light?
Do you offer a Risk-Free Trial?
Yes! We offer a 90 Day Risk Free Trial on the Pianta grow light bulb. If you're not completely happy with the Pianta we will refund you the full amount, including delivery charges, and provide a return label at our cost.
We also offer a two year warranty for peace of mind, we stand behind our products.
24 hour customer service. If you have any issues with the product, feel free to contact us.
How long after ordering will i receive my product?
Orders are shipped using Royal Mail, DPD or Parcelforce. Orders will take between 2 and 4 days. With express delivery it will take between 1 and 3 days. We do not deliver on Sundays.
We are currently offering free shipping on orders over £70!
Can I have some more detailed specifications?
• Solid Aluminium Body
• Power Consumption: 18W
• Colour Temperature: 3,400k
• Beam Angle: 60°
• Base: E27 Screw fit or B22 Bayonet
• PPF: 33.1 μmol/sec
• Lumens: 2,366
• Weight: 300g
• Not Dimmable
•Estimated life span: 50,000 Hours
Happy Plants in 90 Days - Or Your Money Back
See stronger, greener growth within 90 days, or send it back and we'll refund every penny, including delivery.
We'll even cover the return label.
Plus, every Pianta bulb comes with a 2-year Warranty for complete peace of mind. We stand behind every bulb we make.