How To Hang Indoor Grow Lights For Plants?

Regardless of the size of your indoor growing space, the number of plants or the specific strain you’ll be growing, indoor grow lights for plants are always a key component of the entire grow.

Whether you use fluorescent lights, HID lights, or LEDs finding the right location and hanging your plant lights will not only simplify the growing process, but your plants will appreciate the fact that you can provide them with effective light.

Read on for effective guidelines for how to hang grow lights in tent, greenhouses and ceilings.

Tools For Hanging Grow Lights

Proper planning is always critical in any project. You will need some tools to do the job of hanging the plant lights

Grow Light For Indoor Plants

HPS lamps, HID lamps, indoor LED grow lights, and fluorescent lights are all suitable for indoor growing, please choose to buy according to your growing budget.

Rope Ratchet

The Rope Ratchet Lightweight Suspension Kit is the perfect accessory rope to be able to hang and secure items quickly and easily. The rope hangs from support beams or poles, simply hooking them to the shade on each side.

Hooks or Anchors

These hanging chains with hooks can be used to hang planters, plant baskets, and indoor grow light for plants. It is ideal for small and light grow lights.

Yo-Yo Hangers

Similar to the rope ratchet, the yo-yo hanger will provide two support points for your light, with two hooks supporting each side. It is suitable for small and lightweight lights because of the single hanging point.

Creative Ways to Hang Grow Lights

The type and size of the plant light determines how it is hung. Take a look and find out what works for you.

How To Hang Grow Lights In Tent

For home growing, a grow tent or closet is undoubtedly the best choice. For plants to grow healthily in this completely enclosed/semi-enclosed environment, an indoor grow light system must be used to assist the plants in each stage.

You can use the following simple, helpful tips for hanging indoor grow lights for plants today to make the process of hanging lights easy.

Step 1: Finding The Right Place For Grow Lights

Light Coverage: You should place lights centrally directly above the plants to ensure that an even light coverage is created in the tent. If the light is not evenly distributed, plants in bright hot spots will grow taller and shade out surrounding plants.
Accessibility: Choose a location where you can easily adjust the height of the light and be close to the plants for maintenance.
Safety: Avoid placing indoor plant growing lights close to the tent walls, as they can generate a lot of heat, which can lead to fire hazards.
Electrical Access: Make sure there is an electrical outlet nearby or use a longer extension cord if necessary.

Step 2: Installing Hooks or Anchors

Choose the Correct Hooks or Anchors: You will need to purchase hooks or anchors specifically designed for grow tents and based on the weight of the lights you are using.
Measure and Mark the Location: Measure the distance between the hooks and pegs to make sure they are evenly distributed and mark their location on the ceiling of the tent.
Drill Pilot Holes: If screws or bolts are used, drill pilot holes at the marked locations to make it easier to install the hooks or anchors.
Installation: Secure the hooks in place with screws or bolts, and make sure they are securely fastened to the ceiling of the tent.
Test: Test the hooks for stability by hanging weights.

Step 3: Attach The Chain Or Rope

Find a strong, durable chain or rope that can support the weight of the indoor plant grow light you are using.
Attach the chain or rope to a hook or beam, then tie them back to the same rope and secure it to the grow light fixture.

Then gently pull on the rope to see if it is strong enough to support the weight of the fixture.

It is also important to note that the chain or rope needs to be long enough so that you can adjust the height at will.

Step 4: Hanging Grow Lights For Indoor Plants

First, hang the main frame of the fixture. Use the climbing clips to clip the ends of the strings to the fixture and adjust the height.

When the main frame is in place and looks stable, slowly open the perimeter of the fixture and clip them on one after the other using the climbing clips.

Step 5: Adjust The Height Of The Lights

Now that you have hung the light, you can adjust the height of it accordingly. Rope ratchet hangers make this process very easy. If you are using other hanging tools, you may need to be more creative in adjusting the height.

The position of your grow lights will determine the following factors.

Overall light intensity
How much light is lost from the walls
The degree of penetration
The level of overlapping light
Light uniformity

Type: Different types of indoor grow lights for plants have different recommended distances from the plants. Incandescent bulbs and LEDs also have different distance requirements.
Plant Size: As the plant life cycle changes, you may need to adjust the height of the light. In general, it is recommended to place the light 12-24 inches above the top of the plant.
Spectrum: Different spectra are used for different stages of plant growth. Make sure the height of the lights is appropriate for the stage of growth your plants are in.

Step 6: Powering The Indoor Grow Lights For Plants

You need to determine the maximum number of fixtures allowed to be connected in the circuit, and then connect all your fixtures.

Step 7: Fix The Wire

Have a safe indoor growing environment in order to carry out your planting work. Make sure the cords are secure and there is no risk of tripping hazards or damage to the plants. You can use electric cable ties or wire anchors to keep wires neat and away from obstructions.

How To Hang Grow Lights From Ceiling

The steps to install lights on the ceiling are roughly the same as inside a grow tent, but there are differences. Let’s continue to learn about it.

Step 1: Locate The Ideal Installation Spot

As with planting in a grow tent, indoor garden grow lights should be above the plants, otherwise, the light beam will not reach the greenery evenly.

Accessibility: You also pay attention to other elements of the ceiling. If you have two ceiling fans in your room, you need to place the plants away from them.
Ideal Location: Find a place where the ceiling is empty, which will allow you to accommodate your precious plants and light in this empty space.

Step 2: Mark, Measure And Drill Holes

Those with beams can install plant lights directly on the beams, while those without beams will want to purchase a hanger to secure the lights to the frame. Either way, just make sure they are sturdy enough to support the lighting system you plan to use.

Once you have determined where to mount your indoor grow lights for plants, start marking, measuring and drilling holes. These holes will help you place the hangers on the ceiling or beams. After using a tape measure to take measurements and noting the points with a pencil, you can drill the holes and insert the light brackets.

Some people use special hooks, while others may install joists. The materials and method you use will depend greatly on the type of grow lights you have.

Step 3: Installing Hooks

When using only hooks.

Place a hook into the hole you have drilled in the ceiling.
Turn the hook clockwise, applying firm pressure throughout
Once the hook is safely pushed into the ceiling, you can stop turning it.
Be sure to flick the hook with your finger to make sure it is securely in place.

Warm Tips: A loose hook will make a mess of this in no time!

Step 4: Set Up A Rope Ratchet

It is best to use a nylon rope ratchet. This rope ratchet is both affordable and very durable, making it ideal for hanging LED indoor growing lights. You can use a 1/8″ nylon rope ratchet, but for heavier lights, use a ¼” version of the same product.

If needed, use S-shaped screws or yo-yo hangers to hold the light in place.

Step 5: Hanging Indoor Grow Lights For Plants

You can use additional hooks and S-screws to secure the plant lights to the rope after the rope is in place.

How To Hang Grow Lights In Greenhouse?

For smaller greenhouses, it may be important for managers to learn how to hang grow lights, which will help avoid having to hire an electrician when grow lights need to be adjusted.

But for larger greenhouses of a certain size, perhaps hiring a professional to install them can be effective in speeding up the growing process.

Either way, it is also beneficial to learn and understand how to install grow lights in a greenhouse.

Step 1: Prepare The Ideal Space For Hanging

As in both cases above, the first step is to first find the best installation point for the plant lights. The location of the installation depends on the layout of the crop and its respective light level and uniformity goals. The fixtures must be hung in such a way that the shadows from the lights are minimized and the light covers the crop evenly and unobstructed.

This video on how to install grow lights in a greenhouse may help you better understand the process.

Step 2: Installing The Hanger

Select a hanger or mover rail that is appropriate for the size of your grow lights and the type of greenhouse you are using.

Mark, measure and cut the required length of the hanger and install it.

Test the chain hanger. Making sure the installation is secure enough and in the correct position before hanging the lights.

Step 3: Connect Wires

Be sure to check all electrical outlets to ensure that power is distributed safely and evenly. Follow all necessary safety precautions and electrical codes to connect cords from the fixture to the power source.

Any cords need to be positioned so that there is sufficient slack in both directions.

Step 4: Installing The Light

Install the fixtures according to the instructions provided by the LED grow light manufacturer, then connect all the plant lights in series correctly. Make sure they are straight, level and uniform in the plane. Height-adjustable rope ratchets may be used here, but certain growing environments or urban agricultural settings may require a different hanging mechanism.

Things to Note After Installing Grow Lights

Over time, the plants will grow taller and taller. You will need to dim the light or adjust the position.
For plants whose leaves appear to curl upward, you will need to increase the distance between the plant and the grow light appropriately.
For plants with long legs appear because they are too far from the fixture and do not receive enough light. And you can lower the artificial light source for plants. For every 12 inches between the plant and the light, the light intensity will increase by about 75%.
Like plants, your grow lights need care. You need to check lights regularly and understand how to clean LED grow lights so that they can maintain a consistent and even light.

Wrap Up

Before you start setting up your grow room, make sure you take the time to understand what your plants will need and have a strong understanding of lights to help plants grow indoors. What type of hanging tools you will be using and make sure you have all the materials on hand.

It is also important that you buy the appropriate grow lights wattage for your growing needs.

Hopefully, you will have no trouble hanging your indoor grow lights for plants. Be aware, however, that you will have to adjust the position and light intensity of your lights depending on the height and condition of your plants.