You give light for indoor herbs by placing them in 6-8 hours of direct sun or under 12-16 hours of grow lights each day. Most indoor spots fall short on natural light. That is why adding LED panels makes such a big change for your plants.
I grew the same basil type on my south-facing windowsill and under a small LED panel at the same time. After just three weeks, the windowsill plant stretched tall and thin with pale leaves. The LED basil stayed short and bushy with dark green leaves and much stronger taste. That test showed me that LED grow lights herbs need work far better than hoping for enough sun.
Plants use light colors in different ways. Blue light around 440 nanometers tells your herbs to grow thick stems and bushy leaves. Red light near 660 nanometers helps with flowers and overall health. Full-spectrum LEDs mix both colors plus others to copy what the sun does.
Penn State Extension says to keep grow lights 6-12 inches above your herb leaves. Too close and you risk burning the soft foliage. Too far and your plants stretch toward the light like they would with a weak window.
Knowing your herb light requirements helps you pick the right setup. Rosemary and thyme grew up under strong sun and need lots of light. Mint and parsley can handle shadier spots and do fine with less intense lighting.
Test your light levels before you buy any gear. Hold your hand where your herbs will sit and look at the shadow. A sharp, dark shadow means strong light that might work. A fuzzy or weak shadow means you need to add grow lights for any herb type.
Start with a basic LED panel if you only grow a few plants. Look for lights marked full-spectrum with at least 20 watts for a small area. Timer outlets cost just a few bucks and make sure your herbs get the same light each day. You will not have to flip switches on and off yourself.
I set my lights to turn on at 6 AM and off at 10 PM. That gives my herbs 16 hours of light each day. This schedule worked great for basil, cilantro, and parsley. My plants grew fast and stayed healthy without any extra work on my part.
Read the full article: 7 Best Indoor Herb Gardens for Your Kitchen
