For those embarking on their plant-raising journey or struggling with a brown thumb, finding the right balance for your leafy friends is crucial. If you're facing challenges due to lack of sunlight, there's a solution beyond just watering them more. Not everyone has access to south-facing windows, but that shouldn't stop you from bringing greenery into your space. One workaround is to opt for the perfect grow lights. By using the popular IKEA HEKTAR floor lamp, you can easily create a stylish display for your plants, as showcased in a TikTok video by user @botanicallybe.
How to transform the HEKTAR into a grow light
Once your lamp is set up, choose three houseplants. Assess each one's height and either drop or raise the lamp heads to make room for them. Make sure you avoid the crucial grow-light mistake of placing your plants too close to the bulbs, as this may burn them.
Next, you'll need to install three small platforms to house your collection. This is where the hack gets a little involved, but even a DIY newbie should be able to pull it off. First, buy a set of wooden shelves — the ones @botanicallybe uses are the Acacia Wood Floating Shelves found on Amazon. You'll then need to purchase conduit clamps from your local hardware store to attach your shelves to the lamp. In their video, the TikTok creator uses Sigma ProConnex Hanger clamps, which you can get for .78 cents apiece at Lowe's.
Attach a conduit clamp to each shelf using carriage bolts and hex nuts to secure them to the lamp's central pole. The creator opted for ¼" x 1¼" carriage bolts, like this option from Lowe's, along with ¼" hex nuts, such as this one from Lowe's. After attaching the hardware, spray-paint it to match the lamp's color. Finally, screw in some grow-light bulbs, and your project is complete!
Finding the perfect bulbs
The grow-light bulbs used by @botanicallybe were the Briignite Grow Light Bulbs, available in a two-pack for approximately $32 on Amazon. Since the IKEA lamp requires three lights, you'll need to purchase two boxes, totaling $64. While these bulbs come with a remote control for easy operation, you can also explore more affordable options. For instance, Wiyifada offers a three-pack of grow lights for just $20, with over 5,000 positive Amazon reviews. This alternative can significantly reduce the overall cost of your DIY project.
If you encounter compatibility issues between the grow-light bulbs and the lamp sockets, it may be due to different socket sizes (e.g., E26 or E12) and bulb dimensions. Instead of purchasing new bulbs, consider using adapters to ensure a proper fit. A set of five adapters is available for $9 on Amazon.
