Modern Pendant Grow Lights For Plants

Are you looking for a new way to shed a little light on your space? (See what I did there?) We have an amazing DIY for you! This modern pendant grow light for plants will give your green friends just what they need to live in a low light space. Not to mention, the cool modern/boho vibe you’ll be giving that planty corner of yours.

All photography on this page by Brookelynn Darwin

We have a special guest with us today. Brookelynn stole my heart originally with her creepy, yet beautifully intriguing way to decorate for Halloween (Tim Burton would be so proud). From squid ink pasta to doll head planters, my heart eyes grew bigger and bigger. The more I followed and engaged with her, the more I realized just how funny, beautiful, and talented she was. I am so happy to have her as a guest on Clever Bloom with this amazing grow light hack for your plants, take it away Brookelynn!

Meet Brookelynn

Hi plant friends, I’m Brookelynn. I’m an LA based actor, writer, master thrifter, and houseplant enthusiast. I live in a very charming 1950s apartment in Toluca Lake. It’s rich in character but low on light, so it’s challenging to keep my green friends happy. Unfortunately, I can’t stop buying plants. It’s a sickness. I’m sure you can relate. I spend far too much time dreaming of huge South facing widows and browsing Zillow for a brighter place to plant some roots (pun intended.)

In the meantime, I’m making it work with a little creativity and determination. Most of my DIYs come from a place of pickiness and frugality. I find that I can usually make exactly what I want, for far cheaper than buying something that’s not quite right. I’m excited to share this one with you so gather some supplies and let’s get started! 

Modern Pendant Grow Light For Plants

For this project you’ll need:

-A pot of your choice (We used this one from JoAnns)

-Power drill

-Diamond head drill bit (We used this set from Amazon)

-Pendant light cord and hooks ( We used this kit from Amazon)

-LED grow lights (We used these grow lights from Amazon)

-Painters or masking tape

-Paint color & brushes of your choice

Get Inspired

What I really want you to take away from this, is the inspiration to make any pot into a light fixture. You don’t need to use the exact ones I did, they don’t even need to be terra cotta. Plastic pots are a lighter and cheaper option. Or, go a step further and browse the kitchen section of your local thrift store. Antique bowls would make beautiful pendant lights for plants in the kitchen. The possibilities are endless. Just make sure whatever you use, isn’t too heavy, and is deep enough to cover the bulb.

Watch The Video

Steps

1. Add some tape to the inside, bottom of your pot. This helps prevent splintering when drilling through.
2. With the pot upside-down, place the 1.57” drill bit in the center and mark it off with a pencil. You may want to use a ruler to make sure it is centered on all sides so your pot does not tilt when hung. 
3. Use the drill bit to carve out a divot in the terra-cotta. It’s a bit of a pain and you’ll have to do this part by hand but it’s important to create enough of a groove so that your drill doesn’t dance around the pot. You can also start a divot by drilling at an angle, but for this size I find it’s easier to control if you do it the hard way. Once you’re through this step, it’s smooth sailing. 
4. Place your drill bit in the power drill and add some water to the freshly carved circle. Holding the drill at a 90 degree angle, drill slowly at first, using the groove you’ve created to keep the drill in place. Add water as needed and keep drilling until you break through. You should have a clean hole that your lighting attachment will fit into.  
5. Brush off any terra-cotta dust and give it a good cleaning to prep it for paint.
6. Paint a couple coats of paint, allowing each layer to dry completely. I also painted the inside for a uniform look, but you can leave it bare or spray paint it gold to give it a reflective property. 
7. Once everything is dry, attach the light kit and grow bulb as directed on the package.
8. Properly screw a hook into the ceiling and hang as you would any pendant light. That’s it!

I hope this inspires you to look at everything in a new light. May you go forth, quietly wondering if you can turn your grandma’s fruit bowl into a grow light. May you no longer be at the mercy of the Anthropologie gods. When so many projects can be DIY-ed, it’s entirely possible to create things like elegant lighting for your plants without breaking the bank! If you’d like to watch the step by step tutorial on this, I also have a youtube video up on my channel. Subscribe and stick around if you want more DIY content! You can also find me on Instagram and on tiktok @blynndarwin and at www.brookelynndarwin.com. 

Thank you so much Brookelynn! I just love the way these pendant lights turned out. For more planty projects, DIYs, and decor visit this section of the blog.