Lights for growing plants date back to the early 20th century when incandescent and metal halide bulbs were used to grow plants indoors, particularly in winter. These early grow lights used a lot of energy, emitted a lot of heat, and provided a light spectrum that was less than ideal. The plants grew, but didn’t always thrive. More recently, the introduction of LEDs allowed for customizable light spectra, low energy use and minimal heat production. But these LED grow lights tended to be purple in color, as the plants were thought to use mostly red and blue wavelengths of light.  Such lights actually grew plants quite well, but were found to be unsuitable for lighting decorative plant-walls in offices, homes and hotel and business lobbies, due to their odd coloration. Because of this, Dave MacKenzie, founder of LiveWall, went on a quest to find a “white, sun-mimicking” grow light, and found that at the time, in 2010, such a light was illusive. But that didn’t mean that it couldn’t be made, and soon MacKenzie found a top notch lighting manufacturer to partner with, test different light spectra, and develop a simple solution.

Now, LiveWall products are almost exclusively illuminated with the NorbBOTANIC PAR38 16W light bulbs, which fit ordinary track fixtures, have a white sun mimicking spectrum, and do a great job of growing plants indoors. The term Norb Lighting was termed by MacKenzie to represent these products, with Norb being short for Nutri-Orb, acknowledging light as key to plant nutrition. Today, Norb Lighting, LLC is a stand alone business, providing grow lights as well as unique lights for human wellness (see NorbLighting.com).

Why Light Matters for Indoor Plants

Plants require light for photosynthesis, the process where light energy is converted to sugar, which powers the growth of plants. Without sufficient light or the right light spectrum, plants struggle to flourish, leading to poor growth, yellowing leaves, or even plant death. While natural sunlight provides the full spectrum plants need, it is often inaccessible indoors. This is where grow lights become essential for plant health. However, many traditional grow lights fall short in offering the precise spectrum that plants require, which is why NorbBOTANIC grow lights, especially the NorbBOTANIC PAR38 16W, offer a distinct advantage when paired with LiveWall.

The Science Behind NorbBOTANIC Grow Lights

NorbBOTANIC grow lights are specifically designed to mimic the natural sunlight spectrum that plants need to thrive. These lights go beyond typical LED grow lights, which often leave out important wavelengths to focus on general brightness rather than plant-specific light needs. The NorbBOTANIC PAR38 emits light wavelengths that support photosynthesis, providing a balanced spectrum that encourages robust growth, healthier leaves, and more vibrant flowers. Whether you’re cultivating herbs in your kitchen, tending to houseplants, or managing a larger indoor green wall installation, Norb offers the energy-efficient, high-quality light that plants need to thrive.

Why Norb Botanic is the Perfect Fit for LiveWall Installations

At LiveWall, we understand that creating beautiful vertical plant walls indoors comes with unique challenges. One of the most common hurdles is ensuring that plants receive consistent, high-quality lighting.

By incorporating NorbBOTANIC grow lights into your LiveWall installations, specifically the NorbBOTANIC PAR38 16W (which comes in a 15 or 30 degree bulb), you ensure that your indoor plants have a consistent light source that accurately replicates natural sunlight. Whether you’re working with living walls in offices, homes, or commercial spaces, these lights help your plants stay vibrant and healthy all year long, even in low-light conditions. The PAR38’s design, which is compatible with track and freestanding fixtures, also makes it ideal for architects and engineers who need visually-appealing, energy-efficient solutions for indoor green walls.

Create Your Ideal Indoor Garden with Norb Botanic Grow Lights

At LiveWall LLC, we believe in using the best products available to bring your indoor green spaces to life, which is why we recommend NorbBOTANIC grow lights as the best choice to complement our plant installations.

For architects and engineers who are tasked with lighting design, it’s important to note that Norb Wellness Lighting isn’t just a brand for plants, but also for human wellness! What began as a journey to develop the best-in-the-industry white LED grow light for the LiveWall line led Norb down a new path—the discovery that light also greatly affects human wellness. And, as biologists who care about people, Norb expanded its light bulb line into wellness lights for human needs as well. Check out the complete family of Norb Lighting at www.norblighting.com.

For more details about LiveWall installations and NorbBOTANIC grow lights, visit www.norblighting.com/botanic and www.livewall.com.

Stephanie Cohen, Hall of Fame, Garden Communicators, “Fine Gardening” – Editor Emeritus, Perennial Diva, author and speaker