For indoor plants, winter is a harsh time. Pop Sci has introduced the LED grow lights to keep houseplants thriving during the short days of winter. Using specialty grow lights can give your air-boosting indoor plants the right light and temperature, or you can build your own long-lasting, nifty-looking LED light spikes.

Specialized grow lights that closely mimic the sun’s rays are a better solution, but you can get the same effect with special LEDs that are also brighter, cheaper and last far longer. These bulbs actually work best as a supplement to sunlight during the day; however, they’ll also provide enough light after dark to ensure that your plants get the 12 to 18 hours a day they need to thrive. Three inside a clear plastic tube are connected, a “light spike” that you can stick right into the pot for direct exposure, and added a controller that adjusts the brightness. Or you can string together multiple spikes to cover several plants at once. The system should keep your plants in great shape until springtime. Just don’t forget the water.