To just say replace after to grows is not enough info as to when that is because I can make one grow last longer than the bulb. So it is better to replace at half life. To find out what the half life is just read the package your light comes in. For example it makes 20,000 hours of light. Well at 20,000 hours it now is not as strong as the first hour and is going to die anytime now. But just because the package says 20,000 hours does not mean it will make it that long, and this can be for a whole bunch of reasons. So keep one close by just in case.