An indoor gardening appliance includes a cabinet defining a grow chamber within the cabinet. The gardening appliance further includes an artificial lighting system configured to illuminate one or more back portions of the grow chamber. The gardening appliance also includes a controller. The controller is configured for, and/or methods of operating the gardening appliance may include, operating the artificial lighting system according to a first profile for a first period of time and operating the artificial lighting system according to a second profile for a second period of time after the first period of time.