🌱 lamps for plants: how to choose a suitable light source

To the lack of light does not have a negative impact on farmed seedlings, help plant bulbs. We only need to know how to choose the right model according to the objectives pursued. Offer to find out what lamps exist and what are their distinguishing features to highlight plants.

Is it need more lighting: important points

Light for growing plants is one of the important components. Without it, it becomes impossible to process of photosynthesis, providing carbon assimilation: the normal growth of indoor and other plants is not possible. Picking the best lighting, you can artificially increase the duration of daylight.

If the light is not enough, the young leaf plate home colors vegetables and sprouts will become pale, unsaturated. Their size is reduced. The stem will be extended, itself sprouts begin to bend toward the light source.

Also, the lack of light can lead to:

• slowing down the formation of new buds;
• the withering away of the old flowers;
• full cessation of flowering.

Over time, the variegated colors can lose their decorative coloring, begin to dry out and drop the lower leaves.

Types of lamps and rational use of plant

Design and the light emitted by different lamps may differ materially. To select a suitable option for a particular group of plants should be well-versed in the peculiarities of each species. We offer to get acquainted with the basic types, to make it easier to navigate in the rational use of specific species for plant illumination.

Incandescent lamps

Relatively recently it was the only possible option. Although to call it the best at the moment is quite difficult. Incandescent lamps have a reasonable price, but their operating costs are quite large. In addition, they have a limited life. During the heating process such light sources become very hot, which can cause burns plants. Also, they are not able to form a blue light needed for plants.

However, in the absence of alternatives, they still deserve attention. Incandescent lamps can be selected for plants with long stems or, conversely, with a short barrel, but long leaves.

halogen

According to many gardeners, Halogen - not the best option to highlight plants. They produce a brighter light than incandescent bulbs, but less heated. Some time after the start of operation of the intensity of light output begins to decline. Choose a light source placed in the event that it is necessary to increase the amount of generated red light. Such lamps glow temperature is 3000 K.

Energy-saving

The design of these lamps allows you to select the product with an appropriate radiation spectrum. It can be warm or cold. The latter option is important for the cultivation of seedlings. Lamps with warm radiation should be selected on the stage of flowering.

Externally Energy savers Artificial light is very similar to incandescent bulbs. They can be installed in a conventional chuck. It is used primarily for the local illumination. Set directly on the seedlings.

fluorescent

These lamps are in use are not heated. Have a beneficial effect on the process of photosynthesis. They are able to operate continuously for a long period of time. It can be used to grow plants that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

The main advantages should include:

The disadvantage is a relatively low power. The generated light may be insufficient to illuminate the plants. I have to install on two lamps. The complexity of use greenhouses. At low temperatures, the fluorescent lamps are unstable.

LED

It is very popular due to a number of indisputable advantages, which include:

The disadvantage is the high cost of light sources for generating optimum plant wavelength of 440 and 660 nm.

discharge

May be mercury, sodium, metal halide. Not the best option for the plants. Mercury and not worth choosing. The emitted light of a large number of red rays of the spectrum and at least blue required for seedlings.

Sodium is used by some gardeners. Among the discharge lamps is the best option. Emit predominantly red and orange light. However, some models produced a sufficient amount of blue waves to arrange lighting plants. Often used as a main light winter gardens. characterized by:

The disadvantage is the large size, high cost, the presence of harmful substances and strict requirements to the procedure of recycling.

Metal halide lamps emit white light close to natural. They allow you to change the spectrum of the emitted light, durable, but are quite expensive.

Lamps for plants: how to choose according to different criteria

To select a light source with appropriate parameters should be guided by a number of important criteria. This will create favorable conditions for the cultivation of plants of various species.

As the color temperature

Depending on the color temperature, the light flux produced has different effects on farmed seedlings. Based on the task at hand, the choice can be made in favor of the next glow:

• cold. Actual embodiment for active growth period. Boosts shoot seed rate. Improves further development;
• warm. A suitable embodiment for the illumination of plants during the flowering period of fruit formation;
• day. It unites cold and warm spectrum. Relevant at any stage of plant development. It can be used as the basic and the additional light source.

To select a suitable option, it should be noted that:

• red with a wavelength of 720-600 nm, and orange (620-595 nm) contribute to the improvement of photosynthesis. However, when a large number of such rays seedlings will slowly move in flowering stage;
• blue and violet (490-380 nm) accelerate flowering and provide protein production;
• UV (315-380 nm) It helps develop a specific group of vitamins and reducing the rate of 'forcing' plants. Ultraviolet rays with a wavelength of 280-315 nm will help to increase the frost resistance of seedlings;
• yellow (595-565 nm) and green (565-490 nm) They are neutral for plants.

By light flux and energy consumption

Produced by the light beam has a different effect on the cultivated plants. It should be:

• close to natural light source;
• limited in time. The duration and intensity are selected individually for each plant;
• contain at least ultraviolet light.

Attention! Selection parameters are luminous flux in view of the effect desired.

The level of energy consumption depends on the power of the lighting unit. This indicator has a direct impact on the intensity of the generated light. Thus, the LED lamp with a power of 2-3 watts can develop the luminous flux 250 lm, 8-10 W - up to 700 lm. This value may not be enough to cover the majority of cultures. That is why the power of the lamps is chosen in such a way that managed to form a luminous flux of 2500 lm. If a lamp is not enough, you must set a few.

For additional options

That throughout the period of the backlight is not a plant is under stress, you should make a single length of daylight. A female will do it timer turn - off. If any one can provide timely switching on and off fitolampy.

Rules lighting organization using fitolampy plant

So that the plant could get enough light, not enough just to buy a lamp. It is necessary to arrange the lighting intelligently. We offer to find out in what place should be placed fitolamp for plants, as well as how long and with what intensity should cover the seedlings.

location

To achieve good results, it is necessary to ensure the correct location of lighting fixtures. Between the plants and the light source must be at least 25 cm. In case of insufficient power of the lighting device minimum distance may be reduced to 20 cm.

Tip! As plant growth status of lighting devices must be changed. To achieve a good result, you should initially choose fitolamp with the possibility of adjustment.

If between the seedlings and the light source a sufficiently large distance, it is impossible to talk about supplementary lighting plants. In this case, you should take care of the full coverage. Lamp hung at a height of 0.6-0.7 m. Location is selected in view of light-loving crops.

Tip! Set just off the lamp reflectors to increase light intensity.

To exclude drawing plant lamp has a strict right angle. The offset relative to the vertical can result in stretching and subsequent curvature grown seedlings.

The duration and intensity

The duration of light exposure may vary. If the plant is not dopoluchit light, its development will not be as intense as required. We offer to get acquainted with the peculiarities of highlighting seedlings and plants already formed.

for seedlings

Duration highlighting plants depends on their type. After germination, seedling for 4 - 5 days of illumination around the clock. Then skip a day mode - night. Duration of lighting depends on the culture:

• Tomatoes for 15 hours;
• 8 - 10 hours to eggplant, pepper;
• 12 - 14 hours for cucumbers;
• 16 hours for petunias and other flowers.

After picking lighting time is reduced to 2 - 3 h.

Formed for plants

After the seedlings completely formed, they should ensure sufficient heating and illumination for 12 - 13 hours. In the darkness of the plant must be for at least 9 hours to the formation of kidney and support flowering.

Share in the comments what you purchased lamps for lighting plants, and whether it was possible to improve the quality of grown seedlings.

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