Light is of great importance for any plants. It is with its help that photosynthesis occurs. Usually, domestic plants have plenty of natural sunlight, but this does not always happen. If the flower is not feeling well, then an additional source is required. Plant lighting lamps stimulate growth and support a positive atmosphere. Their types and uses are described in the article.
Features
For any plant, sunlight in its homeland is much better. But flowers are often grown in conditions far from native. They are not adapted to the local daylight hours, temperature, change of seasons. Especially a lot of difficulties appear in the winter, since many flowers come from tropical countries.
Best lighting
With a lack of light, all metabolism in plants slows down, photosynthesis is slow. Because of this, there is a "hibernation" and the death of the flower. What lamps to illuminate plants are better to use? A few years ago you could use:
- fluorescent lamps;
- incandescent lamps.
There were no other lighting methods. But standard incandescent lamps are not very suitable for plants, because their light is noticeably different from the rays of the sun. In addition, they emit more heat than light: up to 95% of the energy is spent on heating.
Nuances
Much better fulfill their task fluorescent lamps, the lighting of which is similar to the sun. For this reason, they are called fluorescent lamps. Electricity is saved with them, because the lighting power is higher, and the cost of heat is less. Therefore, the flower receives more light.
Thanks to modern technology, the life of home flora is simplified. It is able to affect growth and flowering. The plant blooms earlier and in greater volume with the correct selection of lighting. But the choice is much wider compared to the beginning of the century, so it is quite difficult to determine.
Other subtleties
A feature of all lamps for plant growth is the selected emission spectrum, which has a positive effect on the flower. It was found that the rays of the red spectrum bring flowering closer and help to collect fruits earlier, and blue can accelerate growth. These fixtures are not able to emit infrared or UV rays that adversely affect plants.
Usually these 2 types of radiation are found in one device, but they can be separately. Red phytolamps are perceived by the human eye as pink, it is advisable to use them during flowering and fruit formation. Blue are used at all stages of development. What lamps to use to illuminate the plants, described below.
Incandescent lamps
A few years ago, they were one affordable way of lighting. And now he is considered not the best. Lamps have an affordable price, but they have no other advantages. They do not serve for long. They can also cause harm - if you install them very close to the foliage, a burn may appear. In addition, they lack the blue spectrum of light waves necessary for flowers.
Such lamps for illumination of plants have a narrow scope. They can be used during the cold season in conservatories and greenhouses in the evenings. This method is suitable only for the southern regions, where daylight in winter is already long, but it gets dark in the evening.
This lighting option is suitable for vines with long stems and plants with a short stalk and long leaves. This source is desirable to combine with cold lamps. This dilutes their red spectrum and provides the desired seedling range of radiation.
Fluorescent
Such lamps for illumination of plants combine an excellent balance of energy consumption and light output. They practically do not heat up, and most of the energy spent is spent on generating light. Therefore, they are more economical than incandescent lamps.
More such a source is suitable for highlighting large spaces that are occupied by flowers. Since it is large. It can’t be installed on the windowsill - it will take up a lot of space, but this option is ideal for a home greenhouse. There are also special constructions with designated places for installing pots and a lamp on top.
Conventional fluorescent lamps should not be used to illuminate plants. They are not intended for the emission of certain wave spectra and therefore practically do not transmit red radiation. Therefore, it is advisable to choose special lamps to illuminate indoor plants. They are processed with a special composition, with the help of which harmful rays are restrained and transmit those that are required by seedlings, in the right proportions.
Energy saving
Energy-saving light bulbs are considered a kind of fluorescent, but are more compact. They look like ordinary incandescent lamps, so they are screwed into a standard cartridge, and for fluorescent special chokes are required. This light source serves much more - up to 15 thousand hours.
This option is suitable for local lighting: it is compact and can be installed above the pot even in narrow spaces. It is advisable to choose them for non-flowering plants, because in their spectrum there is a lot of blue and little red. This applies to standard "household" energy-saving light bulbs. Phytolamps of this type are:
- "Cold." Usually they emit the rays of the blue part of the spectrum. They are best used during active growth. Such lamps to illuminate plants can accelerate seed germination and plant development.
- "Warm." A red spectrum is emitted. Suitable for lighting during flowering and fruiting.
- "Daytime". Combine 2 types of rays and can be used at different stages of plant development. Used as the main or additional source of illumination.
Gas discharge
Not all of these lamps for home plants can be used. It’s better not to choose mercury, because there may be more red rays in their light, and very few blue ones. In addition, they consume a lot of energy compared to Luminescent.
Sodium lamps are used to illuminate plants at home. This is the best option of the above. It serves for a long time (up to 20 hours of operation), effective (lighting with a light bulb of a space 1.5 meters long), economical in energy consumption. This source emits red and orange light, but if you select an option with a sufficient number of blue waves, it will be ideal for backlighting.
Typically, these bulbs are chosen for the winter gardens as the main ones. Even the presence of 1 sodium lamp on the ceiling can cover a large area. Under the light of these bulbs, the seedlings may seem a little pale and painful, so it is important to consider that this is only a visual effect.
Lamps for illumination of plants at home are more suitable at the reproductive stage of development. Of course, you can use them in the early stages, but this can have a positive effect on the flowers: they grow faster, but the foliage will be spreading.
But sodium light bulbs also have disadvantages. They take up more space, their price is quite high. In addition, special disposal is necessary, since they contain vapors of sodium, xenon and mercury.
Metal halide bulbs are efficient and more similar to natural light. This feature is associated with white light that is emitted. The spectrum of the rays can vary, so it is possible to select the most suitable device. These bulbs cost a lot, but are considered durable and help provide conditions similar to natural ones.
LED light sources
Which LED bulbs are best for plant lighting? They are divided into 3 types:
- Bicolor.
- With multispectrum.
- Full range.
Bicolor or two-color luminaires are based on blue and red LEDs. They are the best for organizing illumination of different plants during the growing season. Such lighting has a positive effect on photosynthesis, which accelerates the growth of green mass. Therefore, summer residents choose blue-red LED bulbs for growing seedlings of vegetables on the windowsill.
Such a multispectral lighting source has wider application due to the increase in the red range in the infrared and yellow light. It is used to illuminate adult plants to improve flowering and fruit ripening. It is advisable to use the backlighting of plants with LED lamps in apartments for flowers that have a dense crown.
A phyto-lamp having a full spectrum of radiation makes the backlight irrespective of the type and location. This is a universal artificial lighting that emits a wide range with highs in the red and blue zones. Many do not choose phyto-LEDs due to the high price of high-quality fixtures for plants and the presence of many fakes.
Usage Tips
Not all plants need additional illumination. And if she is needed, then her own. Before buying equipment, you need to find information about specific plants: is natural light suitable in this region or are phytolamps necessary. It is also important to consider what kind of light spectrum a flower needs. But still there are general tips for using lamps to illuminate indoor plants:
- Light is directed naturally to all flowers in nature - from top to bottom, so artificial lighting must be placed in the same way.
- It is important to pay attention to the distance from the lamp to the foliage. For shade-hardy species, it should be at least 0.5 meters, for photophilous species it can be reduced to 15 cm, but preferably 25-40.
- It is necessary to place the lamp at a right angle, preferably vertically at the top. If you install it in a corner, then the plants will reach for the light. In the absence of the necessary conditions, after a while they are bent.
Other recommendations
- Illumination in winter is important, with a short daylight. For many plants. Accustomed to live in the southern regions, you need to extend the day for 4-5 hours with the help of backlight.
- When growing seedlings at home, it is important to consider that when it sprouts, the first 3-4 days it needs round-the-clock lighting. After this period, you can gradually reduce the backlight to 16, and then to 14 hours a day.
- If lighting is required 1 square. m. of a greenhouse, you need a phytolamp with a capacity of at least 70 watts.
- If there are no luminaires with the necessary parameters on sale, a combination of several others is allowed, so that the result is suitable lighting. For example, luminescent can be added to phytolamps.
When the device is installed, it is important to monitor the response of the plants to the backlight. Excess lighting is also harmful, as is lack. It is easy to determine that the lamp must be removed or the intensity of its glow reduced, if the leaves are drooping and faded, curl, wither and die. In addition, burnable gray or brown spots may occur.
Signs of a lack of light
There are several signs that make it possible to determine the lack of light. You should carefully examine the flower, comparing it with the standard. For example, find a similar view on the Internet.
Lack of illumination is manifested in slow growth. New leaves will be small in size and the stems will become thin. The lower leaves turn yellow. The lack of illumination is indicated by the absence of flowering or the small size of the buds compared to the norm. This happens even at normal rates of watering, humidity and air temperature.
Use cases
There are several schemes for using additional illumination. You will need to monitor the bulbs - turn them on and off at the right time:
- Phytolamps can be included during the daylight hours if there is little sunlight and an increase in the intensity of illumination is required so that the metabolism of plants proceeds faster.
- When lamps are purchased to increase daylight hours, they are turned on only in the evening or in the morning. A switch off should be when the natural light is bright or at the end of daylight hours.
- It is only occasionally allowed to replace natural light with artificial light. The plant regulates the light every day.
The latter option is not often used - for this it is necessary to control not only the lighting, but also other climate parameters. If all the tips for collecting light bulbs for plants are followed, then they will develop correctly. Thanks to additional lighting, even the most exotic flowers can be grown at home.