Which lamps are suitable for plants? Supplementary lighting for plants and artificial lighting sources

Light is one of the most important factors for plant growth and development. Of course, natural lighting is available to everyone and there is no need to spend money on it, but, alas, it is not always enough. If the plants do not have enough light (this phenomenon is especially often observed in winter period), then you have to resort to additional lighting sources. Special electrical sources designed in such a way that the emitted waves stimulate growth and create favorable conditions for photosynthesis.

What kind of lighting is needed to grow plants?

Artificial light for efficient cultivation plants should emit a spectrum of electromagnetic healing similar to that received by plants in their natural environment. If a complete analogy is difficult to achieve, then the lighting should satisfy at least minimum needs. To ensure the most comfortable conditions for development, special lamps are selected that have different influence. The specific choice should depend on what type of plant is being grown and what stage of development it is at.

When using artificial light sources, it is very important that they provide exactly the assimilation lighting needed. If lamps are ineffective for this purpose, then for the most part they will only produce heat.

Today, several application schemes can be used artificial lighting:

• to increase the intensity of photosynthesis, artificial light is used as a supplement to natural light;
• periodic scheme – additional lighting connected only to be able to control the duration of the light period during the day;
• complete replacement natural light, which allows maximum control over the plant growth process.

It is worth noting that complete replacement of daylight is used exclusively in climate-controlled rooms. Only by maintaining balance can the optimal speed of plant growth and development be ensured.

When deciding to use phytolight for growing certain plants at home, you must follow the following recommendations:

• usually, the closer the lamp is to the sprout itself, the greater its effect, but here you should behave as carefully as possible in order to prevent excessive heat generation;
• if the source is located approximately 20 centimeters from the flowers, then the effect is usually achieved by distributing approximately 70 watts per each square meter soil;
• when natural daylight hours are shortened (in winter time), it must be artificially extended by at least 4 hours;
• the light should be directed directly at the plant itself.

Which lamps are best to choose for illumination?

Most main question– which phytolights are best to choose? Today there are many types of devices for creating artificial light, but not all of them are suitable for growing plants. Let's look at the most common types of lamps that allow for the active development of flora at home.

LED phytolamps

Thanks to modern developments, LED light sources have become affordable and capable of serving their owner for a long time. The choice of many falls on this type of lamps due to a number of their advantages:

• low power;
• low level of heat generation;
• their use makes it possible to reduce the rate of moisture evaporation, which means the periods between waterings are lengthened;
• One lamp can combine several colors, which means it can cover several phytoactive areas at once.

It is not difficult to make such a lamp with your own hands, but it is still impossible to purchase a powerful device, since there are difficulties in mass production.

Energy Saving (ESL)

The structure of such a light bulb is very convenient - it has a built-in choke, which means that all you need to do is simply screw it into the socket. ESLs are distinguished by the type of glow:

• cold spectrum (intended to accelerate the growth of seedlings);
• warm spectrum (favorable at the flowering stage);
• day spectrum.

It is the latter type that is recommended to be used as an independent source of artificial light for plants. The huge advantages of such lamps are low energy consumption and a very long service life (on average up to 15 thousand hours). Such advantages also have a material expression - one lamp will last for a very long time, which significantly reduces the cost of purchasing new lamps.

Luminescent

The main advantage of this type of lamp is that they do not heat up, which means they do not affect the air temperature, which is very important when growing plants. When choosing, you need to give preference to those types of fluorescent lamps that contain blue rays - they are necessary for the efficient flow of photosynthesis.

Standard fluora units produce twice as much light energy per unit of electrical power compared to ordinary light bulbs incandescent They can work continuously for up to 20 thousand hours.

It is also worth noting the long service life and efficiency in terms of energy consumption. Cheaper cool spectrum lamps are less effective for growing plants.

Aquarium

In order to grow plants in an aquarium, special lamps for artificial lighting are also needed. There are two main types of such devices.

Actinic blue spectrum lamps are capable of producing radiation that penetrates well through the water column. This is why actinic lamps are recommended for large aquariums.

Full spectrum lamps have a full spectrum of radiation. The light they emit is as close to daylight as possible. It is for this reason that they are recommended to be placed in those aquariums for which it is not possible to provide daylight from a window.

Sodium

Such lamps, as a rule, are used in later periods of growth (at the reproductive stage). NLVDs affect the process of formation of flowers and fruits, accelerating it. If you use them for young, developing plants, they will grow somewhat faster, but at the same time they will turn out to be more spreading.

In some cases, due to the characteristics of the radiation, the plant may visually appear pale and unhealthy.

This type of lamps has high luminous efficiency and a long service life. They are often used as spot light in greenhouses when the bulk of the light comes from natural sources.

Metal halide

This light source is highly efficient and approximately 80% close to natural light. Hid lamps are universal, since engineers are able to change the main characteristics luminous flux, thereby making them most suitable for a specific purpose. This technology has the most important attribute - white light, which provides such an accurate proximity to sunlight.

If such lamps are used to illuminate plants, they will grow shorter and more compact. The appearance will be no different from those specimens that were grown on the street. Useful service life is up to 20 thousand hours.

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet radiation mostly has harmful effects on plant growth. Only red (helps seeds germinate), blue (stimulates cell division) and purple colors(it is advisable to have only small quantities).

The most common far-ultraviolet germicidal lamps are unsuitable for growing plants, as are tanning lamps and black light devices (sometimes the latter are used to irradiate dill and parsley to improve their taste).

Video: review of lamps that replace sunlight for plants

For efficient growth and plant development in conditions of lack natural light you just need to use additional light sources. The video covers everything existing types lamps that can be used for this purpose, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

Any plant for successful growth and flowering requires the process of photosynthesis, that is, sufficient lighting.

Lighting is required in winter indoor plants through a decrease in sun intensity and short daylight hours.

There are species adapted to exist in a room environment without additional artificial lighting. But there are not so many shade-tolerant flowers.

The standard option, suitable for most indoor plants, is the western and eastern sides.

In most cases, such an arrangement, even on a windowsill, does not require shade from direct sunlight, especially at lunchtime, and at the same time sufficient lighting during the winter dormant period. But some flowers bloom under New Year without having a pronounced period of rest.

It is for this reason that people buy such varieties, perhaps to fill the gaps in the winter, when everything around them is in gray tones and there is snow everywhere.

With insufficient lighting, your pets lose color, become dull, stretch out, and there is no flowering.

For successful flowering of certain varieties, it is necessary to keep them at low temperatures during the dormant period, but big amount Sveta.

Often the lack of lighting does not depend on the intensity, but the mandatory presence of 10-12 hours of daylight per day.

For artificial illumination of plants, install lamps various designs. We will discuss this in detail in this article.

How to determine sufficient lighting level?

The amount of luminous flux and illumination is measured by special devices in the units of “lumens” (Lm) and “luxes” (Lx), this is something similar to the power of a light bulb, measured in watts. That is, the light source (lamp brightness) is measured in “lumens”, and the intensity of the illuminated surface (in our case, plants) in “lux”.

The more watts, the more lumens and the more intense the lamp shines. Most people confuse these two values ​​and cannot figure it out when purchasing a product.

There are standards for one type or another, but practically no one owns or purchases this device. There is a way out, the plant itself will tell you whether it needs natural daylight, or whether artificial light needs to be installed?

Required amount of light:

• 1000-3000 lux - shade-tolerant plants, as a rule, with a pronounced state of dormancy in winter.
• Up to 5000 Lux - enough natural light. Feature - the pot is placed on the windowsill to obtain greater light intensity.
• 5000-1000 and above - indoor flowers require additional artificial lighting.

Exists automatic timer with a light indicator, capable of automatically turning on the light with the required intensity and also turning it off under certain lighting conditions (manually adjusted). This will significantly save you on energy costs and eliminate additional worries.

All plants can be divided into groups based on appearance and natural environment a habitat.

Variegated species are always demanding on the intensity of sunlight and tolerate direct sunlight well.

Monochromatic species with wide leaf blades are less demanding and can grow in semi-shade. The darker the leaf color, the less light it will need for successful growth. The shoots are noticeably longer and thicker from light-loving plants.

Insufficient lighting will immediately affect appearance. The leaves turn pale, change color, and become dull. Variegated species immediately change color, the shoots stretch out, bend, and new leaves appear small. Sometimes the flower partially or completely sheds its foliage; the lower tier turns yellow with satisfactory watering.

In all plants, growth noticeably slows down, sometimes stopping altogether.

The distance between summer and winter nodes differs significantly.

Before purchasing, you always need to know whether the plant prefers sun or tolerates partial shade, whether you can provide enough light at home, based on your specific region.

In our encyclopedia of houseplants, on every page there is a brief description of with the column - lighting. By choosing any plant in alphabetical order, you will always and quickly find the information you need.

The need for lighting in winter

For the middle and southern strip of the former SND, some plants can grow without installing artificial fluorescent lamps under certain conditions.

• Placement relative to poles. Sometimes in winter it is enough to move the pot to the south side.
• Flowering and dormant period. The pronounced dormant period is from November to March. At this time, the flower does not need intense light, since growth slows down and the natural period of the day is sufficient. And, on the contrary, blooming in winter indoor pets the growing season begins and active growth, the installation of lamps is mandatory in most cases. For example, an orchid growing on a windowsill in a warm winter climate with an east-south exposure will bloom on its own.
• Transitional species. For example, Saintpaulia does not require mandatory lighting, provided that the flowering intensity is average.
• Most variegated species need an increase in the portion of light, including ficus benjamina, aglaonema, and arrowroot.

Choosing lamps for plant lighting

There are two types of lamps: incandescent and gas-discharge (fluorescent).

We can immediately say that the second type is more economical in terms of energy consumption, which is very important for large rooms throughout the night.

Incandescent lamps operate from a regular network without additional equipment; gas-discharge lamps require a device to turn on. Among the second group there are modern fluorescent lamps, allowing you to use current directly from the network, but the price is several times higher than the same pins. Let's look at it in more detail.

What is spectrum and how important is it?

Spectrum - the ability to emit a certain range of light waves. Unlike the human eye, plants do not absorb all rays, but only with a certain frequency of waves, blue and red.

Orange-red light is used to germinate seeds and serves as a catalyst for shoot growth.

Blue-violet promotes leaf development.

Photosynthesis requires a range with red waves. Under the influence, chlorophyll is produced, which promotes the metabolism of green mass.

The absence of blue color leads to elongation of shoots and scarcity of leaves.

By choosing lamps with a certain spectrum, you can significantly speed up the growth and flowering of your pets.

Sometimes several types of lamps are combined together to create a full spectrum.

Incandescent lamps

This type has a tungsten spiral inside, placed in a vacuum and when current flows through it, it glows. These are ordinary lamps that everyone has in their home.

Such lamps are divided into several types: halogen and neodymium.

• Halogen - inside, along with the piercing spiral, there is gas to increase service life and brightness.
• Neodymium - the surface of the bulb is made of special glass capable of retaining part of the spectrum. Yellow and green light is absorbed, thereby increasing brightness. The glass contains neodymium. But in fact, the number of lumens (light output) has not increased.

There are a number of disadvantages that make incandescent lamps not suitable as additional lighting for plants.

• Incomplete spectrum, lack of blue and other colors.
• Compared to the power consumption, the light output is low, that is, the efficiency is very low (65 Lm/100 W).
• Through high heat, should not be placed near flowers, otherwise burns will occur.
• Uneven lighting compared to linear gas-discharge lamps; you will need several pieces, which means additional power.
• The service life is not long.

In floriculture, splitting lamps are used for heating mini greenhouses and greenhouses, or together with fluorescent lamps, in the spectrum of which there is very little red color. They serve as a complement to the entire spectrum.

Fluorescent lamps

Lamps of this type may differ in shape, power, spectrum.

Criterias of choice :

• Efficiency is the amount of light output per power consumed.
• Full spectrum is extremely important for plants. Determined by the color rendering index Ra. The fullness of the spectrum significantly affects the growth of the flower. For plants, Ra must be at least 80 units.
• Flow stability.
• Lamp reliability and long service life.

The shape of the lamp is also important. For several pots at the same time, linear lamps are suitable. For a small area, spiral or arched shapes are used.

Lamps with three-band phosphor ( inner part walls are covered with 3 layers) have the highest light output and optimal spectrum.

A conventional fluorescent lamp has a high efficiency (60 Lm/W) and does not heat up, which makes it possible to install directly above the plant.

Usually the lamp is sold complete with a trigger mechanism; in the future, when replacing, only the combustible element is purchased.

There are two types of trigger mechanism: electromagnetic (throttle) and electronic.

The second one is more reliable and works stably, the flickering of the lamp is not visible. The kit includes brightness adjustment.

The light source is placed at a height of 30-50 cm, strictly above the plants.

Fluorescent lamps intended for flowers

There are specially designed lamps with the maximum transmitted spectrum for illuminating indoor plants. But the price can be tens of times higher than usual. The flask is coated with a special coating. Such lamps are produced by OSRAM-Sylvania, Philips, GE.

The benefits are much higher and will pay off over time.

Lamps with built-in balance

There are modern small lamps with a built-in balance.

The price is much cheaper, and in terms of quality and spectrum produced, they are not inferior to righteous foreign manufacturers.

They are produced with a standard base and are suitable for a regular household network, but the spectrum, unlike tubular fluorescent ones, is slightly different; the red and green colors are partially absent.

For several pots, light should be installed at a distance of 30 cm.

There are also modern compact fluorescent lamps, one or two tubular with a plural arrangement, which are distinguished by high luminous efficiency and power compared to their small dimensions, as well as an excellent spectrum.

Now on the market there are LED bulbs. This is the most ideal option in terms of energy savings, light output (4-6 times higher than fluorescent), durability and heating (LEDs do not heat up). There are LED lamps with different emission spectrums. One drawback - they are still very expensive.

Alternative lamps for plant lighting

As a replacement for fluorescent lamps, an alternative is gas discharge lamps. There are three types: mercury, high pressure sodium and metal halide.

They are often used to illuminate a large number of plants; the minimum power is 300 watts.

Gas discharge lamps have the highest light output at small sizes and are able to cover a large area.
Will dwell in detail on each of the types.

• Metal halide. The most suitable of this line with an acceptable spectrum and high light output. The resource is several times higher than the above mentioned lamps.

They are produced by foreign manufacturers Philips (CDM), OSRAM (HCI), but the price is much higher than their competitors.

The domestic product is produced under the DRI brand. The lamp requires a special socket.

• High pressure sodium. Excellent light output per 1 watt, superior to red in the spectrum, promoting the formation of flowers and the development of the root system.

The lamps have a reflector, which further increases the illumination. From domestic manufacturers: “Lighting Engineering”.

Resource up to 20,000 hours. Used for greenhouses and winter gardens with a power of 300, 500 watts and above.

Disadvantages: There is no blue color in the spectrum; it must be additionally alternated with other types.

• Mercury - the main advantage, a large number of of blue color. The oldest and not efficient lamps from the gas-discharge line. Low light transmission. Produced by foreign manufacturers, OSRAM Floraset.

An important drawback: when broken, mercury vapor enters the air.

This is an outdated option for illuminating plants.

Perhaps this is all you need to know about lamps, their design, operating range of the spectrum, for self-made artificial lighting for your plants.

Be sure to properly alternate day and night for successful growth and flowering of your pets.

Many indoor plants can be called martyrs, because they have to exist not only in a limited space, but also with a constant lack of light. This is especially true for seedlings, whose growth occurs at a time of year when the duration daylight hours almost minimal and only beginning to increase.

Plants need sunlight to survive important process photosynthesis, which results in the production of starch, sugars and other substances necessary for development. If there is little light, then the plant develops sluggishly, also becoming noticeably susceptible to diseases and pest damage. This cannot suit the gardener, whose goal is to obtain strong and viable seedlings capable of producing a good harvest.

In order not to end up with elongated pale sprouts at planting time, it is important to think about organizing a lighting system even before sowing the seeds. Fortunately, today’s technologies and a variety of lamps for illuminating seedlings make it possible to implement this idea in several ways.

Features of seedling lighting

Solar natural light, the most familiar to all life on the planet, combines light waves different lengths. Some of the spectrum is visible to the human eye, some is not, but all this diversity is important for plants, and waves of different lengths play different roles in different periods of the life of seedlings.

• The blue and red parts of the spectrum help the active production of chlorophyll, and the plant, receiving such light, develops faster, which is important for seedlings.
• The orange part of the spectrum is also necessary for growth in room conditions, and also promotes fruiting.
• Green, like yellow light, is reflected from foliage and may not greatly affect its growth, but as part of natural light it is necessary.
• Ultraviolet radiation, which is part of the invisible part of the spectrum, helps fight pathogenic bacteria, fungi and other plant diseases, but in large quantities, ultraviolet radiation can do more harm than good.
• Infrared radiation is well received by seedlings, helps their growth and formation lush greenery, but it gives more heat rather than light, so it is not always beneficial.

Which lamps are best for seedlings?

Artificial lighting provided by lamps cannot exactly copy sunlight, but is quite capable of providing the proper conditions for rapid growth any type of seedlings.

Moreover, thanks to lamps for illuminating seedlings, it became possible to make the growing season of many plants year-round, obtain multiple harvests and grow plants where previously this was simply impossible, for example, in polar night conditions or in rooms without windows.

However, not all artificial light sources can provide such an effect.

For example, the most common incandescent lamps so far are unsuitable for the reason that only 5% of the energy consumed becomes light in such lamps, while the rest is converted into heat. Plants under such a lamp are not illuminated, but are heated, which leads to thin, elongated sprouts that run the risk of getting burned.

Specialized lamps for illuminating seedlings must provide their wards with a certain spectrum of radiation, allowing the plants to quickly begin to grow and not in the most comfortable conditions reach a size sufficient for planting in the ground. In addition, these light sources are more economical and produce less heat.

Sodium lamps for illuminating seedlings

There are several varieties of such lamps. The most popular ones are those produced by the Russian company Reflax.

These gas discharge lamps They give a warm orange light that is not irritating to the human eye, so they can be used not only in greenhouses, but also in residential premises. In addition to Reflux, there are other reliable manufacturers, for example, General Electric, the equally famous OSRAM or Philips. The main consumer of these agricultural lamps for seedlings is large and small greenhouses. But for home use there are samples with a power of up to 100 W.

Reflax lamps of the DNaZ brand are equipped with a factory mirror reflector and can be considered the best option among analogues. The reflector enhances the light output and directs all the light to the plants. And for high-quality illumination of one and a half meters of window sill, one gas-discharge light source with a power of 70 W is enough.

Sodium agrolamps for seedlings DNaT do not have a mirror reflector, so 70 W lamps will have to be placed one per meter.

But it is better to combine DRiZ brand sources with DnaZ and DnaT lamps. This will make it possible to obtain the most natural spectrum of lighting.

Advantages of domestic sodium lamps Reflux:

• Highest efficiency lighting system;
• Long service life;
• Economical.

Flaws:

• High price of light sources;
• Large sizes of the lamps themselves;
• Lack of waves in the blue part of the spectrum;
• The need to equip the system with a control device.

Today you can find quite a few varieties of special fluorescent lamps for illuminating seedlings:

• The most famous are the “Fluora” phytolamps produced by Osram. To illuminate a shelf with seedlings per meter, one or two lamps with a power of 18 W are enough.
• Russian phytolamps labeled LFU-30 have a power of 30 W and can be used one per meter.
• Enrich phytolamps with a mirror reflector and a power of 60 W almost do not irritate the eyes, but they emit a lot of heat and are short-lived.
• Phytolamps for supplementary illumination of seedlings from Paulmann of various types, from 40 to 100 W, power almost do not heat up and have for a long time work.

Advantages of phytolamps:

• Cost-effective;
• Small sizes;
• Durability;
• Safety.

The disadvantage of the Flora lamp for seedlings from Osram and other representatives of similar light sources is that they all have lilac-pink radiation that is unnatural for the human eye. Therefore, it is better to use them only if there is a screen or reflector separating the room from the location of the seedlings.

Household white fluorescent lamps can also be used for illumination, however:

• They are not overly powerful;
• In lighting there are not enough waves of the red part of the spectrum.

To get a sufficient flow of light, the distance from the lamp to the tray with seedlings should be from 15 to 35 cm, and two lamps with a power of at least 40 W will have to be placed per meter of the window sill.

LED lamps for growing seedlings

For plants, this option is probably one of the best. Using a combination of LEDs that produce white, red or blue light, you can achieve maximum efficiency backlighting.

At the same time, LED lamps for growing seedlings have high efficiency, are durable, and the spectrum of the entire system can be quite easily adjusted, taking into account that the needs of seedlings change significantly as they grow.

• Before picking seedlings, the light emitted by blue and red LEDs installed in a ratio of two to one is better perceived. Abundant blue here activates the growth of the root system, but slightly slows down the elongation of the above-ground part. The stem is strong with frequent internodes.
• After picking, it is better to reduce the light intensity for several days to ensure a rest period after a stressful transplant. Next, the seedlings need to be illuminated with blue and red LED lamps in a ratio of 1 to 1.

The only disadvantage of LED lamps is the high cost ready-made systems, which, when growing seedlings for personal needs, will pay off in no earlier than a couple of seasons.

Induction technology

When wondering which lamps are best for seedlings, you can consider an option that has appeared quite recently - induction lamps.

Lamp Features:

• High efficiency and cost-effectiveness;
• Universal spectrum;
• The lamp temperature does not exceed 75 degrees.

Unfortunately, none of the sources of artificial lighting can completely replace the sun, however, phytolamps for supplementary illumination of seedlings actually shorten the growth period of plants for planting in the ground. Their quality improves, and the proportion of rejected sprouts decreases sharply.

Placing lamps for plants

To increase the efficiency of lighting, it is important to take into account the placement of lamps:

• The higher the temperature of the operating lamp, the higher it should be placed above the trays.
• On different stages Plants require different levels of light to grow. For example, after sowing, trays should be illuminated around the clock; in some cases, the color of the LEDs also changes.
• For the greatest effect, you should combine lamps with different characteristics.

Reflectors, reflectors and light screens, which you can make yourself, will allow you to save energy.

How to choose the right lamp for seedlings - video tutorial

Video: how to choose a lamp for plants - part 2

It is very important to choose the right light bulbs for indoor, greenhouse and aquarium plants. If you make a mistake in your choice, further consequences can be disappointing: seedlings (or algae) may simply not have enough light, which can stop their growth or more serious problems– too bright lighting and heat will burn the leaves, which will lead to the death of the plant world. So that they don't happen various kinds troubles, you need to know which lamps for plants are best to choose, buy and use in the future. Next, we will provide you with a comparison of all the most popular types: from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs.

Review of existing light bulbs

To make the information easier to perceive, we will simultaneously list all existing types of lamps that are best suited for lighting and growing plants, and we will immediately talk about how rational it is to use each option.

So, today, to illuminate the plant world in the house, you can choose and use such light sources as:

• . The cheapest and not recommended option for many reasons: they have short term service, low light output (up to 17 Lm/W) and significant heat generation. As a result, seedlings or indoor flowers in a pot will not receive required amount light, as a result of which this will negatively affect the growth rate and, accordingly, the correctness of cultivation. In addition, a bulb that is too powerful can burn the leaves if placed near the plant. Bottom line - this option should under no circumstances be used at home, because... it is best to choose more modern and effective types lamps, which we will talk about below.
  
• Fluorescent (energy saving) lamps. This option is much more expedient to choose and use for illuminating vegetation in the house, greenhouse and directly in the aquarium. Energy-saving light sources have many advantages, namely: high luminous efficiency, low heat generation and cost-effectiveness, which makes them good option lighting indoor and aquarium plants. In addition, there are special fluorescent phytolamps that are intended only for growing seedlings and flowers.
  
• LED light bulbs. LEDs are the youngest type of light bulbs, which in a short period of time have gained high interest in various fields of application. LED lamps are better for plants due to the fact that they consume a minimal amount of electricity, emit virtually no heat and, moreover, can have a different spectrum of light emission, which allows you to choose suitable LED lamps for your own type of plants in the house.
  
• Gas-charged (sodium, mercury, metal halide). On this option lighting products need to be discussed in more detail, because Not all gas-charging lamps are suitable for growing plants. Of all the options listed, mercury lamps are the worst for plant growth in the home, greenhouse and aquarium. This is due to the fact that their luminous flux is almost 2 times less than sodium and metal halide light sources. In addition, the light spectrum itself of mercury products is not entirely suitable for the development and further growth of seedlings, flowers, and algae. As for sodium lamps, they shine brightly yellow-orange, which is very similar to natural sunlight. Feedback from experts - it is better to choose and use mercury lamps for growing flower plants. Well, the last option - metal halide lamps are the most expensive, but at the same time the most suitable lighting sources for those representatives of the “green world” who prefer vegetative growth rather than flowering.
  

So we told you which lamps are suitable for lighting and growing indoor plants. We draw your attention to the fact that for the home the most optimal options In terms of price and efficiency, there will be CFL fluorescent lamps, which have a light output of 80 to 100 Lm/W. If you can spend a little more, it is better to choose LED grow lights, which are still superior to the sodium bulbs previously used in greenhouses and greenhouses!

You can learn more about which light bulbs are best suited for growing seedlings (for example, tomatoes) or flowers in the video examples:

How to properly organize lighting?

You have become familiar with the types of lamps for growing plants, and you probably already know which light source option to choose for own conditions. Now we will briefly tell you about how best to organize the lighting so as not to cause harm flora in the house.

The first thing to consider is the height from the lights to the leaves. Minimum distance should be 15 cm if the plant is light-loving and 55 cm if it is shade-tolerant. In addition, the light should fall on flower pots or seedlings (or aquarium flora) strictly at a right angle. Otherwise, the plants will reach for the light and take on an unattractive shape.

Secondly, each specific species of flora requires its own specific light spectrum. Some flowers need the blue spectrum, some need the red spectrum. The first thing you should do is ask florists or read on the Internet about the requirements for growing your favorite plant, and then choose the appropriate lamps.

Third, if for some reason you did not find a light bulb with suitable characteristics light output and spectrum, you can organize combined lighting, for example, fluorescent lamps simultaneously with phytolamps, etc.