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*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
When choosing a lamp for seedlings, it is necessary to take into account the spectrum of light, its intensity and strength. Today we will tell you how to do this and what type of lamp is best for growing plants.
What light spectrum is needed for seedlings
Plants need certain parts of the light spectrum for their growth and development:
“Blue” light is used by plants during the vegetative phase, “orange” and “red” – during the fruiting and flowering phase;
“Red” improves photosynthesis;
“Green” and “yellow” do not have a special effect on the growth of seedlings, reflected from the surface of the stems and leaves.
That is why it is so important to choose a light bulb of the right spectrum – the success of growing plants depends on it.
What types of lamps for seedlings are
Phytolamps – have a special spectrum of study (mainly red and blue), which is most suitable for photosynthesis and plant growth. The best brands of phytolamps are Osram fluora, Paulmann and Philips. However, they are irritating to the eyes and sometimes cause migraines.
Luminescent. These light sources are often used for growing seedlings. They consume a small amount of electricity, are durable, do not heat up and do not dry the plants. However, fluorescent lamps are not bright enough, and the spectrum of some models lacks “red” electromagnetic waves. This adversely affects the growth and flowering of plants. Therefore, fluorescent phytolamps with a red-blue spectrum are more often used for growing seedlings.
LED lamp. Such light sources consume a small amount of electricity (less than fluorescent), do not heat up and do not heat the plants. The light spectrum of LED models is close to natural, they are easy to install and dispose of (fluorescent lamps must be handed over to special recycling centers due to the poisonous substances they contain). Such products have a compact size and are suitable for growing seedlings at home.
Gas-discharge sodium lamps. Suitable for lighting large areas (greenhouses, conservatories, etc.). They are characterized by a long service life and high light output. They should not be used for growing seedlings at home, as they shine very brightly, take up a lot of space and need a special way to connect. In addition, there is not enough “blue” light in their spectrum, therefore, at the stage of seedling growth, it is necessary to use additional lighting devices (for example, fluorescent).
Incandescent lamps – not suitable for growing seedlings. They have a limited color spectrum, heat up and, accordingly, heat the plants, consume a large amount of electricity and emit little light.
What intensity and duration of light to choose
Seedlings need a lot of bright light – with its deficiency, they become weak and stretch in length. Even placing seedlings near the most sunny window does not provide the desired light intensity. Therefore, plants are grown indoors under lamps.
Light intensity can be adjusted in several ways: the brightness of the lighting device, the installation of reflectors (mirrors, foils) and the distance between the lamp and seedlings.
You can achieve high light intensity by positioning the light source 5-8 cm above the foliage. LED bulbs are especially well suited for these purposes (they emit little heat) and ordinary incandescent lamps are completely unsuitable. As you grow, you need to increase the distance between the lamp and the leaves.
When growing plants, it is important to consider the duration of light exposure. Most vegetables, for example, need 14-18 hours of sunlight (artificial) light and 6-10 hours of “sleep” each day, so be sure to use an automatic timer. Thus, you will ensure healthy growth and timely fruiting of plants.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.