Lighting for seedlings - how to choose the right color and spectrum of lamps for lighting?

In the winter months with a light day light, additional lighting for seedlings is a prerequisite for growing young plants. Beginners of vegetable growers need to learn how to choose lamps according to their power and radiation spectrum, and to study the basic rules for the installation and connection of electrical appliances.

What kind of lighting is needed for seedlings?

Seedlings of vegetables or flowering plants are demanding for temperature and quality of lighting, with a short light day it stretches, it gets sick, biomass will grow at a bad pace. Scientists have found that growing organisms require a full spectrum of radiation, not all types of lamps are able to fully replace the sun's rays. The question of which lighting for seedlings is best suited excites all responsible flower growers and vegetable growers on the eve of the opening of the summer season.

How to create lighting for seedlings:

Choose the optimal distance from seedling to the light source.
The installation of boxes on the southern windows significantly saves electricity.
The duration of daylight hours is set for each type of vegetables and flowers individually.
In cloudy weather and on the northern window of the lamp we turn on earlier.
It is compulsory to observe the change of the "day-night" periods according to the schedule.

Lighting for seedlings at home

It is not always possible to organize growing and lighting of house seedlings on the windowsills. In the presence of a large number of containers, it is more convenient to place crates with plants in several tiers on racks made of metal profiles or wooden bars. The size of the structure is chosen arbitrarily, based on the number and size of containers for seedlings, its height is best limited to 3 rows, each of which will be highlighted with their electrical appliance.

Lighting seedlings on the windowsill

If racks are required to illuminate the lamps with a full light day, growing seedlings and lighting plants on the windowsills is less expensive. We set the duration of the backlight, which can vary depending on the variety and type of seedlings 12-17 hours. The recommended intensity of radiation should be from 6000 lux, the optimum level of illumination is 8000 lux. Lighting for seedlings is made by full-spectrum lamps or by adjusting the qualitative composition of the radiation, depending on the age of the shoots.

Lighting in greenhouses of seedlings

A popular option for greenhouses is the use of fluorescent, sodium and halogen lamps. Good results are obtained by LED lighting of seedlings , which allows to significantly save energy costs. Mounting fixtures conveniently in the form of linear systems mounted on flexible cables, it helps to easily adjust the height and direction of the light flux. Air cables are attached to the wire or laid in trenches, using pipes or other protective fittings. Be sure to take into account the increased humidity in the greenhouse, observe the safety rules.

Artificial lighting for seedlings

While searching for the best solution to the problem, what kind of lighting for seedlings at home will be optimal, several nuances should be considered. The main parameters when choosing electrical appliances are the intensity of the light flux, the radiation spectrum, the longevity of the devices, the power of the luminaire and its ease of operation. For example, lighting for seedlings with mercury and metal halide lamps can not be produced without special additional devices in the form of chokes and capacitors.

What color is the lighting for seedlings?

Choosing for seedlings by LEDs or another method of illumination, it is always necessary to take into account the intensity and color of the radiation. For example, in old incandescent lamps a lot of yellow light, but very few rays of the blue spectrum. In some luminescent lamps, the picture is the opposite, there is a lack of red radiation. Optimum option - phyto - illumination series "full spectrum", in the production of which the emphasis is on obtaining predominantly red and blue lighting for seedlings.

Influence of the spectrum of light radiation on the development of seedlings:

Violet and blue radiation - stimulates cell division, is important in the first stage of growth, so that the seedlings are strong and not stretched.
Red-orange spectrum - it depends on root formation, vegetation, abundant budding and tying fruit.
Yellow and green spectrum - no noticeable effect on the growth of seedlings.

Support for lighting seedlings

Quality support for the lamp can be ordered or made by hand. Sturdy and reliable structures are obtained from tubes and corners, but in the absence of welding and a grinder it is easier to make this product out of a wooden beam. When designing homemade lighting for domestic seedlings, the following important criteria should be considered:

compactness;
a light weight;
strength;
the opportunity to dismantle the support for the summer;
simple height adjustment.

Lamps for lighting seedlings at home

Each summer resident, who is beginning to design high-quality lighting for his seedling, is faced with the choice of suitable lamps for luminaires. LEDs are gradually replacing old types of devices, but many gardeners still prefer the proven light sources of older models. Before buying, you should perform calculations and determine the most effective type of lamps, given the way they are connected, the cost, the quantity and size.

Varieties of lamps for lighting seedlings:

Luminescent lamps are inexpensive and easy to operate, they are slightly heated, LBT and LB models are better suited. To the disadvantages can be attributed a small radiation power, so they are used more often in pairs at a distance of 30 cm from plants.
Lighting of seedlings with LED lamps - miniature and efficient devices, do not heat up and emit an even light of the required spectrum. Even at a relatively high cost, they pay off quickly because of low power consumption.
Sodium lamps - there are arc devices DNaT without reflectors and DNaZ with mirror reflectors qualitatively amplifying radiation. Lack of sodium lamps - requires a pulse-igniting device and a throttle.
Metal halide lamps for illuminating seedlings - high-pressure gas discharge devices, are an excellent alternative for mercury lamps, produce radiation that is close to the natural spectrum.

Extra lighting for seedlings

Studying the ways to arrange lighting for seedlings, which is better suited to their conditions, you can consider the option of buying special phytolamps. There is a wide choice of these devices of different designs, which makes it easier to choose a model for growing plants on a home shelving or windowsill. There are fluorescent and economical LED phytolamps, the closest to the sunlight glow emit LED devices. Now they are widely used in greenhouses, greenhouses, private households and farms.