How to choose a LED lamp for plants

Growing ornamental, fruit-bearing crops indoors is quite difficult. For good growth, any plant needs light and heat. Otherwise, the green will slowly develop, turn yellow, and the color may not appear at all. Particularly in need of indoor plantings in the sun in winter. Experienced gardeners for the cultivation of seedlings and rare crops during this period use LED lamps for plants.

Plants and light: the need for lighting

Energy is necessary for the growth and development of any living organism. Photosynthesis helps start this process in plants. Only under the action of sunlight the green parts of crops can develop properly. Even if the flower receives enough moisture and nutrients in the form of fertilizers, but little light - it will look depressed.

The highlighting procedure is carried out in the morning or in the evening, without depriving the plant of the natural sun at the moment of dawn and sunset. Cultures should not be under artificial lamps for more than 12 hours. To determine the need for additional lighting for different types, you can use a luxmeter. 2000 lux will be sufficiently shade-loving, 2500 lux will be satisfied with light-loving ones, with the condition of increase of the indicator to 5000 at the moment of tying the buds and flowering. Lemons and oranges will be able to form an ovary on the windowsill only in high light conditions - 9000 lux.

Various types of lamps can be used to provide illumination. Among the recommended - gas discharge, fluorescent, LED. Domestic incandescent bulbs with tungsten filament is better not to use. They provide a low intensity of light, their bright infrared rays excessively accelerate the growth of the crop, which makes the stems elongated and leaves small.

Advantages and disadvantages of using lamps

The main purpose of the additional illumination is to compensate for the lack of sun, good growth stimulation. The installation of such devices is especially needed in early spring, when daylight hours are still short. The advantages of installing lamps of artificial light radiation over household beds are as follows:

  • Ease of use. The design of any type of lamp can be installed by hand. Installation does not require special equipment and certain skills;
  • Durability of devices. The average lifetime of high-quality devices is 50 thousand hours. With daily use of up to 12 hours, they will last more than 10 years;
  • The ability to adjust the intensity. An important function that allows you to set the required brightness of the light in different periods of plant growth;
  • The direction of the light at the desired angle. The lighting touches only a certain area, which allows the temperature in the room to remain unchanged, and the seedlings receive the necessary heat;
  • Aesthetics. Moderate lighting of the room will fill the room with comfort during the autumn period, will create a romantic atmosphere;
  • Security. Phytolamps are absolutely harmless to humans, do not heat up more than 55 ° C.

All kinds of fitolamps have some disadvantages. You can minimize the negative impact if you install the devices correctly by calculating the angle of incidence of light and its brightness. The main disadvantages are excessive pulsation of some types of sources, emission of the blue spectrum.

Light characteristic

When growing plants using the apartment method, the power of the lamps to accelerate photosynthesis does not matter much. Particular attention should be paid to the range of devices and their similarity with natural sunlight. The light beam can have one stream or include several waves of a certain length at once. The following colors from the spectrum have a characteristic effect on plants:

  1. Blue, purple. They affect the development of culture, accelerate the growth of greenery, roots, form the splendor of the crown, new shoots. Stimulation of such rays leads to the production of proteins. The backlight is suitable for the winter period. Wavelength - 380-490 NM.
  2. Yellow. No special effect on seedlings. Tall cultures are quickly drawn out, as with a lack of lighting, they have a poorly developed leaf apparatus. Wavelength - 565-595 NM.
  3. Red, orange. The process of photosynthesis is triggered by these colors. You can adjust the growth rate of crops, if you change the intensity of the backlight. Red rays accelerate germination, orange - increase fruiting. Wavelength - 600-750 NM.
  4. Green. Pulls stems very quickly. They do not have time to get stronger, thin and tumble to the side. Leaves are formed only in the upper part of the culture. Wavelength - 490-565 NM.
  5. Ultraviolet. Controls growth, allows you to timely produce the necessary vitamins. Radiation produces immunity to external influences (temperature change). Wavelength - 280-380 NM.

Types of lamps for lighting plants

A wide range of lamps for plants of various types makes their choice difficult. Before purchasing a device, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with its characteristics. It is necessary to determine in advance the purpose of the installation - the cultivation of seeds from scratch or the adjustment of the development of green stems. Each model has its advantages and disadvantages.

Incandescent lamps

As a backlight, they are rarely used due to low light output and high heat. Such devices are generally not recommended to be placed next to the plants. From a long distance, the backlight will not show efficiency. Florists use incandescent bulbs to create favorable temperature conditions in greenhouses, aquarium tanks.

Plants need lighting only a few hours a day, provided that the pots are on the windowsill. But even such a short-time instrument operation will be very energy-intensive.

If you use an incandescent lamp with fluorescent devices, you can successfully complement the spectrum in red.

Fluorescent lamps

It is advisable to apply in small areas. Standard models will not accelerate plant growth. A device with a two-component phosphor coating and maximum emission of a red, blue color spectrum will help ensure photosynthesis.

There are household and professional devices. When choosing a model, you need to pay attention to the range of the glow. It should correspond to a specific case: for full lighting of small aquariums, for lighting individual areas, for greenhouses in combination with additional sources. Fluorescent lamps have the following advantages:

  • Provide excellent light output with low power consumption;
  • Have a wide range of shades;
  • Emit soft, diffused light;
  • Can work up to 15 thousand hours.

Discharge lamps

A large group of luminaires for seedlings, which include high, low pressure devices. All models are completely harmless, which allows them to be used in large quantities in greenhouses and residential premises. For plants use the following types of gas discharge devices:

  • Metal halide. Very bright radiation with a stable luminous flux suitable for industrial cultivation, spacious greenhouses. The maximum similarity of artificial radiation with daylight (up to 95%). Mostly blue spectrum that contributes to the formation of young seedlings. Cons - high price. Risk of explosion with increasing voltage.
  • Sodium. Shine in the red-orange spectrum due to the gaseous medium created by sodium vapor. Suitable for use during the flowering period, fruit ovary. Durable, cost-effective devices are often small in size, which allows you to direct the radiator in the right direction. Cons - big heat, attracting insects, pests, creating noise, poor lighting in the cold. Instant failure in contact with any liquid on the lighting device.
  • Mercury. The radiation goes in the red spectrum, which has a positive effect on the development of already formed plants. But this option for light exposure is rarely used, due to the large number of negative factors. These include a strong pulsation of light, low color rendering index, high ultraviolet radiation.

LED bulbs

Ideal for additional lighting. A variety of models allows you to install devices, both in large greenhouses, and on a small windowsill. For racks use wireless lamps, for example, from aliexpress. The spectral range includes all the necessary shades for the growth of seedlings. Installing LEDs of different power, you can get the perfect lighting for a particular type of seedlings.

LED luminaires can be placed very close to the seedlings without the risk of burns of sheet plates. They instantly turn on, provide an even glow. Depending on the number of seedlings and the type of shelving, use models of the following forms:

  • Phytopanel or tablet. A professional luminaire in the form of a large square is installed above the wide shelves;
  • Trumpet. Used to illuminate plants located on window sills, on long, narrow racks along the wall;
  • Diode spotlights. Light up an impressive area from a long distance;
  • Single lamps. Apply to flowers of the same type, gathered together;
  • LED tape. Lamps do their own hands, combining the colors of the spectrum in any order.

How to choose LED fitolampu

It is possible to establish the correct design with illumination for plants only after a complete analysis of the seedlings themselves. Important factors are the landing region, the characteristics of the room, the distance from the lamp to the plant, the location of the light-loving, shade-loving specimens. You should also choose a suitable form of the lamp, to ensure the possibility of regulating the duration of illumination.

Shape and size fitolampy

LED lamps can be of any shape and size. It is necessary to choose a design, being guided only by own needs. Phytolamps are produced in the following variations:

  • Socle. Used to create diffused lighting. In large rooms several devices are installed simultaneously. Mounted more often in the ceiling, sometimes on the side surface, depending on the power and type of plants. Lamps can contain one or several spectra at once with waves of various lengths. Some spotlights can be installed above a specific area, up to 0.5 m.
  • Square. Often used as the only source of light, set in a special box at a certain height from the plants. Powerful phytopanels have several LED modules or one large board. Some modern models are equipped with a power switch, a cooling system.
  • Linear. Used to highlight racks, shelves, tables. Lamps have an elongated shape, reminiscent of daylight devices. They emit an identical luminescence, as well as base models. Used as a primary, additional lighting. The special design allows you to hang the device to any height. By spectral characteristics are divided into several types (Bicolor, Multispectral, Full Spectrum).

Spectrum and power of diodes

Sunlight, so necessary for plant growth, consists of colored waves of different lengths. The same waves emit artificial lamps. Cultures are particularly responsive to the red and blue color of the spectrum. Bicolor lamps are produced or with only one source - monocolary. The optimal combination of colors is achieved by a combination of LEDs.

When choosing a lamp for growing seedlings, special attention should be paid to the spectrogram. This information can be found on the packaging of the device. The special scale shows the values ​​of each color.

An important indicator when choosing fitolampy - power diodes. It can be 1 watt, 3 watts, 5 watts. The higher the panel is installed, the more powerful LEDs should be. For a small height of the suspension fit flat modules with a capacity of 1 watt. For continuous operation at medium load, the device must have a cooling module.

Many manufacturers of LED lamps indicate on devices only the rated power. To determine the actual performance, the indicator must be divided in half.

Number of fixtures and installation rules

Favorable development of plants occurs with sufficient light. This indicator can be improved not only due to the quality of radiation, but also with the help of the number of devices themselves. The required number of lamps is calculated for specific conditions. In order to correctly calculate and provide the plants with high-quality lighting, the following aspects should be taken into account:

  • Area of ​​the room;
  • Number of seedlings;
  • Distance from devices to high crops;
  • Illumination angle;
  • The need for additional light for each copy.

Phytolamps will have the maximum effect if properly positioned in the apartment. Most of the light radiation emanates from the devices closest to the plants. The minimum distance from the bulb to the seedlings is 25 cm. They must be directed strictly at the crops.

How to make a phytolight by yourself

Ready-made LED panels or individual fixtures are not always worth the price. To make a test run and properly adjust the lighting settings in the house, you can use an improvised device. To work you need to stock up the following materials:

  • LEDs;
  • Base frame for their installation;
  • Power supply with power adjustment;
  • Copper connecting wires.

First of all, we select the diodes on the basis of the type and needs of the seedlings, calculate the required amount of light. In accounting is taken the time of year, the availability, the location of the window. The role of the frame can be performed by an old fluorescent lamp, a plastic box, any suitable material of suitable form.

Now proceed to the collection of fitolampy. You need to start with mounting the LEDs on the aluminum plate using a sticky layer on the back of the tape or double-sided tape. We connect them in series, in parallel establishing a current-limiting connection. For the connection, you can use a soldering iron or connectors.

Conclusion

LED bulbs have a huge impact on seed germination and plant growth. You can use any professional device or a small device, assembled by hand. Even low-power fitolamps have enormous light output. Modern models are equipped with a temperature control system, a convenient spectrum switch for different periods of growth.

Watch the video: LED Grow Light Buyer's Guide - How to Choose the Best LED Grow Light for your Plants (March 2024).

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