Seedlings - every self-respecting gardener grows it, since what is sold on the market is often not worth trusting. Seedlings there can be stocky, lively and healthy, but they do not at all correspond to the variety that you need, and the seller with a sly grin will nod in the affirmative to any question about the variety. So why take risks, why overpay, why buy "it is not known what", it is better to grow seedlings with your own hands and then only blame yourself or, conversely, be proud of yourself. But the difficulty is that seedlings are often grown during that period (February-April), when the day outside the window is very short, when even the southern windowsill, on which boxes with seedlings can be placed, cannot save the situation. There is simply catastrophically little light and it has to be artificially added, and for this there are a variety of backlight lamps.
Let's talk today about how to grow full-fledged seedlings using artificial light, when and for how long to turn on the lamps, which ones are suitable for seedlings, and which ones will be of little use, and finally, we will touch on the most reliable and proven types of lamps in different price categories. Let's see if you really need to chase an expensive brand or you can get by with something inexpensive and familiar, but no less effective. So, let's go to the world of light.
Content:
The need for additional lighting
To begin with, let's figure out why seedlings need additional lighting in general?
Light is almost the most important condition for growing seedlings. If there is not enough light, then the most complex plant photosynthesis apparatus simply will not work normally, and this will necessarily negatively affect both the root system and the aerial part. Plants can begin to stretch in search of light, bend, their immunity is completely or partially depleted, and there can be no talk of any quality of seedlings, of any crops in the future, at best everything will be mediocre.
Let’s make a reservation right away: if your window has a street lamp for night lighting on the windowsill, then cover the window with foil as soon as possible, so you will save the plants from disorientation and provide more light coming to the plants at the “right” hours from the illumination lamp. In the daytime, the foil, of course, must be removed without turning off the illumination lamps if necessary.
What effect do different spectra have on seedlings?
We note right away that any one specific spectrum of light will not be enough for the full development of seedlings of any crop. The impact on seedlings with additional illumination should be carried out by those lamps that emit exactly a complex of spectra (it is possible not in the entire range, but always with a predominance of its most important components). In each spectrum, almost every light flux has some effect on plants, there is no such part of the spectrum that can be considered completely useless.
For example, let's take red spectrum, - it is thanks to him that even the freshest and most well-prepared seeds germinate a little faster. Subsequently, the red spectrum seems to direct the plant, literally gives it signals for normal growth and development, stimulates the vertical growth of seedlings.
Spectra blue and violet participate in the reduction of new cells, they activate the processes of plant photosynthesis, increase the rate of cell division. With an abundance of the blue spectrum, the cells do not stretch, retaining the shape typical of a particular plant species, respectively, there is no tendency for seedlings to stretch as a whole. Under the influence of this spectrum, the stem of the plant becomes thicker and denser, that is, it acquires typical dimensions.
Few people know, but due to the influence of the blue spectrum of light, such a phenomenon as pulling seedlings towards the light source, called phototropism, slows down to a large extent and the seedlings have to be turned the other side to the light source widow, and sometimes three times less often.
As for the spectrum yellow and green, then, of course, there is an effect from them, but it is insignificant, this effect plays the role of a kind of balance, not allowing plants to be overly actively influenced by certain spectra, because an excess is also not a plus.
Seedling lighting. © George Weigel
What are the requirements for additional lighting?
Usually, the main requirements are the duration of the additional illumination produced, its intensity and relevance at a given particular point in time.
If we talk about the duration, then, perhaps, looking ahead, it can be noted that tomatoes need the most light, they like to bask under the rays from 15 to 17 hours, but crops such as peppers, eggplants and others fit into daylight hours, equal to 11-13 hours.
Of course, if the day is cloudy, it is raining and it seems that twilight has come already at noon, it is better not to save money and turn on the backlight lamps, this will not make it worse, but it is not advisable to turn them on for the whole daylight hours. The maximum is 5-6 hours, preferably no more, that is, 2.5-3 hours in the evening and the same in the morning, respectively, after sunset and before sunrise.
As for the distance from the illumination lamp to the seedlings, it usually depends on the lamp itself - whether it heats the air. Naturally, the smaller the plants, the closer the lamp can be brought, but avoiding burns. The easiest option is to find out the power of the lamp by adjusting the distance in this way - the more powerful the lamp, the greater the distance and vice versa.
At home, you can conduct a simple experiment, which is better for a girl whose palm skin is as sensitive as possible. Just bring it to the lamp and remove it until you are comfortable and you do not feel any unpleasant sensations on your skin, and so will the plants. But again, we repeat, the distance largely depends on the lamp that you choose.
As we mentioned above (covering the window from a street lamp with foil), you can do the same with lamps, directing or concentrating light fluxes in the right place. And you will be comfortable - the light from the lamp will not interfere with your eyes, and the seedlings are better - more light will fall on it. To do this, you can use a variety of reflectors (for example, mirrors), but the simplest, most affordable and most effective is ordinary foil, which is sold in rolls.
If you have a device that can measure the level of illumination of seedlings, then this is wonderful - ideally, the illumination should be equal to 6000 lux and fluctuate slightly.
And do not forget that ordinary window glass does not let in such an important spectrum for plants as ultraviolet at all, therefore, if it is possible, without harming the seedlings, to open the window to pamper it with the sun's rays, then it is quite possible to do so.
Which grow light to choose?
Let's now find out which lamps are most useful for seedlings, and which ones will either not bring the desired result, or can even harm. When choosing a lamp, be sure to find out (in addition to the price, of course, and its performance) the power of the light flux emitted by the lamp, the spectra it emits and the lamp's "utility" coefficient.
It’s great if the lamp that you, as they say, “laid your eye on” already has a built-in reflector that is located right inside the lamp (although it’s also possible outside, the main thing is that it be), then design something else additional, perhaps won't have to at all.
So, let's start with a description of probably the most common fluorescent lamps. They are called differently, for example, "fluorescent lamps" or abbreviated as LBT, or even shorter than LB. What are the clear advantages of these types of lamps - this is, of course, more than their low price; in addition, such lamps do not heat the air and are extremely easy to install, remove, change, which a person can do almost any return.
There are also disadvantages - this is a very small power of such lamps, and therefore you need to install three or even four of them on a relatively small box with seedlings, and everything else, very high energy costs from such a lamp: the "counter will wind" you a decent amount. But that's not all: there is very little red light in the spectrum studied by such lamps, and therefore they have to be installed at a distance of about 20-25 cm from the seedlings and literally wrap everything in foil so that not a single photon of the red spectrum is wasted.
There are other types of fluorescent lamps, here be careful - it is permissible to use LBT and LB, but it is unacceptable to use LD and LDC, the light from such lamps (namely LD and LDC) will oppress the seedlings.
The next type of lamp is phytolamps, or more, probably, phytoluminescent lamps known to us (as they often write on the package). The advantages here can be called such obvious advantages as cost-effectiveness and fairly high efficiency. In addition, phytolamps are small in size, they work for a very long period of time, and with proper careful handling they will last not for one, but for several seasons, in addition, such lamps are completely safe.
Among the phytolamps there are mirror lamps, for example, Enrich is so widely advertised, which gives a spectrum of light that does not strain the optic nerve of the human eye at all. Also, a lamp that does not lead to overheating of seedlings even with prolonged use is Fitosvet-D. Such lamps, alas, also have disadvantages, their emission spectra almost completely consist of lilac-pink light, it requires a reflector aimed specifically at plants, because such light has a depressing effect on most people.
The next series of lamps is sodium lamps, for example, Reflux; There are many varieties of these lamps, depending on the complexity of the design (often the price for them simply depends on the presence of a built-in reflector). So, a more expensive modification with a reflector is Dna3, it has an extremely convenient mirror reflector that allows you to direct the beam of light in the right direction, but the second option is cheaper - this is DnaT, it does not have such a mirror reflector, and you will have to design it yourself.
What are the advantages of such lamps? Relatively low cost, high efficiency, also because such lamps consume very little energy. Perhaps the main plus is the ability to form a luminous flux of the light spectra necessary for plants, and, of course, with careful handling, such lamps will last far more than one season. The general radiation that this lamp gives out to our eyes is perceived as orange-yellow, warm, it does not irritate the optic nerve of the eye at all and “does not act on the nerves”.
LED lamps, at a price they are the most expensive, but believe me, if the lamp is without marriage, then it will pay off very quickly. The service life of such a lamp, with proper careful handling, is estimated at ten, and sometimes more, years, even if you use the lamp for a whole day, that is, 24 hours. Such lamps are the most economical and consume several times (three and a half, to be precise) less energy than fluorescent ones.
LED lamps are quite suitable for growing seedlings due to their very bright and absolutely even flow of light, in their spectrum there is a sufficient amount of both red and blue colors, and all the other vital seedlings.
Among other things, such lamps are very small, they do not take up much space, they are mounted extremely quickly, and even on an extremely small surface, many LED lamps can be placed, enhancing the effect of their use.
Can incandescent bulbs be used to illuminate seedlings?
After describing the most common and most suitable lamps for growing seedlings, I want to digress a little and talk about the mistakes that gardeners make, ignoring all the advice of more experienced vegetable growers, and trying to grow full-fledged seedlings using ordinary incandescent lamps.
Dear gardeners, it is impossible to obtain high-quality, fully developed seedlings with a solid supply of immunity using standard incandescent lamps. In addition, you will spend a fairly large amount of money to pay for electricity, since such light bulbs consume a lot of it, and think about it: according to the latest scientists, only 4.68% of all the energy they emit is luminous flux, and more than 95% is banal heat.
We can say that such a light bulb is a miniature heater, and it is very easy to burn seedlings with it. But that's not all: those 4.68% of the light do not at all correspond to the color spectra necessary for seedlings; and the fact that the seedlings will be well “lit”, and no more, is too little.
How to make a stand for a backlight lamp?
So, we realized that it makes no sense to use ordinary lamps, it is better to purchase lamps that have the necessary positive effect on plants, but we still do not know how to place them. The most convenient option is to build a small wooden frame over a box or boxes with seedlings and already mount the necessary equipment for placing lighting lamps in it.
The posts of this frame should be made of wood so that, if possible, they could, say, be shortened if it turned out that the lamp was located too high - simply by sawing off equal parts.
Optimal Distance
By the way, since we are talking about the distance, it should directly depend on the period of seedling growth. For example, immediately after sowing, you can make the distance to the lamp (if it is not an incandescent lamp, which we decided not to use at all) equal to 12-14 centimeters, and as you grow, bring the height of the lamp to the 20-25 centimeters we indicated above.
Illumination duration
We mentioned above that the tomato loves the light the most - 15-17 hours, a little less - pepper, eggplant and other crops - 11-13 hours. But here it is necessary to take into account the weather outside the window. Let us remind you once again that if it is cloudy, then you can turn on the backlight during the day, and if the room becomes brighter after that, then you were right and you are not using it in vain. If, when you turn on the backlight, absolutely nothing changes, then there is enough light for now and the backlight can be turned off.
As always, we are waiting for your advice, maybe someone used other samples of backlight lamps and got excellent seedlings. We are sure that the tips you describe in the comments will be very valuable to our readers and will complement the picture of this review.
Spring is a time of great work. And not just for people. In the most favorable period allotted by nature, they also work. They germinate through the "shell" of the seed, break through the ground, throw out the first pair of leaves. And they grow, they grow tirelessly.
The main condition for active development for all vegetation without exception is a sufficient amount of sunlight, which directly affects the level of photosynthesis.
And since all gardeners and flower growers are in a hurry to plant crops and start growing seedlings in the winter months, the lack of natural sunlight is compensated by a seedling lamp.
Let there be light, or Physics is omnipresent
Habitual for visual perception of a person and necessary for the life of all things, ordinary daylight, which is commonly called white, has a wide
If you turn to physics and decompose the beam into components, then you can admire the waves of different colors and different lengths and still not see anything unfamiliar. Everything, as in the famous counting rhyme: "Every hunter wants to know ..."
All the colors that make up the rainbow are always proportionally present in sunlight, and most of them are very necessary for plants to develop and grow properly.
In the gloomy winter months, when it is too short and cannot provide the amount of sun they need, caring owners buy or build their own lamps to illuminate seedlings. Turned it on - and the day continues in the mini-garden.
Offset towards red and blue. biological necessity
Although vegetation needs light, not all spectral regions are perceived equally by it. After a lot of research, biologists have come to the conclusion that most representatives of garden flora need the blue and red colors of the spectrum the most.
Red light has a positive effect on seed germination. When the young stem just rises from the ground, it is in a bent position (almost like a baby in the womb). And in order for a young plant to “understand” that it is already above, and not underground, and straighten up, red lighting is needed, which can start the process of photosynthesis and growth.
The blue region of the spectrum is responsible for cell division, the emergence of new strong shoots.
Plants practically do not react to yellow and green colors - they reflect useless elements of the spectrum from the surface of the leaves.
When installing a lamp to illuminate seedlings, it is necessary to take into account the spectral preferences of vegetation and choose those in which the spectral shift is observed in favor of red and blue.
Indoor greenhouse needs a light bulb
Despite the small size of most modern apartments, an enthusiastic gardener will always find a place to grow seedlings of his favorite crops. As a rule, this honorable role is assigned to the window sill.
But even when the window sill is full of light on short winter days (it's time for germination), even being at the window, the plants do not receive the amount of sun that would ensure their active growth and development.
The lack of light has a very negative effect on the condition of the shoots: they are weak, lethargic, exhausted, unnaturally long and always strive to bend down.
To avoid such a dull spectacle, it is necessary to provide the plants with a source of artificial light immediately after planting them in the ground.
A seedling lamp in the singular copes with its function only if the illuminated area is small. And if the greenhouse does not occupy the windowsill, but the whole room? Then there should be a lot of lighting. Although gardeners and flower growers complain that LED lamps for seedlings are a very expensive necessity, they have not yet come up with another optimal option for providing themselves with high-quality “tops and roots”.
Seedling lamps: cheap and useless
The natural desire of everyone who grows seedlings for themselves is to save money. Therefore, kulibins for their own greenhouses come up with a variety of ways to ensure a minimum of costs (energy in the first place) during the growing period.
A do-it-yourself seedling lamp is the first of all known options. It is done elementarily: you need to screw any light bulb into the cartridge, even an ordinary one with a tungsten filament, highlight the seedlings and wait for the results.
But such haste in decisions and actions, alas, will not give positive results.
In order to properly illuminate seedlings, it is necessary to understand the laws of biology, which were discussed a little higher, and to figure out which of the colors of the spectrum the plant needs for vegetation.
A seedling lamp can't just be bought in the chandelier and light department. It is entrusted with a function more important than just shining, it must influence the growth processes.
Phytolamps: varieties, characteristics
With all the richness of choice, only three types of phytolamps are recognized as the most optimal in providing strong seedlings, which means a high yield.
The most popular and sought-after lamps for growing seedlings:
- Luminescent. Attractive in terms of price, but consume too much electricity.
- the average price segment, the percentage of energy consumption they have is lower than in fluorescent ones, but inconvenient bulkiness and the risk of explosion from moisture are limiting factors when choosing.
- for seedlings. The price of the light bulb itself is quite high, but subsequently they bring huge savings, because they are durable (their power is enough for 6-12 years of continuous operation) and not energy-intensive (they absorb electricity three times less than fluorescent ones), they contain the “favorite” colors of plants radiation - blue and red.
When do plants need extra light?
Not only the spectral color is important for the active development of plants, but also the intensity and duration of illumination. On gloomy days, lamps for lighting seedlings are not recommended to be turned off completely.
But you should not be too zealous, amplifying daylight with lamps. On a fairly bright day, the seedling lamp is used as a kind of tester: it must be turned on to determine the need for illumination. If, when turned on, the illumination has improved significantly, additional lighting should be continued. And if the light in the greenhouse did not increase and the difference before and after turning on the lamp remained unnoticed, there is no need to highlight it, it will only result in energy costs.
Distance between seed and light source
Everything is simple here: the greater the power of the lamp for additional illumination of seedlings, the farther it should be from the plants.
You can measure distance with a ruler, of course. But not necessary. There is another way that allows the gardener, figuratively speaking, to visit the place of the plant.
You just need to put your hand under the light at the place where it is planned to place the pot with the sprout. If there is a feeling of warmth, the lamp must be moved away or raised. With a close location of the light source, the plant will feel uncomfortable.
If the phytolamp seems too expensive
Or it doesn’t even seem, but the way it is: special lamps designed to illuminate sprouts are really expensive, and not every average gardener can afford this luxury - to take care of young seedlings in accordance with all the rules.
Sometimes, obeying the instability of the financial condition, the rules have to be broken and in search of an answer to the question: “Which lamps for seedlings can be used instead of special ones?” - find a range of alternatives.
One of them is the use of the most common, non-phyto, wide spectrum LEDs. For plants, they are optimal, since they have the red and blue areas necessary for vegetation, and for humans, too, since they are affordable.
Making a budget lamp for flowers and seedlings
There is no such gardener who would not like to bother with various devices to improve the vegetative functions of his beloved vegetation.
The arrangement of an artificial sun is one of the most important conditions for growth. Therefore, true lovers of the garden and vegetable garden devote maximum time and attention to this issue.
The most primitive do-it-yourself seedling lamp is created within five minutes. You just need to screw the LED light bulb into a regular socket. But this method is for lazy people. And the one who was "born a gardener" cannot be lazy, so he works on creating a lighting system a little longer and more seriously - for two whole hours.
For work you will need:
- 4 corners 20x20;
- flexible from 120 pcs. lamps with a power of 20 W / m.
The assembly scheme will require only sticking a tape with lamps on the corners. Budget - about 700 rubles.
Plants will be grateful
In principle, under conventional LEDs, all vegetation feels great: it develops quickly and actively, it throws out the notorious first two leaves on time.
Whites are great for growing seedlings of flowers and peppers, because they have a sufficient percentage of blue spectral color. And for tomatoes, it is better to choose lamps with red lighting. In a certain phase of development, blue alone becomes insufficient for them.
LEDs are becoming an excellent outlet for those who run greenhouses. In the autumn-winter low-sunshine period, thanks to a crumb-light bulb, you can collect a fairly decent crop of vegetables and please yourself with a riot of spring flowers.
Plants from the winter garden also need additional lighting. Despite the fact that they are usually placed on verandas and in the most bright rooms.
Each gardener, when growing seedlings, asks himself the question - how to highlight plants, how to highlight and whether to highlight them at all.
Illumination of seedlings is necessary without fail so that the plants grow well and produce a crop.
Let us consider in detail: which lamps are best suited for illuminating plants, how to make illumination of seedlings at home, with your own hands.
Usually, seeds for seedlings are sown in late January, early February, when the daylight hours are very short and young shoots need additional illumination in the morning and evening hours.
If the seedlings do not receive sufficient light, photosynthesis will be slow, the plants grow poorly and get sick. Each type of plant requires a different spectrum of light, daylight has all the ingredients.
Today, technologies, creating phytolamps, have already approached the required illumination parameters for plants.
Sunlight has the most complete spectrum: different colors and wavelengths.
Plants need purple and blue light to regulate cell growth so that the sprouts will be strong and healthy.
Red light affects seed germination, stimulates flowering.
Green and yellow light is needed for many important processes, but most of it is reflected from the leaves.
Many people say that ordinary fluorescent lamps, energy-saving lamps are suitable for backlighting. But all these lamps are not very suitable for plants.
After all, plants need white, blue and red light for normal growth and development. Such a luminous flux is emitted by the so-called phytolamp - designed specifically for illuminating plants. The light from this lamp is pink-lilac, and not white like a regular lamp.
Video - Phytolamps. Which phytolamp is better
Options for lighting seedlings at home
There are two options for backlighting: sunlight - without lamps, and backlighting with various lamps.
To increase the lighting, you need to make a screen for plants. For this, ordinary foil (or a foil substrate for linoleum) and a cardboard box are suitable. In the box, cut off the upper sides and one wide side. Fix the foil in the middle of the cut box. In the middle of the structure, put a box with seedlings.
Video - seedling screen
Thus, there will be enough lighting for distant plants in boxes, seedlings will not be stretched. Or, the second option, build up the sides of the foil substrate, on the back walls of the boxes with seedlings. An economical and affordable way, suitable for those who have few seedlings.
But when the windows of the apartment are located on the north side or in cloudy weather, additional lighting is still needed.
Phytolamp- the most popular for illuminating seedlings. These are efficient, durable, economical and safe lamps. These lamps do not heat up and do not heat the seedlings.
Sodium lamps economical and efficient, but they do not have enough blue spectrum for plants.
Ordinary incandescent lamps- not effective for seedlings and not economical. From such lamps, seedlings are pulled out and get burned.
Fluorescent lamps (LB, LBT)- daylight lamps. They have a small share of the red spectrum, and they are low-powered, you will have to install several pieces at once. The light of the lamps is cold.
LED lamp- economical, durable, you can choose a different spectrum and intensity of the light flux. Good for lighting plants.
Apply LED strips and ice lamps to illuminate seedlings. Using LED lamps, you can choose the necessary spectrum of light for plants.
Which lamps to choose for illuminating seedlings, decide for yourself.
Video - Compare fluorescent and LED lamps
Today, LEDs are used in everyday life and production, they are affordable and practical. An excellent option for creating additional lighting for seedlings: they do not heat the air and illuminate a large area.
Materials for a homemade lamp
LEDs of red and blue light spectrum;
Thermal paste or hot glue;
Lamp base - wooden rail, profile, any other object;
Power supply of the required voltage;
Cord and plug socket.
To grow seedlings, alternate the LEDs on the lamp in this way: 2 red - 1 blue. We connect the LEDs to each other, solder the connections with a soldering iron, connect to the power supply and the socket plug. The LED lamp for illumination is ready.
General recommendations for using lamps to illuminate seedlings:
1. Before the emergence of seedlings, the light should be as close as possible, after the emergence of sprouts, the lamps are raised by 40-60 cm.
2. To accurately determine the distance, check by bringing your hand to the top of the lamp, if it does not heat, then the plants are comfortable.
3. It is desirable to make adjustable shelves for seedlings, with the ability to adjust the backlight.
4. Use a screen when growing seedlings, the light will be concentrated on the seedlings, will not be scattered.
5. Seedlings need lighting for 13-15 hours, so turn on additional lighting when necessary.
6. Seedlings on the southern windowsills do not need lighting.
7. Follow the schedule for highlighting plants, plants do not need an overabundance, this will have a bad effect on seedlings.
8. Optimal illumination of seedlings is 6-8 thousand lux. In winter, 2-3 thousand lux is enough. On cloudy days you need 500 lux.
Video - Illuminated seedling rack
Thanks to modern technology, various types of lamps are available to create lighting for seedlings. In the future, seedling illumination will bear fruit in the form of a high yield, healthy and strong plants.
Don't forget, plants need lighting!
Light in plant life performs several important functions:
- It is one of the main components in the mechanism of photosynthesis. The energy of the sun is involved in the formation of organic substances that ensure the growth and development of the body;
- Starts the process of seed germination;
- Regulates the mechanism of cell division;
- Sufficient illumination prevents the accumulation of nitrates in plants.
If there is not enough light, the seedling will stretch. This means that it will need a lot of energy to deliver nutrients from the soil to the upper leaves. As a result, the plant will be weakened and defenseless against pathogenic bacteria, fungus and infections. An elongated and twisted sprout breaks easily, it is difficult to tolerate picking and transplanting.
Active sowing of seeds for seedlings occurs in February - March, when daylight hours are still too short. The lack of sufficient light inhibits the development of seedlings. Therefore, in order to obtain strong and healthy seedlings, it is recommended to illuminate the seedlings in the morning and evening hours, even when placed on a windowsill with a southern exposure. And if it is cloudy outside, and the seedling boxes are on the north or east window, you will have to turn on the phytolamp for the whole day. In order to correctly choose a source of artificial lighting for an apartment and not harm the plants, you need to be well aware of their needs and take into account the characteristics of different types of lamps.
Sunlight is made up of waves of different lengths and colors. Each of them is absorbed by certain pigments that perform different functions. Most of all, plants need red and blue spectra. They provide photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis: biological mechanisms of growth, flowering and fruiting. Moreover, at different stages of a plant's life, its color is important, some one spectrum is not enough for the full development of seedlings.
- Far red (730 - 740 nm.) prevents seed germination. Participates in the production of pigment, which affects the size, shape and number of leaves;
- Red (625 - 730 nm.) - important for photosynthesis, it activates seed germination, root formation, flowering and fruiting.
- The orange part of the spectrum (590 - 625 nm.) is activated during the period of the appearance of the crop to increase the number of ovaries and accelerate ripening.
- Although the yellow-green spectrum (500 - 590 nm.) Is not so important for plants, it is still used by them in the process of photosynthesis, since such light penetrates well to the lower leaves and seedlings in case of dense seedlings.
- The blue spectrum (440 - 485 nm.) affects the growth of seeds that have already sprouted. It inhibits the expansion of cells, but at the same time activates their division: this allows the stalks of seedlings to thicken, not to tilt towards the light source. When supplemented with phytolamps with a blue spectrum, you can get strong, not overgrown seedlings with straight stems and small internodes.
- Ultraviolet rays UV A (320 - 395 nm.) are needed in small doses. They activate the defenses of plants, have bactericidal properties, increase the resistance of seedlings to temperature extremes.
What to look for when choosing a phytolamp
Spectrogram
Before buying a phytolamp, you need to study its spectrogram. The optimal lighting option for the development of plant organisms looks like peaks in the range of 420–460 nm in the diagram. and 630–670 nm. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that there is as little radiation of far red and infrared light as possible. Also, there should not be large peaks in the yellow-green, orange and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum.
For illumination, it is possible to use both special bicolor phytolamps and universal full spectrum lamps.
The first option is usually more expensive. The advantage of specialized light sources is that they do not waste energy emitting unnecessary spectra. However, it should be borne in mind that the needs of plants depend on the specific crop and growing conditions. For example, tomatoes need the red spectrum more than cucumbers. Seedlings standing on the windowsill will have enough red and blue radiation, and those grown in grow boxes need to recreate sunlight as accurately as possible.
Full spectrum lamps are cheaper and easier to find commercially, but their efficiency is lower. They differ in color temperature, which is measured in kelvins and indicated on the packaging. The closest to the sun and therefore the most suitable for seedlings is cold white light with an indicator of 6400 K.
Power and illumination
When organizing lighting and choosing a lamp, it is important to pay attention not only to the spectrum, but also to the light power, which is indicated in lumens (Lm), and the level of illumination, measured in lux (Lx) and depending on the distance between the lamp and seedlings. For most crops, the illumination should be around 8000 lux. per 1 m2. For cucumbers standing on the windowsill, the illumination should provide at least 3000 - 4000 Lx. For tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other solanaceous plants - at least 6000 Lx.
- Calculate the area on which seedlings will be placed;
- Determine the light power by multiplying the area with the required level of illumination and adjusting for the height of the suspension (1.3 - when located 30 cm above the tops of the plant, if the height is 60 cm - 1.5);
- Calculate the number of light sources by dividing the value obtained by the light power indicated on the package.
For example, to illuminate at 8000 Lux. a plot measuring a meter by a meter with lamps located at a distance of 60 cm from the tops of the seedlings will require a light power of 12,000 lm. These are 10 100-watt incandescent bulbs or 5 25-watt LED bulbs.
Energy consumption
The number of watts should also be taken into account, but this is not so much an indicator of the power of the light flux as the amount of electricity consumed. It depends on what type of lamp is used. It is important to take into account the electrical power when calculating the economic feasibility of choosing a luminaire, along with the cost of purchasing the phytolamp itself and components, and its service life.
In addition to the main characteristics, when choosing a lighting option, the following is taken into account:
- Ergonomics. When used in a residential area, the phytolamp should not cause inconvenience, cut eyes;
- Ease of installation and versatility (base E27, E14, G13, G5, no need to install a ballast);
- Heat. The lamp should not get very hot so as not to cause leaf burns. Otherwise, you will have to install additional cooling devices;
- Lamp shape. If the seedlings are standing along the table, window sill, long shelf, you will need a linear phytolamp for uniform illumination;
- Scattering angle. If this figure is too high, the light will be spent inefficiently, illuminating an unusable area. The situation can be corrected by additional installation of lenses or reflectors (foil is suitable).
Types of lamps for seedlings, their advantages and disadvantages
Electric incandescent lamps
are rarely used for backlighting, as they have the following disadvantages:
- They get very hot, so they cause burns to plants;
- Low energy efficiency: 8 - 13 lm / W, since a lot of energy is spent on heating;
- Short service life (on average - 1000 hours);
- In the light spectrum of such lamps there is a lot of red, but little blue, which means that the stems will stretch a lot.
Among the few advantages are low cost, availability and ease of installation, natural light for the human eye.
Such lamps are more often used as an additional light source for evening illumination in greenhouses and winter gardens in order to accentuate the plants in the interior with light.
Incandescent lamps marked "grow lights" are sometimes used as phyto-lamps, in which the ratio of the red and blue spectrum is adjusted. For example, this option is produced by the Paulmann Reflector brand. However, in terms of energy efficiency and efficiency, these phytolamps do not differ from ordinary Ilyich bulbs.
Fluorescent lamps
(LL) - one of the frequent ways to illuminate seedlings. This is an economical option both in terms of the cost of the lamp and the amount of electricity consumed. LL has the following characteristics:
- Average service life - 10,000 hours;
- Energy efficiency - 60 - 90 Lm / W.
Advantages of this type of lamps:
- Low temperature, which allows you to hang the phytolamp close to the seedlings, increasing its efficiency without harming the seedlings;
- LL can be linear (convenient if you need to highlight several boxes with seedlings) and compact (for additional illumination of individual pots);
- Can be installed both horizontally and vertically.
Flaws:
- Fluorescent full-spectrum lamps emit mainly a yellow-green spectrum;
- Insufficient power: as a rule, the installation of several lamps at once is required;
- Decrease in luminous flux over time;
- A flickering effect harmful to the human eye, and when using phytolamps, fatigue from a specific pink-violet light quickly occurs;
- They require disposal in places specially designed for collection, as they contain mercury vapor;
- At the edges they have more power than in the central part.
In the case of LL, there is a choice of full-spectrum cold white lamps or specialized bicolor lamps. When buying the first, it is important to pay attention to the labeling: for seedlings, a spectrum labeled LB and LHB is better suited, and LD and LDC lamps, on the contrary, can slow down the development of seedlings. Phytolamps of this type are represented by the brands Osram Fluora, Sylvania GroLux, Camelion Bio.
Discharge lamps include metal halide, sodium and mercury. 
Metal halide
The lamps are very bright, used in greenhouses, for growing on an industrial scale. They have the following properties:
- Service life - up to 12000 hours;
- Light output 75 Lm/W.
Advantages of MGL:
- Most of the radiation is in the blue spectrum, which favorably affects the formation of young seedlings. The similarity with natural daylight reaches 95%;
- High level of color rendering: plants look natural;
- The highest stability of the luminous flux among all types of lamps: they practically do not dim.
Disadvantages of MGL:
- High price;
- When the voltage rises, there is a possibility of an explosion;
- Requires 5 to 10 minutes cooling if restarted;
- Special disposal, as they contain toxic substances.
Manufacturers of metal halide phytolamps: MH Philips, Sunmaster MH, GIB Growth Specter Advanced, Lumatek.
in sodium lamps
(NLVD) the gas-discharge medium is created by sodium vapor, which shines in the red-orange spectrum. They have the following properties:
- Service life - 20,000 hours;
- Energy efficiency - 80 - 120 Lm / W.
The advantages of using NLVD, in addition to efficiency and durability:
- Luminous flux stability;
- The emitter has a relatively small size, which makes it easy to direct it in the right direction.
Cons of NLVD:
- They heat up strongly. When used in greenhouses, they attract insect pests;
- They shine in the red spectrum, therefore they are more suitable for flowering and fruiting of adult plants than for growing seedlings. When used on young seedlings, the shoots will stretch;
- Due to the high light output, such illumination of seedlings is more suitable for greenhouses; at home, NLVD will cut the eyes and greatly distort color perception;
- Noise at work (buzzing);
- Due to the presence of mercury and sodium vapors, they are unsafe and require special disposal;
- Efficiency depends on the ambient temperature: they do not shine well where it is cold;
- If water or other liquids come into contact with the switched on device, damage and failure will occur;
- Cannot be plugged into regular sockets. Special chokes (ballast) and igniters (IZU starter) or electronic ballast are required in which the ballast and IZU are already assembled.
There are several types of sodium lamps. DNAT - ordinary arc lamps. DNAZ additionally have a mirror reflective layer, which increases the efficiency of lighting.
Among the popular manufacturers of this type of phytolamps are General Electric PSL series Lucalox, Osram Plantostar, SunMaster, Philips Green Power, Reflux.
mercury lamps
have a light output of 45-55 Lm / W. and service life up to 15000 hours. This option is rarely used for backlighting due to the large number of disadvantages:
- Low color rendering index;
- Very high ultraviolet radiation;
- Over time, the intensity of illumination decreases significantly;
- The light pulsates strongly;
- Even with a slight change in the voltage in the network, the lamp goes out;
- Tungsten-mercury fitolamps can be connected without a ballast, for other ballasts it is mandatory;
- Subject to special disposal.
Among the advantages are small size and radiation in the red spectrum.
LED lamp 
For seedlings - the most modern option. With the help of such light sources, researchers were able to grow greens in space, since their spectrum is close to daylight. LEDs have the following characteristics:
- Service life - 50,000 - 100,000 hours;
- Energy efficiency - 100 - 150 Lm / W.
Advantages of LED lamps:
- You can choose a luminaire for any task and specific requirements of the culture, as the luminaires are easy to mount;
- Do not heat up;
- Environmentally friendly;
- Diode lamps are produced in various forms: single phytolamps are suitable for individual plants, panels and spotlights are suitable for shelving, and linear models - pipes for a window sill.
Flaws:
- High price;
- LEDs are subject to degradation: over time, they become dimmer and begin to flicker;
- LED light is very directional. On the one hand, this is good, since you can effectively focus the rays on a specific plant, on the other hand, more light sources will be required.
Manufacturers of specialized LED lamps for plants: Espada Fito, Garden Show, Almaz.
induction
phytolamps are a relatively recent invention, which has recently been increasingly used to illuminate plants. The absence of electrodes in the design prolongs the service life, since such lamps are independent of power surges, power on / off. They have the following characteristics:
- Service life - up to 100,000 hours;
- Efficiency - 80 - 110 Lm / W.
The advantages of this type of lighting fixtures:
- Do not heat up;
- Do not flicker;
- The intensity of the glow practically does not change with time;
- Protected against power surges.
Among the disadvantages are the need for special disposal, additional installation of control gear and high cost.
Thus, for lighting greenhouses and growing seedlings on an industrial scale, it is best to choose metal halide (for the formation of stems and crowns) and sodium (for fruiting activation) lamps; for home use, seedling illumination with LED, fluorescent and induction lamps is suitable.
How to make a do-it-yourself LED phytolamp
Modern LED strips allow you to independently make lighting for seedlings at home of the desired size and power. At the same time, the illumination can be adjusted to the needs of each crop grown at each stage of its development.
To make a lamp for seedlings on the windowsill, you will need a red, blue and white spectrum tape, a power supply or driver, connectors with suitable connectors, a base and holder for a phytolamp, an aluminum profile for heat dissipation. What should be done:
- Calculate the desired level of illumination, the area occupied by the seedlings, and the lighting power;
- Calculate the required number of LEDs. To do this, divide the obtained indicator of the luminous flux by the power of the LED indicated by the manufacturer;
- Determine the ratio of red and blue. The standard proportion of these flowers for mature plants is 3:1. For seedlings, the ratio is different: when seeds germinate, more blue is required than red: 3:2, 4:3. After picking, it is recommended to equalize the number of LEDs of these colors. If the seed boxes are away from the window, you will need to add white tape;
- As a basis, you can use a damaged fluorescent lamp, a piece of plastic. Attach an aluminum profile to the base;
- Cut off the required number of diodes according to the special marks on the back of the tape. Secure the cut piece to the base with double-sided tape or superglue. For uniform lighting, you need to do this in 2-3 lines;
- Observing the polarity, connect the power supply using connectors;
- The luminaire is mounted on a bracket or suspended with suction cups at the required distance from the seedlings.
Do-it-yourself LED lighting for seedlings will be more effective if supplemented with reflectors made from improvised materials. They can be foil, mirrors.
Rules for highlighting plants
- 3 - 4 days after germination, seedlings need to be illuminated around the clock, then observe the day-night regimen. The duration of illumination depends on the culture. illumination is needed for 15 hours, eggplant - 8 - 10 hours, - 12 - 14 hours, and other flower crops - 16 hours;
- In order to observe the same length of daylight hours and not subject the seedlings to stress, it is recommended to install a socket timer for switching on and off the backlight. Often, plants themselves suggest the length of daylight hours: before a dormant period, their leaves begin to fold;
- After picking, the light intensity should be reduced by 2-3 days to give the seedlings time to recover;
- You can assess the need for additional lighting on sunny days by comparing the level of illumination with turned off and on fitolamps. If there is no noticeable difference to the eye, there is no need to turn on the backlight;
- To protect the seedlings from burns, check the temperature under the light bulb at the level of the tops of the seedlings with the palm of your hand. If the skin is hot, the lamp should be raised higher;
- As the plants grow, the distance to the light source will change, this should be foreseen, giving preference to lamps with adjustable suspension. Immediately after sowing, the height to the light source should be 12-14 cm, after germination 20-25 cm. The higher the light source, the less illumination. (quadratic dependence: if you raise the lighting device by 2 meters, the illumination will decrease by 4 times).
- Lighting should be directed from top to bottom. When growing tall plants, side lighting is added, otherwise the lower leaves will receive little light.
Thus, the components of successful additional illumination of seedlings are the correct organization of the day regimen of plants, protecting them from burns, providing the necessary level of illumination with useful spectrum waves, and choosing a phytolamp taking into account energy efficiency and ergonomics.
Since seedlings are often planted at the end of winter, when the daylight hours are still not enough to ensure full-fledged photosynthesis, the question arises of additional illumination of the home greenhouse.
In the assortment of specialized stores for the garden there are so-called phytolamps - LED complexes for illuminating seedlings in greenhouses. From other sources of artificial light (the same incandescent lamps), they differ in greater efficiency of illumination due to the fact that they equally well transmit rays of different spectra:
- blue
- red;
- purple.
Photosynthesis (the process that determines the growth and development of plants) and photomorphogenesis (the process of fruit set) peak when exposed to light rays with a length of about 660 nm. This indicator is provided by a combination of red and blue light waves in a ratio of 3/1. Most of the phytolamps offered on the market are characterized by just such a ratio of light waves.
Another advantage of LED lamps is their efficiency - the energy consumption of such sources is several times lower than that of conventional incandescent lamps. In addition, LEDs burn out much less frequently.
The main disadvantage of such sources of additional light is their price. High-quality phytolamps are not cheap; with small volumes of planting a home greenhouse, a crop with such expenses may not pay off. But if you make LED lighting with your own hands, the savings compared to buying ready-made fitolamps will be significant.
Is it possible to assemble a phytolamp yourself?
On gardening forums, you can stumble upon topics describing the creation of do-it-yourself phytolamps using LED strips or individual LEDs fixed on a metal profile. But in order to assemble such a backlight for seedlings, you need to be well versed in electrical engineering. The main difficulty is the assembly of a current source from a resistor and a stabilizer (you can buy a special driver instead, but then the cost of the structure will be much higher). It is easier to assemble a phytolamp with your own hands according to a simplified scheme from ready-made LED lamps that you can buy at any lighting store.
Assembly materials and tools:
- red and blue LED lamps for 3 LEDs;
- fragment of chipboard of rectangular shape;
- cartridges for LED lamps (the number must correspond to the number of lamps);
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- soldering iron;
- fasteners;
- cord with plug.
Construction assembly steps
Assembling a system of artificial illumination of plants with LEDs according to this scheme does not provide for anything complicated. We sequentially perform the following actions:
- On a chipboard sheet, we mark the installation sites for future lamps with a pencil and use a drill to drill a hole in the center of each of them for further wiring.
- Using a screwdriver, we fix the lamp holders in the marked places.
- We screw the lamps into the cartridges, having previously removed the diffusers from them and sequentially connect all the electrical wiring elements using soldering.
- We complete the assembly of the electrical circuit by connecting the cord with the plug. Now you can conduct a test run of the structure. Well, if for these purposes there is a laboratory power supply with the ability to supply voltage less than 220V.
- After making sure that the lighting system is working, you can connect it to the main network and mount it directly above the seedlings.
Video - Do-it-yourself phytolamps
Illumination for seedlings based on LED matrices
The process of assembling a seedling illumination system from individual LEDs is described above. Such systems are effective for individual boxes with seedlings a la "grandmother's balcony". To illuminate seedlings in large volumes (mini-greenhouses), it is better to use home-made lighting systems based on LED matrices. The cost of building such a device will be higher than in the first case, but still not commensurate with the cost of purchasing ready-made fitolamps for mini-greenhouses. The basis of such a system is LED arrays for plants with a dual spectrum.
You will need the following accessories:
- LED matrices - 4 pcs;
- old processor heatsink;
- connectors for LED matrices;
- drill;
- hot glue;
- fasteners (screws);
- 12V computer fan;
- screwdriver.
Step by step assembly instructions:
- Using a drill, we outline 8 holes on the radiator case for fixing the LED matrices.
- We install a drill for a thread with a diameter of M2 on the drill and drill the intended places. The depth of the holes must match the size of the screws.
- Using screws and hot-melt adhesive, we fasten the matrices to the radiator housing in the designated places. First, we apply a small amount of glue to the base of the matrix and gently apply it to the attachment point, then screw in the screws.
- Now we connect all the LED matrices in series with connectors and install the connector to which the current source (LED driver) will be attached.
- We connect the driver to the connector and check our design for operability.
- The final stage of assembling a phytolamp on LED matrices is connecting a 12V fan to the electrical network. Without it, our radiator will quickly overheat.
Video - LED phyto lamp for plants
Checking the effectiveness of the lighting system
Whatever seedling illumination system you choose - factory-made or home-made, the principles for checking its effectiveness are the same. The main evaluation criterion is the appearance of seedlings:
- If in some parts of the greenhouse the stems are frail, of unequal length, then the plants do not have enough light. The solution to the problem may be additional illumination of the area (try to move the profile with fixed LEDs closer to the seedlings).
- Straight stems with bright green leaves indicate that the plants have enough light. Reduce or increase the intensity of lighting in this case should not be.
- If the sheets become lethargic, withered, most likely the backlight system is very “frying”. Try reducing the number of LED panels. To determine if there is overheating, hold your hand just above the tops of the seedlings. If you feel that it is hot, then you overdid it with heating.
- Remember that each culture has its own light regime. The plants themselves will help determine when to turn off the backlight. Take a closer look at their sheets: if they begin to close (stretch vertically) - then it's time to put out the light. Illumination of boxes with seedlings should be done not only at night, but also on cloudy days.