DIY lamp for lighting seedlings. What lamps to choose for seedlings and how to properly illuminate plants

Lighting is essential for plant life and growth. Without enough light, the seedlings turn pale and wither.

What kind of lighting should be, prices for various types of lamps and how to make a supplementary lighting device yourself from inexpensive materials and LED strip, we will tell you in this article.

Lighting for seedlings

The most popular plants grown as seedlings are tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and cabbage. Many decorative flowering annuals are also sown first in small containers and only after reaching a certain size are transplanted into open ground.

This need is associated with the discrepancy between climatic zones and the duration of the growing season of individual species, or the need to pick the main root to improve the development of the root system.

Seedling illumination with LEDs

There is a fairly significant difference between lighting for mature plants and seedlings. Seedlings capture light not only with chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Phytochrome and cryptochrome also absorb light and are responsible for the division, elongation and specialization of the cells of the future plant.

Light, its intensity, color temperature, spectrum and duration of illumination are very important for germinating seeds and growing viable seedlings. With a lack of light, the plants stretch out, become pale or turn yellow, their development slows down, the timing of flowering and fruiting is postponed.

In conditions when the seedlings are on the windowsill, passive lighting can be arranged for them. A reflective screen (white paper or cloth, foil on a substrate) is installed between the seedlings and the room. The light coming from the window bounces off the screen and illuminates the plants from the other side. But all these are half measures, since natural light is completely insufficient.

Backlighting with old incandescent lamps, despite the brightness, gave a very low result, since plants need a certain spectrum, and the necessary blue and red remains in the total luminous flux much less. Incandescent bulbs get very hot, requiring additional ventilation and watering.

Artificial plant lighting options

For artificial lighting of plants (in particular, seedlings), the following types of lamps are recommended:

1. Luminescent. The time-tested option is still used by most greenhouse farms. It is inferior in other types of lighting for seedlings.
2. Metal halide. Economical, but they do not give enough light in the blue spectrum.
3. Sodium. Quite an expensive type of lamps that require the installation of additional control equipment. Luminescence is predominantly in the orange and yellow spectra.
4. LED. Of all types of artificial lighting, the future belongs to LED plant lamps. They deserve a separate listing of numerous advantages. For plants located on shelves, it is convenient to use, for example, such as in.

Advantages

The advantages of supplementary lighting of seedlings are:

1. Economical - they use 8 times less electricity than standard lamps.
2. Durable - with heat dissipation, they can work up to 50,000 hours.
3. Repaired - a LED that has stopped working can be easily replaced. Agree, this is much cheaper than buying a new lamp.
4. Installing LEDs of different power and spectrum allows you to get exactly the lighting that best suits the needs of a particular seedling at a particular time. If you need to change the spectrum, just replace one with another in the same lamp.
5. It turns on instantly and gives an even glow without flicker.
6. They heat up very little, which makes it possible to place them lower above the plants without the risk of causing burns on the leaf plate.
7. Low voltage operation improves safety parameters.
8. Environmentally friendly - do not contain harmful chemicals and do not need special conditions for disposal.

It can be assumed that the ever-increasing consumer interest will affect production volumes and prices will begin to fall.

Let's take a closer look.

Popular models

The choice of a specific model depends on where exactly the lighting will be installed, for which crops, at what distance from the tops of the plants.

Professional LED Plant Light 75W (10 Spectra)

Where phytolamps for LED seedlings can be used:

• in greenhouses and farms;
• in private homes;
• apartments;
• in summer cottages.

Depending on the type of shelving and the number of seedlings, LED lamps can be of different shapes:

1. Trumpet - suitable for supplementary lighting of seedlings in narrow long rows, often used on windowsills.
2. A tablet or phytopanel is the shape of a lamp in the form of a rather large square. This is a professional luminaire designed to illuminate wide shelving units.
3. Single lamp - supplementary lighting in this form is used when growing a small amount of seedlings for personal needs.
4. - illuminate from a greater distance and a larger area than single luminaires.
5. LED strips - can be configured in any order. They are more often used for making phyto-lighting with their own hands.

When choosing a phytolamp, carefully read the instructions. A good manufacturer must indicate from what distance what area can be effectively illuminated by a specific phytolamp model. This information will be very useful when planning the number and power of purchased lamps.

Example: "Topaz", the parameters and the price of which are given in table 2, depending on the distance to the plants, gives the indicators indicated in table 1.

As you can see from the table, prices are not encouraging. This is the main reason that LED backlighting is not so popular despite its obvious benefits. But you can significantly reduce the cost of the lighting device if you make it yourself.

How to assemble an LED seedling light

The simplest version of LED phytolamps is made of LED strip.

Materials for work:

1. A panel, the size and shape of which coincides with the area on which the seedlings will grow. You can use a lamp from a damaged fluorescent lamp.
2. Aluminum profile.
3. Red and blue LED strip with Velcro. Do not forget to correctly calculate the proportions of blue and red spectra recommended for your plants before buying. Most often it is 1 length of the blue spectrum for 8 lengths of red.
4. Power supply or driver.

Diy phyto tape assembly diagram

When choosing between a driver and a simple power supply, keep in mind that the first not only transforms the standard 220 volts into the required 12 or 24 volts, but also stabilizes the voltage. Drivers are available for specific LED wattage.

Luminaire assembly consists of the following sequential steps:

1. We clean and degrease the panel surface.
2. We attach an aluminum profile to the panel - it is needed to dissipate heat and extend the life of the LEDs.
3. We cut the tape into the required lengths. You need to cut it between the soldering - it is visible on the tape.
4. We connect the segments with a connector or with a soldering iron.
5. We remove the protective covering from the inside of the tape and glue it with slight pressure on the aluminum profile. Avoid kinking the tape too much to avoid damaging the tracks that power the diodes.
6. We install the panel on a stand-legs that will hold the lamp above the seedlings at the required height.
7. We place the power supply at the required distance from the outlet and connect it to the LED strip. It is important to observe the polarity.
8. You can use it.

The price of an LED seedling lamp shouldn't force you to refuse such high-quality lighting. If you have hard-working hands, you can make a completely high-quality lamp with your own hands.

Video

This video will tell you how to make a DIY LED seedling lamp.

To grow seedlings, a sufficient amount of light is required; in conditions of natural deficiency, artificial lighting should be used. To get healthy seedlings at any time of the year, study what equipment is better to choose, at what time to turn on supplementary lighting and how to install lamps to illuminate seedlings with your own hands. Only competent illumination is safe and effective for seedlings, and errors in calculations often lead to the death of immature crops.

Sprouts under artificial lighting

Why do you need to highlight seedlings

The happy owner of southern windows and balconies has to worry less about artificial lighting for growing seedlings. The rest should think in advance how, where and with what devices it is better to supplement developing plants.

It is quite clear what kind of light is needed for seedlings - the closest to natural. The sun's rays provide plants with the vital energy they need for photosynthesis. Leaves absorb light radiation and photochemical reactions take place in them, as a result of which organic substances are synthesized from minerals.

Homemade device

In the conditions of a short day of the cold period of the year, additional illumination of seedlings is simply necessary. Otherwise, good planting material will not work. The lack of light is depressing, the shoots become weak and frail, they can stretch out strongly in an attempt to get at least a little more sunlight.

If you use additional lighting, then the seedlings begin to noticeably grow stronger and form new leaves, its color becomes more saturated.

The sun sends light energy to the Earth, consisting of photons (sections of electromagnetic waves of different lengths). The visible white ray can be decomposed into photons of different colors (electromagnetic spectrum), differing in wavelength (for red - the largest, for blue and violet - the shortest).

Effective range of photosynthesis

According to research, light waves of red and blue colors have the greatest influence on the development of plants. The rays of the blue part of the spectrum (400-500 nm long) regulate the growth rate and promote the formation of thick stems. Red light waves (600-700 nm) ensure productive photosynthesis and intense leaf growth.

Backlit mini shelving unit

When to highlight seedlings

When the seedlings are located on the windowsill, supplementary lighting is used in the morning and evening periods of the day (a couple of hours before dawn and 1-2 hours after sunset) in order to increase the total illumination time on short light days of winter. If natural lighting is difficult due to cloudiness, the presence of trees and buildings outside the window and an unfavorable location, then more artificial lighting is required.

If it is impossible to place containers under the sun, all responsibility for providing light energy falls on electrical devices, which must maintain as close to natural parameters as possible.

Do seedlings need light at night? Seedlings need a period of night rest, due to physiological processes. Some of the reactions of photosynthesis occur under conditions of light absorption (oxidative processes with the release of oxygen and hydrogen, energy storage), and in the dark, carbohydrate molecules are formed with energy consumption.

Backlight in the evening

Therefore, it is not recommended to highlight seedlings around the clock. It is even dangerous for the health of plants, their leaves can become covered with brown spots.

Although some experimenters conduct experiments on round-the-clock lighting of their seedlings and argue that plants develop faster and become stronger.

How much light is needed for seedlings

Developing plants need regular lighting. Provide the seedlings with sufficient light for about 8-12 hours (more for some crops). The length of time the plants are illuminated depends on how much sunlight they receive.

For plants, not only the size of the period in which they receive light energy is important, but also its volume. The luminous flux must be of the required power, and the illumination (the amount of luminous flux per unit area) must be at least 6000 lux (optimally 8000 lux).

The level of illumination that is comfortable for plants is regulated by approaching artificial sources or moving away, and some lamps also allow you to change the radiation power.

The nursery at the window

To calculate the level of illumination of seedlings and determine the required number of lamps, pay attention to their power (watts) - for a lighting area of ​​1 sq. m requires 100-150 watts (when using energy-saving lamps) for the room and 35-50 watts for the windowsill.

The light source should emit in the range of 300-800 nm, while red and blue rays should prevail. In order for artificial illumination to most effectively affect the development of crops, it should be borne in mind that in each period of development, seedlings need rays of a different spectrum.

For a seed that does not yet contain chlorophyll, the presence of light radiation of the red spectrum, which stimulates germination, is important, and already in green seedlings it affects the intensity of development.

Blue light prevents plants from stretching too much, promotes cell division and the formation of strong planting material with good immunity. At the very beginning, the rays of the blue spectrum should prevail, then the ratio of red and blue should be 2 to 1 (3 to 1), and after a pick, an equal number of them is required.

Combined illumination with rays from the red and blue range

The choice of lamps for illuminating seedlings at home

The product range of lamps and luminaires is quite varied in type, purpose and price. It is always possible to choose a device suitable for specific needs and financial capabilities, or to buy the necessary one for self-production. You should familiarize yourself with the parameters and advantages of various lamps and make the right choice.

LED bulbs - economy and efficiency

LED seedling lighting is considered the best alternative to artificial lighting for plants. Modern LEDs cover the entire visible light range. Therefore, by making combinations of different colors, it is possible to obtain artificial lighting with any required spectral composition.

Before choosing LED lamps for seedlings, you need to familiarize yourself with their main technical characteristics. Compared to other sources, they combine a number of advantages:

• compact size;
• low level of electricity consumption (1 W / hour per 1 diode);
• The efficiency of photosynthetically active (assimilated by plants) radiation is 99%;
• high luminous efficiency (about 100 lm / hour);
• long term of work (100,000 hours);
• resistance to the influence of external factors (mechanical stress, temperature drops, humidity);
• safety in use.

Plants under LED lighting

Not all LED lights are suitable for growing plants. Models marked with led grow are suitable as LED lighting, emitting light in a plant-friendly spectrum.

You can do it yourself from an LED strip. First you need to calculate the required luminous flux. To do this, you need to know the crop area, suspension height and belt power. The LED strip has a sticky base so it can be easily fixed at the required height.

Sodium lamps for seedlings

The so-called agricultural high-pressure sodium lamps (HPL) are traditionally used in domestic practice as an affordable source of artificial lighting. Compared to LED, they are less efficient and economical, but they are quite applicable at home to illuminate small areas of crops.

The performance parameters of sodium lamps are as follows:

• The efficiency of assimilated radiation is 26-30%;
• luminous efficiency - up to 150 lm / W;
• term of work - up to 24,000 hours;
• electricity consumption - more than 70 W / h per 1 lamp.

NLVDs cost an order of magnitude cheaper than LED ones. The main disadvantage of sodium lamps for seedlings is a very small (~ 8%) radiation in the blue region of the spectrum, which is partially compensated by the introduction of special additives into the lamp.

Sodium lamps and the spectral composition of the light emitted by them

Fluorescent lamps for growing plants

Fluorescent lamps are also used for supplementary lighting of plants, but it is advisable to use them only on a small area. Conventional models of such lamps are ineffective in terms of growing plants. The seedling fluorescent lamp should have a two-component phosphor coating with a maximum emission in the blue and red areas.

Their technical parameters are as follows:

• The efficiency of the assimilated radiation is 20-22%;
• luminous efficiency - up to 80 lm / W;
• term of work - up to 15,000 hours;
• electricity consumption is about 20-60 W / hour per 1 lamp.

Landings under fluorescent lighting

Fluorescent lamps are characterized by low power and insufficient emission in the red region of the spectrum. Therefore, they are used only at the stage of growing seedlings.

Phytolamps are the perfect choice

Phytolamps are lamps specially designed for illumination of plants with a given spectral composition of radiation. In small doses, they also emit ultraviolet light (to provide resistance to low temperatures) and infrared light (a metabolic stimulant). LED - the best phytolamps for seedlings, due to their technical parameters. Luminescent ones are inferior to them in terms of efficiency and quality of the emitted light.

Backlight by photo lamps

Phytolamps are very convenient to use at home. The design of phyto-lamps for seedlings allows you to adjust the angle and brightness level of lighting at any time. They are attached to the ceiling or to other surfaces using special clamps.

Phyto-lamp for home

DIY lighting installation

It is not difficult to fix the lamps on your own, especially if it is a special phytolamp. It is important to correctly calculate the distance from supplementary lighting to seedlings and take care of the brackets.

Homemade Adjustable Seedling Lighting Bracket

Important rules for installing lighting fixtures

When planning to install lighting for seedlings on the windowsill, you should be guided by the following considerations:

• first of all, ensure safe operation (exclude the possibility of moisture getting on the devices and overturning);
• it is best to place lamps on top, in this case, the lighting hits the plants as much as possible;
• use reflectors (made of white fabric or foil) to direct the light to the desired location.

Homemade PVC pipe rack with lighting

When illuminating seedlings in an apartment without a natural source, it would be a good solution to build a special rack (it takes up little space and can be disassembled after use), and place lamps above the shelves. In this case, it is necessary to supplement the lighting for the longest time, therefore, the possibility of overheating of the devices should be excluded.

At what distance from the seedlings to place lamps for supplementary lighting

It is important to choose the optimal location of the lamps, if they are too close, plants can get burned. Long distance significantly reduces illumination, energy is wasted inefficiently.

Usually the height at which the lamps are located is within 10-40 cm from the seedlings. At the smallest distance, the backlight is placed when pecking crops. You should check by turning on the lighting and holding your palm, at what distance you will not feel the warmth. It is desirable to be able to adjust the height as the seedlings grow.

The distance depends on the type of lamp and the age of the seedlings.

Seedling lamps can be screwed into a regular table lamp or securely fixed together with a holder on a self-made stand (using bolts, self-tapping screws or special glue). This can be a rectangular suspended panel or other stable structure.

It is very convenient to use brackets for mounting the lighting for seedlings (special supporting parts for vertical fixing). They can be screwed firmly into place to support shelves or lamps.

Homemade LED strip lamp

How to make LED lamp + video

You can make the simplest lamp yourself as follows:

1. Prepare materials and tools - a backlight lamp with a socket and a power cord, a construction beacon made of galvanized steel (has a stiffener and perforation holes), bolts with nuts, pliers (pliers).
2. To make a stable support, bend the lighthouse into a rectangular frame that matches the size of the window sill.
3. In the middle, install a vertical stand in the form of a two-piece frame - the lower vertical stands and the upper curved U-shaped part. The legs of the rack allow you to adjust the height of the structure by extending to the desired length and fixing with bolts.
4. Reinforce the rigidity of the fastening by screwing the jibs on both sides through the holes in the beacon.
5. Attach the lamp holder to the upper part of the frame using bolts, if necessary, you can fix several lamps.

Video: DIY lamp for seedlings

Additional lighting for growing strong seedlings with your own hands is simply necessary and there are many options for every taste and prosperity, easily implemented at home. You can make the most of the materials at hand or purchase everything in the kit, the main thing is to correctly and effectively highlight young plants, guided by the already accumulated positive experience.

Light has several important functions in plant life:

• It is one of the main components in the mechanism of photosynthesis. The energy of the sun participates 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;
• Adequate 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 curved sprout easily breaks, it is hard to tolerate a pick and transplant.

Active sowing of seeds for seedlings occurs in February - March, when the 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 boxes with seedlings 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 composed of waves of different lengths and colors. Each of them is assimilated by certain pigments that perform different functions. Most 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 own color is important, 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 used during the period of crop appearance 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 the case of dense seedlings.
• The blue spectrum (440 - 485 nm.) Affects the growth of already germinated seeds. It inhibits the expansion of cells, but at the same time activates their division: this allows the stalks of the seedlings to thicken, not to tilt towards the light source. When illuminated 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, and 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 illumination option for the development of plant organisms appears on the diagram as peaks in the 420–460 nm ranges. and 630-670 nm. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that there is as little radiation of far red and infrared light as possible. Also, there should be no large peaks in the yellow-green, orange and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum.

For illumination, it is possible to use both special bicolor phyto-lamps and universal full-spectrum lamps.

The first option is usually more expensive in terms of cost. The advantage of specialized light sources is that they do not waste energy to emit unnecessary spectra. However, it should be borne in mind that the needs of plants depend on the specific culture and growing conditions. For example, tomatoes need the red spectrum more than cucumbers. Saplings 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, easier to find on the market, but less efficient. They differ in color temperature, which is measured in Kelvin and is 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 luminaire, it is important to pay attention not only to the spectrum, but also to the luminous power, which is indicated in lumens (Lm), and the illumination level, measured in lux (Lx) and depending on the distance between the luminaire and the seedlings. For most crops, the illumination should be around 8000 Lx. per 1 m2. For cucumbers standing on the windowsill, supplementary lighting should provide at least 3000 - 4000 Lx. For tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other nightshades - at least 6000 Lx.

1. Calculate the area on which the seedlings will be placed;
2. Determine the luminous power by multiplying the area with the required illumination level and correction for the suspension height (1.3 - when located 30 cm above the plant tops, if the height is 60 cm - 1.5);
3. Calculate the number of light sources by dividing this value by the light output indicated on the package.

For example, to supplement the illumination at 8000 Lx. a meter-by-meter plot with lamps located at a distance of 60 cm from the tops of the seedlings, a light power of 12,000 lm is required. 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 luminous flux as the amount of electricity consumed. It depends on the type of lamp used. It is important to take into account electrical power when calculating the economic feasibility of choosing a luminaire, along with the costs of purchasing the phytolamp itself and accessories, and the period of its operation.

In addition to the main characteristics, when choosing a lighting option, it is taken into account:

• Ergonomic. 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 burn the leaves. Otherwise, you will have to install additional cooling devices;
• Lamp shape. If the seedlings are along the table, window sill, long shelf, you will need a linear phytolamp for uniform illumination;
• Scattering angle. If this indicator is too high, the light will be spent inefficiently, illuminating the useless area. Additional installation of lenses or reflectors can correct the situation (foil is suitable).

Types of seedling lamps, their advantages and disadvantages

Electric incandescent lamps

they are rarely used for organizing backlighting, since they have the following disadvantages:

1. They heat up strongly, therefore they cause plant burns;
2. Low energy efficiency: 8 - 13 Lm / W, since a lot of energy is spent on heating;
3. Short service life (on average - 1000 hours);
4. There is a lot of red in the light spectrum of such lamps, 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 source of light for evening illumination in greenhouses and conservatories to accentuate plants in the interior with light.

Incandescent lamps labeled "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 phyto-lamps do not differ from ordinary Ilyich's bulbs.

Fluorescent lamps

(LL) - one of the most common ways to illuminate seedlings. This is an economical option both in terms of the cost of the luminaire and the amount of electricity consumed. LL have the following characteristics:

• Average service life - 10,000 hours;
• Energy efficiency - 60 - 90 Lm / W.

The 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 lighting of individual pots);
• Can be installed both horizontally and vertically.

Disadvantages:

• Full-spectrum fluorescent lamps emit a predominantly yellow-green spectrum;
• Insufficient power: as a rule, it is required to install several lamps at once;
• Decrease in luminous flux over time;
• The flickering effect, harmful to the human eye, and when using phytolamps, fatigue quickly arises from the specific pink-violet light;
• Require disposal in specially designated collection sites, as they contain mercury vapors;
• They have more power at the edges 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 marking: for seedlings, the spectrum with the LB and LHB marking is better, and the LD and LDC lamps, on the contrary, can slow down the development of seedlings. Fitolamps 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 industrial cultivation. They have the following properties:

• Service life - up to 12,000 hours;
• Luminous efficiency 75 lm / W.

MGL advantages:

• Most of the radiation is in the blue spectrum, which has a beneficial effect on the formation of young seedlings. The similarity with natural daylight reaches 95%;
• High level of color rendering: plants look natural;
• The highest luminous flux stability among all types of luminaires: they practically do not fade.

Disadvantages of MGL:

• High price;
• If the voltage rises, there is a risk of explosion;
• Cooling required 5 - 10 minutes in case of restart;
• Special disposal, as they contain toxic substances.

Manufacturers of metal halide phyto lamps: MH Philips, Sunmaster MH, GIB Growth Specter Advanced, Lumatek.

In sodium lamps

(NLVD) gas-discharge medium is created by sodium vapor, which shines in a red-orange spectrum. They have the following properties:

• Service life - 20,000 hours;
• Energy efficiency - 80 - 120 Lm / W.

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 desired direction.

Cons of NLVD:

• They get very hot. When used in greenhouses, attracts pests;
• They are holy in the red spectrum, so they are more suitable for flowering and fruiting adult plants than for growing seedlings. When used for young seedlings, the shoots will stretch;
• Due to the high light output, such seedling illumination is more suitable for greenhouses; at home, NLVDs will cut the eyes and greatly distort color perception;
• They make noise during work (hum);
• Due to the presence of mercury and sodium vapors, they are unsafe and require special disposal;
• Efficiency depends on the ambient temperature: they shine poorly where it is cold;
• If water or other liquids come into contact with the turned on device, damage and failure will occur;
• Cannot be plugged into regular sockets. Special chokes (ballast) and ignitors (IZU starter) or electronic ballasts are required in which ballast and IZU are already assembled.

There are several types of sodium lamps. DNAT - conventional arc lamps. DNAZ additionally have a specular reflective layer, which increases the lighting efficiency.

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 luminous efficacy of 45-55 lm / W. and service life up to 15000 hours. This option is rarely used for supplemental lighting due to the large number of disadvantages:

• Low color rendering index;
• Very high ultraviolet radiation;
• Over time, the light intensity decreases significantly;
• The light pulsates strongly;
• Even with a slight change in the voltage in the network, the lamp goes out;
• Tungsten-mercury phytolamps can be connected without a ballast, for the rest of the ballast is required;
• 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, the researchers managed 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 culture requirements, as the luminaires are easy to install;
• Do not heat up;
• Environmentally friendly;
• Diode lamps are available in various shapes: single phytolamps are suitable for individual plants, panels and spotlights for shelving lighting, linear models for windowsill - pipes.

Disadvantages:

• High price;
• LEDs are susceptible to degradation: over time they become dimmer and begin to flicker;
• The LED light is highly 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 that 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 voltage surges, switching on / off the network. 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 over time;
• Protected against voltage surges.

Among the disadvantages are the need for special disposal, additional installation of ballasts 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 crown) and sodium (to activate fruiting) lamps; illumination of seedlings with LED, fluorescent and induction lamps is suitable for home use.

How to make an LED phyto-lamp with your own hands

Modern LED strips allow you to independently make lighting for seedlings at home of the desired size and power. At the same time, the backlight can be adjusted to the needs of each cultivated crop at every stage of its development.

To make a lamp for seedlings on a windowsill, you 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:

1. Calculate the required illumination level, the area occupied by the seedlings, and the lighting power;
2. Calculate the required number of LEDs. To do this, divide the resulting luminous flux by the LED power specified by the manufacturer;
3. 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 seedling boxes are located away from the window, you will need to add white tape;
4. As a basis, you can use a damaged fluorescent lamp, a piece of plastic. Attach an aluminum profile to the base;
5. 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 using double-sided tape or super glue. For uniform illumination, this should be done in 2-3 lines;
6. Observing the polarity, connect the power supply using the connectors;
7. The luminaire is mounted on a bracket or suspended with suction cups at the required distance from the seedlings.

DIY LED lighting for seedlings will be more effective if you supplement it with reflectors from scrap materials. They can be foil, mirrors.

Plant highlighting rules

• 3-4 days after germination, seedlings need to be illuminated around the clock, then observe the day-night regime. The duration of the lighting depends on the culture. need lighting for 15 hours, eggplants - 8 - 10 hours, - 12 - 14 hours, and other flower crops - 16 hours;
• In order to maintain a uniform daylight hours and not stress the seedlings, it is recommended to set a socket timer to turn on / off the backlight. Often, plants themselves suggest the length of daylight hours: before the 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 supplementary lighting on sunny days by comparing the level of illumination with turned off and on phytolamps. If there is no tangible difference to the eye, there is no need to turn on the backlight;
• To protect the seedlings from burns, use the palm to check the temperature under the light bulb at the level of the tops of the seedlings. If the skin is hot, the lamp needs to be raised higher;
• As the plants grow, the distance to the light source will change, this should be foreseen, giving preference to lamps with an 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 is, the less illumination. (quadratic dependence: if you raise the lighting fixture by 2 meters, the illumination will decrease by 4 times).
• Lighting should be directed from top to bottom. When growing tall plants, add side lighting, otherwise the lower leaves will receive little light.

Thus, the components of successful supplementary illumination of seedlings are the correct organization of the daily routine of plants, their protection from burns, the provision of the required level of illumination with waves of the useful spectrum and the choice of a phytolamp, taking into account energy efficiency and ergonomics.

Since planting of seedlings is often carried out at the end of winter, when the duration of daylight hours is still not enough to ensure full-fledged photosynthesis, the question arises of additional illumination of the home greenhouse.

In the assortment of specialized shops for the garden and vegetable garden there are so-called phytolamps - LED complexes for illuminating seedlings in greenhouses. They differ from other sources of artificial light (the same incandescent lamps) by a greater efficiency of supplementary lighting due to the fact that they transmit rays of different spectra equally well:

• blue;
• red;
• purple.

Photosynthesis (the process that determines the growth and development of plants) and photomorphogenesis (the process of fruit set) reach their 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 3/1 ratio. Most 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 often.

The main disadvantage of such additional light sources is their price. High-quality phytolamps are not cheap; with small volumes of planting in a home greenhouse, a crop with such costs may not pay off. But if you make the LED backlight yourself, the savings compared to buying ready-made phytolamps will be significant.

Lack of high-quality phytolamps - high price

Is it possible to assemble a phytolamp by yourself?

On horticultural forums, you can stumble upon topics describing the creation of phytolamps with your own hands using LED strips or individual LEDs fixed on a metal profile. But in order to collect such a backlight for seedlings, you need to be well versed in electrical engineering. The main difficulty is assembling 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, which can be bought at any lighting store.

Materials and tools for assembly:

• LED lamps of red and blue color with 3 LEDs;
• a fragment of a chipboard of a rectangular shape;
• sockets for LED lamps (the number should correspond to the number of lamps);
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• soldering iron;
• fasteners;
• cord with plug.

Stages of the assembly of the structure

The assembly of a system of artificial illumination of plants with LEDs according to this scheme does not provide for anything complicated. We consistently perform the following actions:

1. On a sheet of chipboard, with a pencil, mark the installation locations of future lamps and use a drill to drill a hole in the center of each of them for further wiring.
   
2. Using a screwdriver, we fix the lamp holders in the marked places.
   
3. We screw the lamps into the sockets, after removing the diffusers from them and sequentially connect all the elements of the wiring using soldering.
   
4. We complete the assembly of the electrical circuit by attaching a cord with a plug. Now you can carry out a test run of the structure. It is good if for these purposes there is a laboratory power supply with the ability to supply voltage less than 220V.
   
5. 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 - Phytolamps do it yourself

Seedling lighting based on LED matrices

Above, the process of assembling a seedling supplementary lighting system from individual LEDs is described. Such systems are effective for individual boxes with seedlings a la "grandmother's balcony". For supplementary lighting of seedlings in large volumes (mini-greenhouses), it is better to use homemade lighting systems based on LED matrices. The costs of building such a device will be higher than in the first case, but still not commensurate with the costs of purchasing ready-made phytolamps for mini-greenhouses. The basis of such a system is LED arrays for plants with a dual spectrum.

You will need the following components:

• LED matrices - 4 pcs;
• old processor heatsink;
• connectors for LED matrices;
• drill;
• hot glue;
• fasteners (screws);
• computer fan for 12V;
• screwdriver.

Step-by-step assembly instructions:

1. Using a drill, mark 8 holes on the radiator body for fixing the LED matrices.
   
2. We install a drill for a thread with a diameter of M2 on the drill and drill the designated places. The depth of the holes must match the size of the screws.
3. Using screws and hot melt glue, we attach the matrices to the radiator case in the designated places. First, apply a small amount of glue to the base of the matrix and carefully apply it to the attachment point, then screw in the screws.
   
4. 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.
   
5. We connect the driver to the connector and check our design for performance.
   
6. The final stage of assembling the 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 supplementary lighting system

Whichever system of illumination of seedlings you choose - factory or home-made, the principles of testing its effectiveness are the same. The main criterion for evaluation is the appearance of the seedlings:

1. 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 site (try to move the profile with the fixed LEDs closer to the seedlings).
2. Straight, pick-up stems with bright green leaves indicate that the plants have enough light. In this case, you should not decrease or increase the light intensity.
3. If the leaves become sluggish, withered, most likely the backlight system "fries" a lot. Try to reduce the number of LED panels. To determine if there is overheating, hold your hand exactly over the tops of the seedlings. If you feel hot, then you have overdone the heating.
4. Remember that each crop 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. Boxes with seedlings should be illuminated not only in the dark, but also on cloudy days.

Do-it-yourself lighting of seedlings is one of the important elements, thanks to which plants develop correctly, become stronger and healthier. In the article we will tell you in detail how to create additional lighting for plants at minimal cost and at home.

Features of the use of lighting for seedlings - what you need to know?

Experienced farmers and gardeners plant seeds between January and February, the season when the amount of daylight is at its lowest. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of additional sources of lighting in time. They should not easily provide additional light, but also be useful for leaves and soil, and for this it should be as close as possible to the spectrum of sunlight.

It is known that for the normal growth and development of any garden plant, it needs as much daylight as possible. This ensures the normal course of the process of photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis (the process of fruit set) and contributes to the healthy and correct growth of all constituent plants. However, it is not recommended to use conventional incandescent or fluorescent lamps when designing additional lighting for seedlings, since the efficiency of such lamps tends to zero.

For high-quality illumination, specialized phytolamps are most often used, which consist of LEDs capable of producing rays with a different spectrum. Experts recommend using lighting devices that are capable of consistently producing three color spectra with a narrow range of radiation required for normal growth:

• Red. The main color that promotes the growth, flowering and fertility of the garden plant;
• Blue and shades of purple. These colors provide cell nourishment and normalize the proper germination process.
• Green. Contrary to misconception, this color is also necessary for the good development of home seedlings, therefore, purchasing an additional lamp or integrating into an existing green LED system will only contribute to better development and growth of leaves and fruits.

After connecting an additional lamp based on diodes, day or phyto lamps, it is very important to control the illumination of the plants, that is, to determine whether the plants have enough light and how high the level of thermal radiation is. It is recommended to supplement the illumination of plants during the day only in cloudy weather or in the dark; you should not use artificial light in case of sunlight.

How to make the right backlight - the choice of lamps and lighting method

It should be noted that with a small sowing area of ​​indoor plants, for example, on a home windowsill, it is sometimes possible to do without the use of additional lamps for additional illumination. This is possible when the window sill is located on the south side of the apartment or house, with relatively constant sunlight. In this case, you can make a simple design out of a cardboard box. The sides of the box are cut out and pasted over with ordinary foil, after which it is necessary to surround the seedlings with them.

The foil, when exposed to sunlight, will serve as a reflector that provides illumination from different angles and spectra. However, such an economical method is not always effective, especially in the winter season. Therefore, sometimes you cannot do without the use of special lamps. Experienced gardeners and hobbyists use the following types of lamps to illuminate seedlings:

• Phytolamps. The most common and affordable option. They shine with a constant blue-violet spectrum, are economical and durable. However, they should be installed together with special reflectors, since phyto-light and their luminescence spectrum are useful for plants, but are a constant irritant for humans.
• High pressure mercury or sodium lamps. Provide high-quality illumination with a "warm" white color, absolutely safe for humans, but not effective enough for the development of plants. Installation of lighting based on them requires the use of additional power regulators, in addition, they have a fairly high price.
• Fluorescent lamps. Also a popular option for additional lighting. They shine with standard "cold" daylight, are durable and practical, while many plants may lack the red spectrum in lighting, which means that their effectiveness will not be maximized.
• LEDs. The most convenient and effective way to create additional lighting. With the help of LEDs, you can select the desired spectrum of lighting, adjust it. In addition, LEDs have a number of additional features and advantages over other types of lamps, which will be discussed below.

Using standard incandescent lamps for illumination is not only meaningless, but in some cases harmful to plants.

The constant conversion of light energy into thermal radiation during cultivation can lead to the gradual drying of the leaves and fruits of the plants, while a large amount of electricity is wasted, which also makes this method unprofitable.

Lighting for seedlings - we use fluorescent lamps

Before you buy additional devices or create artificial lighting yourself, you need to properly organize the place. If necessary, build shelving equipment, think about fixings, free up enough space, etc. The most convenient way to create additional lighting at home is to use Led lights or LEDs. Next, we will describe two ways to create a simple and at the same time high-quality illumination with your own hands.

The first option is to create a simple backlight using Led lights. This requires:

• 1-2 luminaires of LPO-01 type with dimensions 2x36;
• two medium-power fluorescent lamps;
• loose white fabric or foil;
• wooden bars and wire;

In addition, fluorescent lamps must be built into the luminaire. From fabric or foil, you need to make something like a curtain that will serve as a reflector. Wooden bars are used to create special shelves, and wire should be used to create loops on which our lamps will be hung.

The distance at which the lamps are placed is calculated depending on the specific type of plant, for example, strawberries or lobelia are more light-loving than, for example, petunia and many other flowers. On the lower shelf, on which there is the least amount of light, it is recommended to put young seedlings, just "hatched", which do not like too high temperatures. Instead of conventional lamps, you can also use ready-made LED counterparts, which are fixed on a metal or aluminum profile.

LEDs with different spectrum - we create good lighting

A more complex, but at the same time much more effective way to highlight seedlings is to use LED strip with dual spectrum matrices. Such a lighting system involves the use of a cooling radiator and fan (from a computer), special connectors, matrices and other equipment that can be purchased at a specialized store.

To build such a lamp, you will need:

• two power supplies (inverters) for 12V and 24V;
• housing from a standard fluorescent lamp;
• cooler from the computer (for the cooling system);
• three matrices of type 10W Integrated Power LED in blue and red;
• anodized aluminum, wiring and hot melt glue.

The ends of the wires must be stripped and soldered to the ends of the LED matrices, strictly observing the polarity. Connect the remaining wires to the power supply, the power of the diodes is calculated based on the power of the power supply. The computer cooler must be secured to an anodized aluminum strip with thermal paste or glue and connected to a power supply (12V).

Further, LED lamps on the tape are also attached here, after which it is necessary to bend the tape so that it takes the shape of a reflector and integrate it into the luminaire body. In this case, it is necessary to drill several holes for the cooler on the case, from which air will escape. The electrical circuit should be implemented so that it is possible to control the color spectrum and turn on in parallel blue or red diodes and, if necessary, turn off one of the colors. The use of LEDs is effective, they can be positioned as you like, they are simple to mount and they consume little electricity.

Experienced gardeners and business executives know that many plants show themselves when they need more or less light. For example, some varieties in the evening may close their leaves, as it were: this means that the illumination is at the desired level and additional lamps must be turned off. In addition, different plant varieties are differently susceptible to color spectra and heat levels. If you follow all the recommendations for lighting and care, even the most demanding plant will develop evenly and correctly, and the leaves and fruits will delight you with their beauty.