Additional artificial lighting of flowers and plants in the apartment. What lamps are needed to illuminate seedlings

In 2014, the Japanese company "Takii seed" presented a petunia with an amazing color of petals - salmon orange. Associated with bright colors southern sunset sky, a unique hybrid was named African Sunset ("African sunset"). Needless to say, this petunia instantly won the hearts of gardeners and was in great demand. But in the past two years, the curiosity has suddenly disappeared from the shop windows. Where has the orange petunia gone?

Our family loves sweet peppers, so we plant them every year. Most of the varieties that I grow have been tested by me for more than one season, I cultivate them constantly. And every year I try to try something new. Pepper is a thermophilic plant and quite whimsical. The varietal and hybrid varieties of tasty and fruitful sweet pepper, which grows well with me, will be discussed further. I live in middle lane Russia.

Meat cutlets with broccoli in béchamel sauce are a great idea for a quick lunch or dinner. Start by cooking the minced meat, and at the same time heat 2 liters of water to a boil to blanch the broccoli. By the time the cutlets are fried, the cabbage will be ready. It remains to collect the products in a pan, season with sauce and bring to readiness. Broccoli needs to be cooked quickly to keep it bright green color, which, with long boiling, either fades, or the cabbage becomes brown.

Home floriculture - not only fascinating process, but also a very troublesome hobby. And, as a rule, the more experience a grower has, the healthier his plants look. And what about those who have no experience, but want to have houseplants at home - not elongated stunted specimens, but beautiful and healthy, not causing a feeling of guilt by their extinction? For beginners and flower growers who are not burdened with long experience, I will tell you about the main mistakes that are easy to avoid.

Lush pancakes in a frying pan with banana and apple confiture is another recipe for everyone's favorite dish. So that the cheesecakes do not fall off after cooking, remember a few simple rules... Firstly, only fresh and dry cottage cheese, secondly, no baking powder and soda, and thirdly, the thickness of the dough - you can mold it from it, it is not tight, but pliable. A good dough with a small amount of flour will only come from good cottage cheese, but here again see the point "first".

It is no secret that many drugs from pharmacies migrated to summer cottages... Their use, at first glance, seems so exotic that some summer residents are perceived almost with hostility. At the same time, potassium permanganate is a long-known antiseptic, which is used both in medicine and in veterinary medicine. In plant growing, potassium permanganate solution is used both as an antiseptic and as a fertilizer. In this article, we will tell you how to properly use potassium permanganate in the garden and vegetable garden.

Pork meat salad with mushrooms is a rural dish that can often be found on a festive table in the village. This recipe with champignons, but if there is an opportunity to use Forest mushrooms, then be sure to cook like this, it will be even tastier. You don't need to spend a lot of time on preparing this salad - put the meat in a saucepan for 5 minutes and another 5 minutes for slicing. Everything else happens almost without the participation of the cook - meat and mushrooms are boiled, cooled, pickled.

Cucumbers grow well not only in a greenhouse or greenhouse, but also outdoors. Cucumbers are usually sown from mid-April to mid-May. Harvesting in this case is possible from mid-July to late summer. Cucumbers do not tolerate frost. This is why we don't sow them too early. However, there is a way to bring their harvest closer and taste juicy handsome men from your garden in early summer or even in May. It is only necessary to take into account some of the features of this plant.

Polisias is a great alternative to the classic variegated shrubs and woody ones. The elegant round or feathery leaves of this plant create a strikingly festive curly crown, and the elegant silhouettes and rather modest character make it an excellent candidate for the role of himself big plant in the House. Larger leaves do not prevent him from successfully replacing the ficuses of Benjamin and Co. Moreover, the policeman offers much more variety.

Pumpkin casserole with cinnamon - juicy and incredibly tasty, a little like pumpkin pie, but, unlike pie, it is more tender and just melts in your mouth! This is the perfect sweet pastry recipe for a family with children. As a rule, kids do not really like pumpkin, but they never mind eating sweets. Sweet pumpkin casserole is a delicious and healthy dessert, which, moreover, is very simple and quick to prepare. Try it! You'll like it!

A hedge is not only one of essential elements landscape design. It also performs various protective functions. If, for example, the garden borders on a carriageway, or there is a highway nearby, then a hedge is a must. "Green walls" will protect the garden from dust, noise, wind and create a special comfort and microclimate. In this article, we will consider the optimal plants for creating a hedge that can reliably protect the site from dust.

Many cultures in the first weeks of development need a pick (and even more than one), while others - a transplant is "contraindicated". To "please" both, you can use not quite standard containers for seedlings. Another good reason to try them is cost savings. In this article, we'll show you how to do without the usual boxes, pots, cassettes and tablets. And let's pay attention to not traditional, but very effective and interesting containers for seedlings.

Healthy Red Cabbage Vegetable Soup with Celery, Red Onions, and Beets is a vegetarian soup recipe that can also be cooked in fast days... For those who have decided to lose a few extra pounds, I advise you not to add potatoes, and slightly reduce the amount olive oil(1 tablespoon is enough). The soup turns out to be very fragrant and thick, and during fasting you can serve a portion of soup with lean bread - then it will turn out satisfying and healthy.

Surely everyone has already heard about the popular term "hygge", which came to us from Denmark. This word is not translated into other languages of the world in any way. Because it means a lot of everything at once: comfort, happiness, harmony, spiritual atmosphere ... In this northern country, by the way, most of time of the year - cloudy weather and little sun. The summer is also short. At the same time, the level of happiness is one of the highest (the country regularly ranks first in the UN global ranking).

It is very important to choose the right bulbs for growing indoor, greenhouse and aquarium plants. If you make a mistake in the choice, further consequences can be disappointing: seedlings (or algae) may simply not have enough light, which can stop their growth or more serious problems- too bright lighting and the release of heat will burn the leaves, which will lead to the death of the plant world. In order not to have various kinds of trouble, you need to know which lamps for plants are better to choose, buy and use in the future. Below we will provide you with a comparison of all the most popular types: from incandescent bulbs to LEDs.

Overview of existing bulbs

To make the information easier to perceive, we will simultaneously list all existing types lamps that are best suited for lighting and growing plants, and immediately talk about how rationally use each option.

So, today, to illuminate the plant world in the house, you can choose and use such light sources as:

... The cheapest and not recommended option for many reasons: have short term service, low light output (up to 17 lm / W) and significant heat generation. As a result, seedlings or indoor flowers in a pot will not receive required amount light, as a result of which this will negatively affect the growth rate and, accordingly, the correct cultivation. In addition, a light bulb that is too powerful can burn the leaves if it is placed next to the plant. Bottom line - this option in no case should be used at home, because it is best to choose the more modern and efficient types of lamps, which we will talk about below.
Fluorescent (energy saving) lamps. It is much more advisable to choose this option and use it to highlight vegetation in the house, greenhouse and directly in the aquarium. Energy efficient light sources have many advantages, such as high light output, low heat generation and economy, which makes them a good option for lighting indoor and aquarium plants. In addition, there are special fluorescent phytolamps that are intended only for growing seedlings and flowers.
LED bulbs. LEDs are the youngest type of light bulbs, which in a short period of time managed to gain high interest in various fields of application. LED bulbs are better for plants due to the fact that they consume minimal amount electricity, practically do not emit heat and, moreover, there may be a different spectrum of light radiation, which allows you to choose suitable LED bulbs for your own type of plants in the house.
Gas-charging (sodium, mercury, metal halide). It is necessary to dwell on this version of lighting products in more detail, since not all gas charging lamps are suitable for growing plants. Mercury lamps are among the worst options for plant growth in the home, greenhouse, and aquarium. This is due to the fact that they have a luminous flux almost 2 times less than sodium and metal halide light sources. In addition, the light spectrum of mercury products itself is not quite suitable for the development and further growth of seedlings, flowers, and algae. As for sodium lamps - they shine brightly yellow-orange, which is very much in line with the natural sunlight... Expert review - it is better to choose and use mercury bulbs for growing flower plants... Well, and the last option - metal halide lamps are the most expensive, but at the same time, the most suitable light sources for those representatives of the "green world" who prefer vegetative growth rather than flowering.

So we told you which lamps are suitable for lighting and growing indoor plants... We draw your attention to the fact that for the home, the most optimal options for price and efficiency will be CFL fluorescent lamps, which have a luminous efficiency of 80 to 100 Lm / W. If you can waste a little more, it is better to opt for LED plant bulbs, which still outperform the sodium bulbs previously used in greenhouses and greenhouses!

To learn more about which bulbs are best suited for growing seedlings (for example, tomatoes) or flowers, you can watch the video examples:

How to arrange lighting correctly?

You have familiarized yourself with what kind of lamps for growing plants are, and you probably already know which version of light sources to choose for your own conditions. Now we will briefly tell you how best to organize the backlight so as not to harm flora in the House.

The first thing to consider is the height from the fixtures to the leaves. Minimum distance should be 15 cm if the plant is light-loving and 55 cm if shade-tolerant. In addition, the light should fall on flower pots or seedlings (or aquarium flora) strictly at right angles. Otherwise, the plants will reach for the light and take on an ugly shape.

Second, each specific species of flora requires its own specific light spectrum. Some flowers need a blue spectrum, some need a red one. First of all, you should ask florists or read on the Internet about the requirements for growing your favorite plant, and then choose the right lamps.

Third, if for some reason you did not find a light bulb with suitable characteristics light output and spectrum, you can organize combined lighting, for example with lamps daylight simultaneously with phytolamps, etc.

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If you supply the plant with everything necessary in a timely manner, then it will certainly thank you. The main need for seedlings is optimal lighting, which can be provided by a series of lamps for additional illumination:

incandescent lamps;
fluorescent lamps;
sodium lamps;
induction technology;
LED strips and lamps.

Before considering the advantages and disadvantages of each species, it is necessary to figure out what kind of light a young seedling needs.

Features of additional lighting of seedlings

Natural sunlight combines different wavelengths. They are only partially visible to the human eye, but completely perceived by plants. Spectral colors play their own special role at each stage of the growing season:

The red and blue portions of the spectrum contribute to the production of chlorophyll. Hence, seedlings, receiving these waves in the right amount, is developing much faster.
The orange part of the spectrum is required for indoor development and for fruiting.
Green and yellow light reflects off the leaves, but is still needed as part of natural light.

The most useful lamps for young seedlings are considered to be able to provide seedlings with the red and blue colors of the spectrum. The optimal ratio of red and blue spectra is 3: 1 or 2: 1.

Are incandescent bulbs suitable for seedlings?

It seems that it is enough to hang a few incandescent lamps above the boxes with seedlings, and the plants will be happy. However, the lamps familiar to us are far from the best way... Consuming electrical energy, such a lamp converts only 5% into light, and the rest turns into heat. Plants receive not lighting, but thermal baths, which at best - dries up the ground part, at worst - leaves burns on the leaves.

Advice. With any type of lighting you choose, light screens will help you save energy. You can make them yourself by sticking foil or white cardboard on the sides of the seedling container.

Another disadvantage of incandescent lamps is the consumption of a large amount of electricity. And, of course, such lighting is not able to provide seedlings with a blue and red spectrum.

Features of lighting with fluorescent lamps

Fluorescent lamps are actively used by many growers. They are distinguished by their availability and ease of installation. Hanging 2-3 such lamps above the seedlings will not be difficult, and they will last for a long time. The main advantages of lighting with fluorescent lamps:

full range of colors;
low power consumption;
emits a small amount of heat;
uniform, diffused light.

Cons of this type of lighting:

low power. At a large number seedlings of 1st-2x lamps will be few;
insufficient amount of blue and red spectrum;
when using fluorescent devices with mercury, they must be used very carefully and disposed of correctly.

Fluorescent lamps are placed at a height of 15-20 cm from the seedlings.

Benefits of sodium lamps

Sodium lamps are mainly used in farm and industrial greenhouses. Light sources from 70 to 100 watts. they are also used at home, and one lamp is enough for a window sill up to 1.5 m wide.

Attention! Luminaires with sodium lamps cannot be plugged into ordinary sockets without the use of special equipment, a choke and an impulse ignition device.

The advantages of using such lighting are:

energy saving;
the possibility of using in residential premises, because the lamp gives a soft, orange light that does not irritate the human eye;
the optimal number of waves in the red spectrum;
durability.

Disadvantages of gas discharge lamps:

the flasks are quite bulky and do not fit everywhere;
lamps are quite expensive and do not pay off when growing a small amount of seedlings;
do not emit blue waves;
the need to use power regulators.

Induction luminaires

Induction lamps are a new generation of luminaires for greenhouses and for home use... Main advantages:

high level of light output comparable to LEDs;
red and blue spectrum of lighting;
service life - 100,000 h;
the minimum amount of energy consumed.

The only drawback of the application is the high cost of the lamps themselves - from 5-6 to 11-12 tr.

Popularity leader - LED strips and lamps

V recent times growers are increasingly using LED lamps. This technology of illumination of tender seedlings has the greatest number of advantages in comparison with all the above options:

the ability to vary the required number of red and blue LEDs in different phases of seedling development;
the low price of LEDs pays off with interest after the first harvest;
lamps consume minimum and give maximum energy. They are very economical;
small dimensions. Unlike long fluorescent and bulky sodium LED lights take up a minimum of space.
you can buy a ready-made LED lamp (it costs more), or you can quickly make it yourself using an LED strip.

Attention! After the first greens appear, it is optimal to use more blue. Then - turn on the red LEDs (2 red to 1 blue). After the 1st pick, you need to reduce the light intensity. Then apply red and blue colors in a 1: 1 ratio.

Such lamps are considered innovative, at the same time, they have been repeatedly tested by practitioners and are among the most effective.

After analyzing all the available information, we can conclude that LED lamps are leading in three positions. First, they have an optimal amount of red and blue flowers, which can be changed depending on the growing season. Secondly, LEDs are most convenient to use in homes and apartments, where there may be little space. Thirdly, LED luminaires are the most economical option.

How to choose a seedling lamp - video

Usually, when growing seedlings, summer residents do not use any lighting elements, considering their purchase a waste of money. However, if you have a lot of boxes with seedlings and there is not enough space for everyone on the windowsill, then the issue of artificial lighting becomes much more relevant. Plants grown in the shade are much smaller and weaker than seedlings that receive a sufficient amount of light, therefore, taking into account this fact, it makes sense to think about buying appropriate lamps. At correct placement and accurate selection of the power of the device, you should not be afraid of any burns.

Is it possible to illuminate seedlings with an ordinary lamp

The cheapest option for lighting elements today is conventional incandescent lamp, but it is definitely not suitable for highlighting seedlings. Firstly, even the most powerful and expensive version of such a device will not allow you to get the required amount of such important blue and red light due to the limited light spectrum, and secondly, no matter how far above the seedlings you place the lamps, the risk of sprouts burning along - is still very high. That is why it is worth considering other options for organizing artificial lighting.

Did you know? In the American city of Livermore (California), at one of the fire stations, there is a so-called centenary light bulb, which has been shining almost continuously since 1901. She is marked in the Guinness Book of Records as the most durable.

Types of lamps

Among the many on the market, fluorescent and LED varieties are especially popular, but in order to understand exactly what their advantage is, it is important to study the characteristics of other lamps: sodium, mercury, metal halide.

Luminescent

This kind of lamp is gas-discharge light source where an electrical discharge in mercury vapor produces an ultraviolet glow. Later, when using a special converting substance, it is transformed into visible luminous fluxes. Fluorescent lamps are characterized by a much higher luminous efficiency than conventional incandescent lamps with the same power indicators.
With a more detailed study of all characteristics of fluorescent lamps, we get the following data:

Efficiency - maximum 20-22%.
Service life - when turned on about 2000 times, about 5 years.
Luminous efficiency - 50-80 lm / W.
Power consumption - 15-65 W / hour.
Color temperature - 2700-7700 ° K (depending on the variety).

Obviously, fluorescent lamps have a mass merits, because they not only give off significantly more light, but also emit a variety of shades, while providing diffused lighting. In addition, in comparison with standard incandescent lamps, these types of lighting elements can guarantee a longer operation, of course, if you are not going to use them in places common use(there is a limitation on the number of starts). Lighting in this case will be as close to natural as possible.
As for disadvantages fluorescent lamps, then they include the following:

chemical hazard due to the rather high content of mercury (approximately 2.3 to 1 g);
unevenness and linearity of the color spectrum, which is sometimes difficult for human vision;
a change in the color spectrum due to the degradation of the phosphor (as a result, light output decreases and efficiency decreases), but this takes time;
with a small capacity of the capacitor of the lamp, it may flicker with a doubled frequency of the supply network;
the presence of a starting device, which is supplied either with an unreliable starter, or with an expensive electronic ballast.

Did you know?The ancestors of modern daylight lamps were gas-discharge versions of similar lamps, which appeared back in 1856. The first person who managed to observe the glow of a gas under the influence of a current was the famous scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.

In these types of lighting elements, the light source is sodium vapor containing a gas discharge. Because of this, their spectrum of light is dominated by resonant radiation of bright orange color. Of course, the quality of color rendering in this case cannot be called perfect, since the radiation itself is characterized by monochrome.
Based on the value of the partial vapor pressure, all such lighting elements are divided into lamps of low and high pressure, a the characteristics of the luminaires are expressed in the following indicators:

Efficiency - maximum 30% (for high pressure lamps).
Service life - up to 16-28 thousand hours.
Luminous efficiency - 150 lumens / watt (for high pressure lamps) and 200 lumens / watt (for low pressure lamps).
Power consumption - 70-60 W / h.
Color temperature - 2000-2500 ° K.

Features of the color spectrum and significant flicker with twice the frequency of the supply network allow the use of sodium lamps when street lighting, in particular decorative and architectural.

Benefits of this option are as follows:

long-term work;
relatively high luminous efficiency during the entire period of operation (below 130 lm / W can be observed only at the end of the lamp's life);
radiation comfortable for human eyes;
the possibility of using when growing seedlings at a later date or for other household purposes.

As for disadvantages sodium varieties, then these are:

the complexity of manufacturing due to the presence of sodium vapor;
poor color quality;
high sensitivity to sharp drops voltage in the mains (for a long service life, the voltage fluctuation should be no more than 5-10%);
the need for additional equipment (control gear must be present, selected in accordance with the characteristics of a particular lamp);
the need for idle time (5-10 minutes) before restarting;
low environmental safety due to the presence of sodium vapor inside the lamp bulb.

Perhaps, for domestic purposes, such lamps will be appropriate (for example, for street lighting), however, when growing seedlings, it makes sense to consider other options that are characterized by greater safety of use and a wide color spectrum.

Important! Monochromatic radiation of high pressure sodium lamps (in the orange-yellow spectrum) will be appropriate to accelerate the process of budding crops, therefore they are sometimes installed in greenhouses.

Mercury

Gas-discharge lamps of this type are another good source of light, in which optical radiation occurs due to a discharge in mercury vapor. Based on the pressure of the gas in the lamp, RLs are distinguished with low, high and ultra-high pressure. Accordingly, the partial pressure of mercury vapor is distributed up to 100 Pa, up to 100 kPa, and 1 MPa or more.

The characteristics of mercury lamps are expressed in the following indicators:

Efficiency - maximum 10-12%.
Service life - up to 10-15 hours.
Light output - 45-60 lumens / watt.
Power consumption - 50-400 W / h.
Color temperature - up to 3800 ° K.

These types of lighting elements are economically unprofitable, and are most often used when lighting city streets, industrial facilities and workshops where high requirements to the quality of color reproduction.

Advantages gas discharge mercury lamps are expressed as follows:

they are compact;
have a fairly high light output;
5-7 times more economical than conventional incandescent lamps;
Provides up to 15,000 hours of stable operation when used correctly;
much less incandescent lamps heat up;
reproduce different colors;
can work in conditions of low and high temperatures (from +50 to -40 ° C).

disadvantages mercury lighting elements are no less noticeable, they include:

low color temperature (no more than 3800 ° K);
long ignition (7-10 minutes);
high susceptibility to changes in the network;
relatively low color rendering;
long period of lamp cooling;
decrease in color rendering, starting from the second half of the operational life;
low level of environmental friendliness due to the presence of mercury in the design.

Like sodium lamps, mercury lamps are more suitable for household purposes, but for successful cultivation seedlings on initial stages their capabilities will not be enough.

Metal halide

This variety, like the ones described above, represents the group high pressure gas discharge lighting elements... However, unlike them, a metal halide provides a glow due to the introduction of special additives into the burner - halides of some metals.
The characteristics of metal halide lamps are expressed in the following indicators:

Efficiency - maximum 16-28%.
Service life - up to 6-10 hours.
Light output - 80-170 lumens / watt.
Power consumption - 70-400 W / h.
Color temperature - from 2500 ° K (yellow light) to 20,000 ° K (blue light).

Metal halide lamps are mainly used in outdoor architectural lighting and for backlighting decorative elements, although their use in industrial and public buildings, concert scenes. They will be an excellent solution to the issue of lighting wherever you need increased brightness and spectral characteristics, as close as possible to daylight.

Advantages MGL are as follows:

high light output (up to 170 lumens / watt);
good energy efficiency indicators;
relatively high power characteristics (up to 3500 watts);
stable work regardless of temperature;
maximum proximity of light to the sun, due to which the radiation is normally perceived by the human eye;
small size of the lamp;
long-term use.

TO cons metal halide lighting elements include:

higher cost;
change in color of radiation due to power surges;
long-term inclusion;
the need to reliably cover the lamp in the luminaire (high voltage can lead to an explosion of the element).

Did you know?Thomas Edison's incandescent lamp filament was made from carbonized bamboo.

LED

Many summer residents consider the LED type of lamps optimal solution if necessary, additional lighting of seedlings. it independent device has many advantages, especially when compared to many other lighting options. At the very least, it consumes much less electricity, since the technology is based on a completely different principle of radiation. In addition, the outgoing light is as close as possible to natural sunlight, which has a beneficial effect on plants.
The characteristics of modern LED luminaires are represented by the following values:

Efficiency - maximum 99%.
Service life - up to 100,000 hours;
Light output - 10-200 lumens / watt;
Power consumption - 1 W / hour (per diode).
Color temperature - 2700-6500 ° K.

Various design features LED lighting elements allow you to use them absolutely in any place: for example, strips can be easily attached to furniture, and lamps can be screwed into ordinary bases.
Among the main advantages allocate:

low power consumption (only 10% of the consumption of standard incandescent lamps);
long-term service without a significant decrease in the quality of radiation;
high resistance to mechanical stress;
environmental friendliness (LEDs do not need any harmful substances to work);
the ability to regulate the intensity of the glow;
low voltage in working condition;
quick warm-up to maximum luminous intensity;
lack of serious heating of the case.

Essential disadvantages LEDs do not have, however, it is worth noting their sensitivity to elevated temperatures (cannot be used in saunas), the lack of complete information about the characteristics on the packaging, but this is more likely due to the dishonesty of the manufacturers.

Which lamp is better to use for growing seedlings: fluorescent or LED

After considering all possible types In our opinion, only two of them can be called the most suitable lamps for illuminating seedlings: LED and fluorescent... Gas-discharge varieties (mercury, sodium and metal halide) are far from always able to provide the conditions necessary for plants. For example, mercury lamps have almost half the light flux than others, and sodium lamps, due to their bright yellow-orange glow, are more suitable for flowers and for illuminating crops at later stages of cultivation.

Important!Sodium varieties of luminaires cannot be plugged directly into the outlet; a special connection is provided for them.

As for metal halide lighting elements, this is the most expensive option and is best used when vegetative development is preferred over flowering. Ordinary incandescent lamps should not even be considered, since instead of the right seedlings of the blue-red spectrum, they emit a rich yellow-red, quickly heat up and do not fit well into the overall interior.

Considering all of the above, it is quite logical to consider only two options for highlighting seedlings: with fluorescent and LED lamps. The former are distinguished by the full spectrum of luminescence (of course, at the right choice and connection), and the latter are characterized by low energy consumption and the possibility of choosing a specific version of the lighting element for any stage of seedling development: in the beginning, the predominant one should be blue color, and the red-orange is only complementary.
It is believed that LEDs have better characteristics than fluorescent lighting elements, but the importance should not be forgotten. correct location... If the LED light beam is directed directly at the box, and the energy-saving fluorescent lamp is fixed too high, then it is clear that the light from it will be scattered without reaching the plants. At the same time, it is LED lighting elements that are considered popular today, so it is worth studying them more carefully.

How to choose an LED plant light

Unlike many other luminaires, the LED group is distinguished by a wide variety of design variations, which can also be characterized by individual functional features.

Lamp type

By appearance LED designs are distinguished by lamps (mostly round and square), ordinary bulbs (screwed into the base) and LED strips that can be attached anywhere. Popular shapes include corn, bulb, and LED tubes (especially T8 or G13).

LEDs shaped tube - good decision if you need to slightly change the tubular fluorescent lamp, since the new elements fully correspond to their sizes and the arrangement of the contacts (LEDs are placed on the board along the entire length of the lamp).
Tubular lamp The form flasks is the most common type of lamp found with both SMD and COB LEDs. Most often it is a matte bulb, which guarantees good diffusion of light flux. Also an attractive option will be the varieties with filament LEDs, which outwardly are very similar to standard incandescent lamps, only long LEDs take the place of the spirals.
Lamps - "corn" got their name from the cylindrical shape and surface covered with SMD LEDs. This design of the lighting element allows you to achieve a good distribution of light flux and high power of the lamp itself.
When choosing an LED lighting element, it is important to take into account the type of base (of course, if we are not talking about a tape).

They are divided into the following types:

Important!When arranging a place for seedlings, the GX 53 base will be appropriate, since lamps with such a connector are great for overhead and built-in lamps on furniture or the ceiling.

Number of LEDs

Modern LED plant strips can have different color ratios (red to blue). This is 10: 3, and 15: 5, and 5: 1. The best option in most cases, it is the latter that is considered, in which there is 1 blue one for 5 red LED bulbs. True, such a solution can be called optimal only if the seedlings are on the windowsill and receive additional lighting from the street.
As for the total number of LEDs, this value will depend on the area of your plantings in pots and glasses. For 1 sq. m, 30-50 W of LED power is usually sufficient, that is, 30-50 pieces of LEDs of 1 W each. However, these values will be valid only when it comes to supplementary lighting of seedlings on the windowsill, otherwise the number of diodes will have to be increased.

Power

The brightness of the radiation directly depends on the power characteristics of LED lamps. So, 2-3 W lighting elements can provide a luminous flux of 250 lm, 4-5 W - 400 lm, and 8-10 W - 700 lm. However, these indicators are not enough for most of the crops grown, therefore, we recommend focusing on a power of 25-30 W, which allows you to get 2500 lumens. If necessary, you can install several of these lamps.

Glow spectrum

Consider the impact different types rays on culture:

red (720-600 nm long) and orange rays (620-595 nm) are the main sources of energy for successful photosynthesis and it is on them that the rate of change of all processes occurring within depends on them. An excessive amount of such radiation will slow down the transition of the plant to the flowering phase;
blue and violet rays (490-380 nm) are responsible for the production of proteins in culture and accelerate flowering;
ultraviolet rays (315-380 nm) reduce the rate of "distillation" of plants and promote the production of certain vitamins, while similar rays with a wavelength of 280-315 nm increase their frost resistance;
yellow (595-565 nm) and green (565-490 nm) radiation have practically no effect on the life of plants and do not have significant benefits.

Taking into account all these features is necessary for correct selection lighting. The glow of conventional LED elements is as close as possible to natural light and meets all the needs of seedlings, but if you wish, there is an opportunity to buy the so-called "multispectra" lamps. According to the manufacturers, these phyto lamps are designed specifically for the growth and development of seedlings and support them better than conventional light sources.

Does it make sense to overpay when buying such a lamp? It is difficult to answer unequivocally, because the seedlings grow well with ordinary LEDs. The only thing that should not be forgotten is the presence of the blue and red color spectrum in the radiation, as well as the optimal placement of the lighting elements.

Important!Excess light leads to partial destruction of chlorophyll, and, as a result, yellowing of the leaves. If you do not shade the seedlings, burns may occur.

Everything existing varieties LED lighting elements are available for a variety of purposes, so it should come as no surprise that each can have a different protective coating on the shell. It is the degree of protection that makes it possible to determine whether the lamp can be installed outdoors, in a dusty or humid room, or in a swimming pool.

Usually this indicator is noted by the manufacturer on the packaging with an LED and consists of two numbers: the first indicates the class of protection against dust and mechanical damage, and the second indicates the level of protection against moisture. More precise values regarding LED luminaires are given in the table:

Price range and manufacturer

The efficiency of LED lamps and the durability of their work directly depends on the conscientiousness of the manufacturer, therefore, when choosing a specific lighting element, it is worth paying attention to this indicator. Some of the most reliable and time-tested companies are Optogan, Optron, Artleds from Russia, as well as Agilent Technologies, a world-renowned manufacturer that has been producing the described lamps for several years.

Optek Technology, Edison, Philips Lumileds, Toshiba are no less well-known suppliers of LED products, offering the consumer lighting elements of various configurations.

Concerning pricing policy, then it all depends on the type of product (lamp, lamp or tape) and its power characteristics: you can spend both a couple of dollars and several tens.

Lighting for seedlings: calculating the number of lamps

Choosing a good led lamp does not yet guarantee the desired result, since one lamp may not cope with many plants. If you have several boxes, it is better to calculate in advance the required number of lighting elements, taking into account the following factors:

the type of culture grown and its need for light (usually a value of 6000 lux is sufficient);
installation angle of the luminaire (both horizontal and vertical placement is allowed);
distance from the lamp to the top of the seedling;
the area to be illuminated.

Let's give an example correct calculation on . For high-quality lighting of seedlings in a 0.6 sq. m will need 5000 lux, so we multiply this value by the available planting area (0.6 sq. m.) and get 3000 lm - the value of the optimal luminous flux for a specific case. The lamp itself can be placed horizontally, at a distance of 15-20 cm from the surface of the plantings.

Important!A certain percentage of the luminous flux can be absorbed by walls and objects located in the room, especially if the light source is far from the plants. To compensate for these losses, it is advisable to purchase a lamp 10-30% more powerful.

How to fix the lamp: the distance from the lamp to the seedlings

Modern luminaires have been sold since ready-made fasteners, and you just need to screw them to the support with self-tapping screws.
If possible, it is worth giving preference to those types that in the future will allow you to adjust the height of the lamp placement due to the chains included in the kit, because with the growth of seedlings, it may become necessary to change the location of the lighting element.

On average, at least 25 cm of free space should be kept from the LED phytolamp to the plants. When illuminating plantings with fluorescent lamps with a power of 300-400 W per 1 sq. m, acceptable lighting will be provided only when the luminaire is located at a distance of 20-30 cm.
If the seedlings are located far from the window and natural light does not reach it at all, then here we are talking not about additional lighting, but about full lighting of plantings... In this situation, the lamp should hang at a height of 60-70 cm, but the exact "exposure" zone will depend on the photophilousness of the culture being grown. The approximate circle of "exposure", in the ratio of the diameter and height of the suspension of the lamp, looks like this:

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Lighting rules: how not to harm plants

An excess of light is just as undesirable for seedlings, as is its lack, therefore, when supplementing your seedlings, you should adhere to certain rules:

It is advisable to sow seeds in March or April when there is enough daylight (no lamp can completely replace the sun).
With a normal daylight hours for 12 hours (light constantly hits the seedlings), the lamps can not be installed, and to increase the illumination, simply install reflective screens next to the boxes (for example, foil, a mirror or just a white paper sheet).
If additional lighting is still carried out, then it is necessary to take into account the change in photoperiods: day and night. Plants need to get used to the regime, because playing with light can have a bad effect on their development.
Each type of grown plant should have its own mode of additional illumination and the duration of photoperiods: for example, almost any vegetables require a certain amount of natural daylight, and some flowers prefer partial shade.
Supplementary lighting will be especially relevant on cloudy days or when placing boxes on north side apartments or houses.

Adhering to these simple rules and observing the requirements for the selection and placement of an artificial light source, even a novice gardener will be able to grow strong and viable plants, which, when transplanted to the garden, quickly adapt to new conditions. Growing seedlings is an easy task, and with the right bulbs it will be even easier.

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Additional lighting of indoor plants is a guarantee of their full growth and development. Light is vital energy to support the natural process of photosynthesis. Consider the rules for choosing a lamp for a flower.

In the summer, the green inhabitants of the apartments receive it unilaterally from the window through which the sun's rays break through. With the arrival of cold weather, they are in constant semi-darkness, spend extra energy, do not bloom, grow poorly.

The situation can be corrected by creating artificial lighting.

To choose a full-fledged replacing the sun's rays, you should know that light has two characteristics - spectrum and light power. It is necessary to correctly select these parameters, taking into account the stages of development of the indoor plant.

Seedlings are easier to grow with the right lighting

Young seedlings especially need additional light. It affects cell division, elongation and formation.

For germination of seeds, growth of seedlings, more blue spectrum is needed. Only he can provide active photosynthesis and, accordingly, active growth. The power of the device at this stage can be low - up to 200 watts.

With the red spectrum shoots are getting stronger, flowering intensifies. But each spectrum cannot be considered separately. Chlorophyll, influenced by different parts of the spectrum, absorbs light, transforming energy.

Therefore, artificial lighting must match the spectrum of daylight.

Lamp and its color temperature

It's time to consider the types of lamps and their temperatures. It is measured in kelvin (K). There are such:

Incandescent lamp

Choose it to illuminate green spaces - bad idea... It gives off heat a lot. The plant is stretched. There is a danger of burning the leaves. The temperature of a 40 W bulb is 2200 K, 60 W is 2680 K.

There are more minuses than pluses: fragility, short service life, it quickly burns out with power drops.

Classic incandescent lamp

Luminescent

Presented in two types: general and special purpose. They differ only in the coating applied to the glass bulb. It is believed that the coating on lamps special purpose brings them closer to the desired spectrum.

Of the pluses: gives off light well, they have low heat transfer, efficiency.

By cons- ballast is required for operation (special equipment). They are electromagnetic and electronic - EMPRA and EPTRA (indicated on the package). Radiate warm and cold colors and correspond to suitable spectra.

Combine two types of lamps. The temperature of a 200 W lamp with a warm color is 3000 K, cold - 3500 K.

Gas discharge

Mainly used by professionals in greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens... At home, you can only use it in a non-residential area, since the strong brightness hurts the eyes.

There are mercury lamps that emit 2 times less luminous flux than sodium lamps. Their spectrum not suitable for seedlings.

Sodium is more consistent with the sun. Metal halide is the most expensive among gas-discharge devices. More suitable for vegetative growth.

Ready-made lamps

Ready-made appliances can be purchased in specialized stores. LED lamps are in the lead. They emit a flux of the desired spectrum.

Of the pluses- economical, ecological, energy saving with a long service life. They consume 10 times less electricity than fluorescent ones. They can work up to 100,000 hours without interruption.

They heat up to a maximum of 35 degrees. 1 diode consumes 1 W per hour. For comparison, luminescent - 15 - 65 W per hour. The efficiency of LEDs is 95%. A light bulb is screwed into a regular cartridge.

The finished luminaires are connected to a regular network. There are different sizes and capacities, which allows you to choose both for one flower and for shelf or rack(sell whole panels).

The diverse design of such devices allows them to be matched to the overall style of the room.

How to make lights on a windowsill

Modern devices allow you to make the backlight even on a regular window sill do it yourself... This requires:

Pick up plants of the same height.
Buy inexpensive lamps.
Arrange pots, boxes on the windowsill, behind them at the window, place foil or a mirror to reflect the rays.
Place the lamps on both sides of the window sill.

Can be connected to the mains.

When making backlighting using LED strips, you should know that cannot be plugged directly into an outlet... They need a special block for voltage transformation.

Features of lighting in winter

In cold weather, the number of hours for backlighting is extended. In winter, the choice of the device depends on the temperature characteristics of the plant. Heat-loving can hibernate with very little decrease in heat and daylight hours.

They should receive lighting throughout 12 hours... They spend it in the morning and in the evening.

In articles about caring for flowers, we often reveal the features of their wintering. So, we talked about the role additional lighting when told,.

V winter time plants need more light than summer

What is the peculiarity of the correct backlight

The correct backlighting depends on the greenest inhabitant. Need to find detailed information about him, only after selecting a suitable device.

The main feature of the additional illumination is compensate for the lack of sun... Therefore, you need to know the seasonal rates. This determines the effectiveness of artificial light depends on the length of the day and night at different times of the year, its intensity, and the needs of the flower itself.

The right backlight should be a good growth stimulant.

Not all plants adapt to lack of light. By their appearance, they indicate the problem that has arisen.

Given the level of illumination, you can install the device correctly for support green dweller.

Signs of a lack of light

By the appearance of the plant, you can determine whether it has enough light.

The shortage is shown by:

Elongated shoots.
Small pale leaves.
Rare flowers or lack thereof in flowering species.
Long internodes.
Yellowing, dropping, drying of the lower leaves.
Variegated the leaves gradually darken, turn green.

Having noticed such signs, you need to give the green friend an extra light.

You can accurately measure the amount of light in a room using a luxmeter. The meter will give an accurate reading.

What level of illumination do colors need?

Illumination is measured in suites... In nature, its level reaches 100,000 lux. This intensity is not required for flowers.

In winter, it is enough for plants:

This is the minimum level for maintaining life. Blooming flowers will need to increase the light level even up to 9000.

How to install a lighting fixture in an apartment

When installing lamps, you should know that when the distance from the flower to the lamp is doubled, the light intensity is reduced by four times.

Consider the distance to the lamp so that the plant neither burns nor stretches

When burns are visible on the leaves, the device is too close... Elongated stems indicate that the lamp is far away.

Place the lamp on top to avoid bending. The minimum distance to the heat-loving one is 15 mm, the shade-tolerant one is 55 mm.

The Rule of Three Fs for Plants

The correct development of flowers depends on three processes:

Photosynthesis which is dominated by red light. It speeds up the metabolism.
Photomorphogenesis determining growth and development. When the blue spectrum is not enough, the leaves are underdeveloped, the stems are elongated.
Photoperiodism taking into account the reaction of plants to the ratio of day and night (light and dark periods).

Every green tenant needs individual approach: different lighting period, number of light hours, specific time. Having studied everything in detail about each flower that lives in the house, you can choose the right lamp.

To make green friends feel good in an apartment at any time of the year, you need:

Make it possible to catch light longer with the help of additional devices. They need different colors of the spectrum for growth and development.

You do not need to constantly turn on the lamps in the dark. 12-14 hours is enough for a normal life. At night, important processes take place that are important for life.

For diffusion, you can make a matte screen that will create a universal glow for any green inhabitant.
Under artificial lighting, it is important make a schedule... He will not let the rhythm of life be disrupted.
Routine window cleaning and glass cleaning save energy by letting in more daylight.

Washing windows will allow you to get more sunlight, which is also beneficial for pets

If you choose the right additional lighting, then indoor "pets" will delight in appearance.

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