Smoke and Buzz |
Posted: December 7, 2017 |
LED Grow Lights FinderIf you are a gardener and live in a climate with a cold dark winter season, you know the frustration of trying to keep many plants alive in the house during those darkest of months. Water and nutrition can be provided to plants during any season but natural light, as needed for photosynthesis and plant health is difficult to obtain naturally, even if you have a sunny southern exposure window. The advent of LED grow lights for indoor plants has changed the way we garden, having the ability to meet the light needs of every plant and gardener, regardless of what Mother Nature is dishing out at that time. A gardener that wants to grow their own seedlings can start them inside in the cold spring months and have mature plants to place in the garden after the last frost of the year. This can be done with indoor grow lights designed to emit the specific spectrum of light needed for seedlings and plant growth. This spectrum offered by fluorescent lights is one that is blue in color and perfect for herb gardens, seedlings, African violets and many other plants that require growth in full sun in their natural environment. Fluorescent bulbs need to be close to the plants in order for them to work optimally, usually a distance of less than 4 inches is recommended. Fluorescent bulbs burn cool and much longer than their incandescent cousins do. There are other types of fluorescents in addition to the standard variety that produces such good color-defining light. High output and compact versions provide different characteristics for the plant grower that is growing a taller or bigger plant. These could be of the blue color spectrum for plant growing or the red/orange spectrum, used for plant flowering and propagation. Indoor plant grow lights in the red/orange color spectrum are just as important to the indoor horticulturist as the lights in the blue spectrum. In addition to some fluorescent bulbs, metal halide bulbs are designed to closely mimic the range of light needed by plants, including the red/orange spectrum needed for lush plant flowering and reproduction. Metal halide bulbs also have a broad spectrum, delivering both the cool blue light and the warm red hues. For maximum warm light, smokeandbuzz the high pressure sodium lights are the most effective. While they are not as suitable for lighting in a room, they are perfect for producing increased fruit and budding of plants grown indoors. Since most lighting in a room produces light of the blue spectrum, many greenhouse operators feel the high pressure sodium lights are the best indoor growing lights for supplementation, if you don’t have access to LED grow lights whether it is due to logistics or lack of budget. When choosing the best type of LED grow light for your plant needs, consider the type of plants you will be nurturing, in addition to space needs and access to natural lighting. There are many styles of light fixtures that will hold the various types of bulbs but you want to get one that will grow with your plants and their needs. There are lights to suspend from the ceiling or ones that mount on a type of A-frame that will go to where your plants are. Others may just clip in place where you need them. Flexibility is a factor, as there are some fixtures that will hold a variety of bulb types so you can change the bulb for the stage of the plant, whether in growing phase or flowering phase. Many of them are expensive but it is possible to acquire cheap grow lights for indoor plants once you understand the principles and can shop around a bit. Purchase an inexpensive timer to allow the artificial sunlight to be alternated with an appropriate interval of darkness. Darkness is important for the life cycle of the plant. With some thorough shopping and a little planning, your garden can be full of plants this spring eager to provide you with beautiful flowers and luscious fruits.
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