Apr 29th, 2009
Tips for Choosing the Best Greenhouse Lighting
If you’re just starting out with a greenhouse, it’s important that you make the right choices in lighting. Lighting is a critical factor in a plant’s development. Choosing the right kind of light will ensure that your plants grow quickly and remain healthy. If you need some help figuring out your best options in greenhouse lighting, here are some tips that will help you make the right choice.
1. The first step is to determine how much light you need. The factors you need to consider are the type of plants you’re going to raise, and the size of your greenhouse. Tall plants, fruit and flowers need more light than other plants. An outdoor greenhouse will typically use 25 watts per square foot. But an indoor greenhouse will need twice as much light or more.
2. The type of light you choose must be appropriate for the kind of plants you’re raising. The type of light waves produced has a significant effect on plant growth. For instance, if you want optimal growth for fruit or flowers, use high pressure sodium lights. These give off red light waves which are beneficial for encouraging growth hormones in plants. Metal halide lights utilize the blue spectrum and are best suited to leafy plants.
3. Don’t let your lighting overheat your plants. Too much heat can kill them. Some lights release a lot of heat when they’re running. Incandescent lights, for example, produce large quantities of heat. Since the light they provide isn’t considered to be sufficient for most plants, they’re really not a good choice. Fluorescent grow lights, on the other hand, produce much less heat. Make sure you compare how much heat each lighting option produces before making your purchase.
4. Use lighting that will produce good results without consuming massive amounts of energy. The most energy efficient greenhouse lights you can buy are known as high intensity discharge. However, they also cost the most money to buy. LCD grow lamps are rapidly gaining in popularity because of their energy efficiency. As well, they give off less heat.
Regardless of the type of greenhouse lighting you choose, it’s important that it not be left on all the time. Use lighting wisely, only when and where it’s required. Plants need darkness, too, in order to grow properly. Depending on the type of plants you’re growing, you should have the lights turned off in your garden greenhouse for anywhere from six to twelve hours daily.
