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Plants spread positive energy. Technology advancement has resulted in the grow light seedlings. The sun comes out less often if you live in places with no light. To light seedlings, it is essential to remember that it can be a complicated topic. Throughout this post, I’m going to explain everything you need to know about germination and when to put light on it; plus, I will provide you with a lot of information about how and when to germinate seeds. When supplemental light is added to a seedbed, seedlings and plants can be grown in a healthy way indoors. This article discusses the use of grow lights and how to make a shelving unit that can house grow lights inexpensively.
Why Do You Need to Grow light seedlings?
For plants to survive and grow, they must be able to capture and convert the energy from the sun. As a result of photosynthesis, plants can thrive since they are supplied with the fuel they require. Grow light seedlings, your plant will grow in no time, and its needs will be fulfilled.
Lack of sunlight can lead to plants becoming leggy and stretching for the daylight when they do not receive enough light during the day.
Plants require different frequencies of light throughout all phases of their growth, from sprouting as seedlings to setting fruit, which can be provided by grow lights, so that they can flourish through all the stages of their development.
What to Look For
After reading this primer on indoor lighting, you can choose the most suitable options for your seed starting needs.
Colour of light
To grow light seedlings, colour temperature is important. Colour temperature describes the colour of light, with excellent light defined by its blue end and warm glow by its red back. All rainbow colours are present in the sun, including the complete spectrum of light.
Although plants use the entire spectrum, red and blue light seems most important for photosynthesis. Plants respond positively to red light though too much red light can make a plant tall and spindly. Foliage plants and short, stocky seedlings benefit from blue light, which regulates their growth. Too much sunlight causes stunting. It is possible to determine what colour a grow light produces using its Kelvin rating.
Hanging the Lights
Ideally, the grow lights should be suspended from the ceiling from where they will be able to shine down on the plants below. It will be necessary for you to mount or hang them, depending on how you want them to look. It is very convenient to use a wire rack for this very reason. My lights can easily be hung from the shelf above using a simple s-hook and a metal chain, and as my plants grow, I can move them up and down according to their needs.
A light mounted in a fixed position, say on the underside of a wooden shelf, can’t be raised or lowered as it is mounted in a fixed position.
To get the best possible results, you need to ensure that the lights you purchase will fit your system – either hanging or mounted.
Bulb technology
A small shop light can cover one or two trays.
Gardeners more commonly use LED bulbs than fluorescent lights. Growing plants using other types of lights, such as sodium vapour lights, is possible, but they are often found in commercial greenhouses.
The fluorescent shop light has long been the standard choice for gardeners, but LEDs have quickly replaced it. The price of LEDs is usually higher than that of fluorescent bulbs, but the energy efficiency and long life make them more attractive. Many sizes and shapes are available and do not produce excess heat. Hardware stores, gardening centres, and online retailers typically carry both types.
Light Intensity
Plants receive light based on their distance from the light source and the wattage of the bulb. For example, a brighter bulb farther away from the plant may provide the same light as a dimmer bulb.
For seedlings grown for the garden, light seedlings with higher intensity light are needed, but different plants require different light intensities. Leaf distance from light should be between 2 and 4 inches in general.
Light Timer
Your new plants will get the right amount of light every day if your new LED light comes with a timing feature.
It is possible to buy an outlet timer if your light does not have one. The timer will turn the light on and off according to a schedule when you set it.
Duration of Light Exposure
In terms of buying a light for growing seedlings, there is still debate about how much supplemental light is best.
A vegetable or garden plant needs at least 16 to 18 hours of light daily; without enough light, it becomes pale and leggy. According to conventional wisdom, lights should be left on for 16 hours daily. According to some growers, it is also recommended that seedlings be grown in 24-hour consistent light daily.
It is easier to keep my grow lights on for my personal preference, so I leave them on constantly. Use a timer to keep the lights on for 16 hours and 8 hours, so you don’t forget to turn them off.
Grow lights Seedlings: Benefits
Grow your transplants from seeds to get a head start on your vegetable garden. But what could be some possible benefits of seedling growing light? Without more light, it is impossible to grow healthy and robust seedlings on a windowsill, and the plants will grow weak and leggy if they don’t receive enough bright light. For a healthy vegetable garden, you can start seeds using grow lights.
Several benefits can be gained from starting vegetables, herbs, and flowers under grow lights, such as:
- You can purchase it for a much lower price than you would have to pay for garden transplants.
- Seeds are more readily available at local nurseries compared to standard plant varieties.
- Plant quality is entirely under your control. Planting your transplants ensures that they are cared for well and raised without needing harmful chemicals.
- When the ground is covered with snow, this provides a little gardening therapy.
Which grow light should I buy?
Depending on your needs, you’ll have to decide what’s best grow light for seedlings is. As you read the information below, consider the area and type of plants you want to grow under grow lights. A grow light should be able to cover a certain amount of square footage, for example. Is one intense light enough, or do you need multiple lights? How can you connect several lights with the style you are looking at? Would a high-mount light fit above your plant? Can it be hung over seedling trays or shelves at a lower level?
If your budget allows, buy grow lights that fit your needs. You’ll make indoor plants much happier if you provide them with supplemental light no matter what you choose!
Fluorescent vs LED Grow Lights
Now is the time for LED grow lights! A light-emitting diode, or LED, is an efficient and powerful device. The classic fluorescent lamps, however, are still favoured by some old-school gardeners.
The term ‘fluorescent’ means several things, including compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), essential fluorescent tubes, and high-output T5 fluorescent tubes. Grow lights with T5 bulbs are preferred for plants. Indoor seedlings or lettuce plants can benefit from T8 tubes, which are cheaper and just as bright.
You won’t be able to start seeds or grow other plants in a lamp fixture that uses a standard 45 or a 60-watt incandescent light bulb or LED equivalent.
Conclusion
To grow light seedlings, you must know your plant’s light requirements. Furthermore, once you know your plant’s light needs, you must understand that you are choosing the right type of light. Grow light seedlings may be readily available to you, but you need to identify the quality of it. You are wasting your time if you choose the wrong Grow light seedlings. Thus, it is recommended to research before buying and consider the above mentioned points.
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