How to light plants. What artificial light sources can be used for additional lighting of plants

In every house and apartment there are indoor plants. Of course, their percentage can vary within a fairly wide range. But without indoor flowers the apartment will look rather dull and uninhabited. Many flower growers today grow a lot in their homes tropical plants, which bloom very beautifully, but need some care. Often the most important factor that determines whether a flower will take root in a house is the light regime. Unfortunately, our region cannot boast of long and constant lighting throughout the year. Because of this, many people have to illuminate their home front gardens with additional light using a variety of lamps.

Illumination of indoor flowers should be carried out correctly. Only in this way will your plants feel comfortable and bloom in certain deadlines. To understand all the intricacies of lighting in an apartment of flowers, this article will help.

The need for an additional lighting option

Even small children know that all plants need light. Everyone in the school went through such an unusual process as photosynthesis. Without it, the plant world of our planet would not have such a high oxygen content and would not be optimal for us. But oxygen is a by-product of plant life. Thanks to him, flowers receive energy for growth and development.
Diversity flora includes a very large number of different species and varieties of flowers, some of which have been turned into pets. Lighting flowers in the apartment is carried out in two ways:

natural - basic lighting;
artificial - additional lighting.

Note! In rare situations, flower growers use only artificial lighting to illuminate home plants.

Backlight indoor plants

At the same time, some flowers like diffused light and a short light period, others like a long daylight hours, and still others like a shadow in general. Usually, for most of our indoor plants, natural lighting is sufficient, which is organized by placing pots on window sills or near window openings. But there are situations when artificial lighting is necessary. The need for fixtures appears in the following situations:

in winter and autumn, when the day decreases. It is in winter that many indoor flowers may experience the greatest lack of light;
growing indoor tropical flowers, for which daylight hours should be at least 12 hours a day;
insufficient natural light. This situation occurs when the window openings have a natural dimming in the form of rough vegetation outside the window;

Note! Low natural lighting is typical for the first and second floors, if there is a front garden in front of the windows or tall bushes and trees.

climatic features of the region. In our country there are areas where the number of cloudy days exceeds the number of sunny ones. In such a situation, there is also a need for additional illumination of colors.

In all of the situations listed above, plants without lighting will look unhealthy.

Signs of a lack of light and how to create a backlight

For indoor plants, with a lack of light, certain changes are characteristic that appear in the following:

indoor flowers change the color of the leaf plate. It loses its brightness, acquires pallor;

Signs of lack of light in plants

the leaves themselves become small and may even fall off;
lower leaves begin to turn yellow. If the situation does not change, the whole plant may lose its leaves and die;
stretching the shoot, which seeks to find a more lit place in the house. Elongation of internodes can reach 2-3 times;
no flowering period. This parameter is typical only for flowering varieties.

Pay attention! The above signs of lack of light are typical for all indoor flowers.

If the above parameters of malaise are found in home flowers, it is necessary to organize additional artificial lighting for them with your own hands. And here you should be very careful, as many novice flower growers believe that the more light, the better. But this is a delusion, because of which more than one indoor flower has already died.
To properly organize the lighting of indoor plants, the following parameters should be considered:

flower variety (light-loving or shade-loving);
what level of illumination is required for it, according to its biological characteristics;

Note! Features of growing one or another indoor flower can be found in an encyclopedia or on the Internet.

the duration of the light regime for each specific case. In many flowers, the light regime has a direct effect on the flowering period (for example, flowering varieties Kalanchoe). Therefore, if you want to get a bright and colorful window sill, this parameter must be observed without even the slightest deviation;
season. Most often additional illumination needed in winter. This must be taken into account when choosing a luminaire for a permanent or periodic operation scheme;
what fixtures should be used (LED, fluorescent, etc.).

Lamps for highlighting flowers

Note! It is important to create the correct artificial change of day and night for plants.

Only taking into account these selection parameters, you can choose an adequate lighting option for your indoor plants and organize everything with your own hands.

What level of light do flowers need?

A variety of forms and varieties of indoor plants involves the creation for each type of its own level of illumination, when organizing lighting with your own hands. Here you need to know the following points:

for shade-tolerant types of indoor flowers, you should create a light level in the range from 1000 to 5000 lux. For some varieties, 700 - 1,000 lux will be enough;
for light-loving - from 10,000 lux.

You can measure the level of illumination in the apartment using a special device - a luxmeter.
At the same time, if you want to achieve flowering in house plants, then the light level should be as follows:

for shade-loving plants– 1,000 – 2,000 lx. This group includes: dieffenbachia, anthurium, dracaena, monstera, ficus, spathiphyllum, phalaenopsis, fuchsia, etc.;
for light-loving plants— 2500 lux and above. For example, some exotic citrus fruits will bloom and produce fruits at light levels of at least 8,000 to 9,000 lux.

After you have figured out the level of illumination, you should decide how you need a lamp. After all, the lamps that are used to illuminate indoor flowers can be very diverse. At the same time, you can not buy them, but make them yourself.

Choosing lighting fixtures

The lamp with which the illumination of the home flora will be organized is chosen quite carefully. This is primarily due to the fact that the lamps in this situation will not be able to create optimal level lighting for each flower. But there are some universal points here.

Lamps for lighting plants

For all colors, the spectrum of daylight is optimal. It ranges from ultraviolet through visible to infrared rays. At the same time, lamps, as artificial light sources, can create light in a particular spectrum, reminiscent of natural light.

Note! chlorophyll, like main component photosensitive system of plants, most of all absorbs light in the blue or red parts of the spectrum.

spectrum of light

However, they do not have the same effect on the flower:

if the lamp burns red, then the flower will increase the green mass;
if the lamp burns with a blue-violet light, the fasting time of shoots and seed germination is accelerated.

This is important to know so that the lamps give the light you need in a given situation.
Today, the following can be used as a light source for illumination:

LED lamp or strip. If a light bulb is used, it must be screwed into an appropriate lighting fixture. BUT LED Strip Light Can be placed alone on furniture or even on the wall. The LED lamp may contain a light source of different spectral power. It is best if such a lamp or tape will give blue or red light.

Note! LED strip is the best options in a situation where the lamp will be made by hand. This tape basically has a self-adhesive backing, so it can be easily attached to the base of the lamp. In addition, the LED strip can be attached to the bottom surface of hanging cabinets. At the same time, the tape can change its light from red to blue, depending on the need, which is very convenient.

LED flower lighting

fluorescent and gas discharge lamp. Such light sources are inferior to LED products in terms of electricity consumption, as well as technical specifications Sveta. But they are still often used to illuminate indoor plants.

Fluorescent illumination of flowers

incandescent lamp. It is rarely used, as it does not make it possible to save on electricity.

As you can see, the most profitable light source here is an LED strip or a lamp.

Light fixture installation

Placement of the lamp over the pot

Another important point illumination of room flora is correct placement light source. One rule applies here: with an increase in the distance from the lamp to the pot by 2 times, the intensity of the light flux and its effect on the plant will decrease by 4 times.

Distance selection can be done experimentally:

when burn marks appear on the sheet plate, the lamp is moved away;
when the shoots are lengthened, the lamp is brought closer.

These manipulations are done until the optimal effect is achieved. Finding optimal distance, the pot and the lamp are not recommended to be moved so as not to bring down the "settings".

Conclusion

Create for a plant optimal conditions growing in an apartment can be difficult, but quite possible. The main thing is to organize proper lighting. In case of insufficient natural illumination, artificial lighting lamps can always be used. In such a situation, you only need to choose the right light source and the intensity of the light flux it creates.

Secrets of choosing halogen lamps for the kitchen

Do plants need additional lighting? Those who grow them will definitely give a positive answer. If it is not enough, then it is difficult for green spaces to receive and assimilate the amount of energy necessary for effective growth.

The advent of artificial lighting devices helped lovers of home flower gardens to receive top scores in your joyful work. With its help, it became possible to satisfy the needs of various cultures. The article will talk about general rules process.

Near the window, almost all flowers feel great.

Different Plants, Different Needs

There are no flowers that could develop in total darkness. The day should last 12-16 hours and it does not matter how it is supported - the sun, artificial lamps, or both. There are species that easily adapt to changing conditions, but there are also those that require only certain lighting. Flowers that rest at night do not need it. Some want to take extra sunbathing during the winter season.

Factors that influence the good growth of green spaces:

proper watering;
optimum temperature;
required air humidity;
timely feeding;
sufficient lighting.

Artificial lighting will help to achieve the latter. But it is suitable for those who have adapted to dim lighting (begonias, gloxinia, saintpaulia). Some plants need to get used to this light.

How much light will be enough

If we talk about the quality of natural light, then it is quite difficult to determine it. Lighting, which from a human point of view is bright, colors can be perceived differently, because window glass filters ultraviolet rays. But if they are from the window at a distance of no more than 2 meters, then the light for good growth will be sufficient.

For greenery located in the depths of the house, additional light will be required.

It is important that the lamps for lighting plants harmoniously fit into the overall interior of the room. Currently on sale there are devices of various types and shapes. Some are invisible, others contribute to the design of rooms. When choosing them for your home, pay attention to the effect they will have on plants.

Each source of natural or artificial origin radiates energy. Its value is determined by the wavelength. Waves coming from the same source can be of different lengths. Together they form a spectrum that ranges from 300 to 2500 nanometers. For comparison, the human eye can perceive wavelengths of 380-780 nanometers. With the help of a glass prism, a beam of light can be divided into different wavelengths.

picking up LED backlight the characteristics described above must be taken into account. If done incorrect choice, the result may be negative. Deciduous plants need one spectrum of light, and flowering plants need another.

Types of lighting fixtures

In the distribution network, you can find two types of devices - incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps. The first are divided into several types. They come with special accessories. Since the former radiate heat, care must be taken that they do not burn the leaves and flowers. If it is not possible to buy special lamps, then you can use the usual 60 watts.

If necessary, you can use two types of lighting

The advantage of fluorescent lamps is that they almost do not heat up. Artificial illumination with their help is carried out at a small distance from the plants (15 cm).

The rule of three "F"

The development of plants occurs due to three processes in which light plays a huge role.

Photosynthesis - it involves the red spectrum of light. As a result of the chemical process, chlorophyll is produced, which affects the metabolism in the leaves.
Photomorphogenesis determines the growth and development of plants, which depend on the wavelength. With a lack of blue spectrum waves, leaf underdevelopment and stem elongation occur. Therefore, lighting for aquarium plants, as for many others, must combine the waves of two spectra - red and blue.
Photoperiodism takes into account the response of plants to the ratio of dark and light periods. Flowering of some does not depend on the intensity of light, others need a short daylight hours, and still others require a certain number of light hours and only at a specific time of day.

If you choose the right lighting for your favorite indoor "pets", you can constantly enjoy their beautiful appearance.

Video: lamps for plants

To create artificial lighting for indoor plants, it is necessary to choose a light source that, according to its characteristics, is as close as possible to the sun. From the school bench it is known that one of the characteristics of light is its color, which is determined by the wavelength.

Remember the simplest physical experiment: passing through a prism daylight gives a rainbow. To absorb light into different parts spectrum plants have a whole set of special pigments. However, not all colors of sunlight are equally important to plants. For the process of photosynthesis, blue (wavelength 400-450 nm) and red (wavelength ~650 nm) colors of the spectrum are primarily needed. different types Light elements also have different spectral composition, and this is very important to consider when choosing lighting.

Before choosing any light fixture, decide how exactly you are going to use it. If artificial lighting is needed only as an additional one, for example, in winter, then any fluorescent lamp will do. Another thing is if the plants are illuminated only by artificial light. In this case, treat the spectral composition of illumination more carefully. For example, the light of an ordinary incandescent lamp consists mainly of the red part of the spectrum and has almost no blue component. Such lamps are best used not for constant lighting, but only for decorative lighting. However, in the latter case, it is important to remember that all incandescent lamps, without exception, produce great amount heat that can burn the plant. In addition, an increase in temperature causes an increase in the need for light in plants, so you should not abuse decorative lighting.

For long-term illumination, fluorescent lamps are most often used. They have a more even spectral composition, do not heat up much during operation and consume much less energy. Such lamps also have a drawback - their light contains a large amount of of blue color and unfamiliar to the human eye. In specialized stores, special lamps for plants are available for sale. Their spectral composition includes a large amount of red and blue flowers and as close as possible to natural daylight. However, these lamps also have disadvantages: with a relatively low power they are quite expensive. To avoid unnecessary costs, you can use a combination of two types of illuminators. For the main overhead lighting, take an ordinary high-power fluorescent lamp, and a halogen incandescent lamp as a decorative backlight. With a relatively small size, halogen lamps have high power, and this allows you to effectively illuminate plants.

How to arrange artificial lighting for indoor plants?

To keep your plants from getting irregular shape, it is important to place the illuminators correctly. The main illuminator (not decorative lighting) is best placed above the plant at a distance of 20-25 cm from top leaves. Since the plant will grow over time, it is better to immediately provide for the possibility of moving either the illuminators or the plant itself. There is such a trick: place the illuminator in advance 15-20 cm higher than necessary, and place a stand of the desired size under the plant (for example, an inverted pot). As the plant grows, the stand can be replaced with a smaller one or completely removed.

Different plants have different requirements for light intensity and time. For example, the inhabitants of gloomy forests will more easily endure the lack of lighting than the plants of an open meadow. Plants such as Aeschinantus, Aspidistra, Cyrtomium, Dracaena, Tolmiea, with proper lighting, can not only grow for many years, but also bloom without sunlight. This may be especially true for rooms where there are no windows in principle.

To get the right lighting right from the start, read up on your plants and find out what conditions they grow in nature. The most general recommendations are given below.

For plants that do not have a natural light source at all (standing in a hall or corridor), lighting will be needed for 12-14 hours. If artificial lighting is used only as an additional one, for example, in the dark season, then 4-6 hours of illumination per day will be enough. A timer relay can help monitor compliance with the light regime. This device will independently turn on and off the lighting even when you are not at home. There are special dual-mode timers. They can turn on the light for several hours both in the morning and in the evening, thereby providing the plants with a full daylight hours.

How to make a plant bloom "at the wrong time"?

Many plants need a lot of light to bloom. Such plants in our latitudes usually bloom in late spring or summer. Artificial lighting can be used to make them bloom at other times of the year, or at least extend the bloom time.

Plants that react to light intensity in this way include Aphelandra, Dipiadenia, Hibiscus, Balsam (Impatiens), Beloperone, Passiflora, Saintpaulia, Stephanotis , Streptocarpus (Streptocarpus), etc. For example, when using artificial lighting, some varieties of uzambar violets (Saintpaulia) can bloom almost all year round.

Indoor plants are constant "residents" of apartments and offices, they make the premises beautiful and cozy. And although the flowers are adapted to growing at home, in the winter season they suffer from a lack of sunlight.

The processes of photosynthesis in the leaves slow down, plants can stop growing and even die. You can save green friends from sun starvation with a flower lamp - it emits light waves of a certain length, which are necessary for plants for normal growth and development.

The benefits of lamps for flowers

The role of a lamp for illuminating plants at home can hardly be overestimated: thanks to an additional light source, the process of photosynthesis necessary for the life of green spaces takes place. With a lack of lighting, the plants stretch out, the leaves become pale, the variegated color disappears, new leaves grow smaller.

Flowering plants drop buds, and leaves may fall off over time.

Replacing sunlight is not easy: artificial lighting must have a certain radiation spectrum and wavelength in order for the flower to adequately perceive the backlight.

A lamp for flowers will bring maximum benefit if the spectrum of its radiation includes such waves:

Red and orange - these waves are in first place for the benefits of greenery. Without them, photosynthesis cannot be carried out, they have a direct impact on the growth rate of flowers and the degree of their development.
Blue and violet - not only participate in photosynthesis, but also stimulate the formation of proteins in the leaves, accelerate the growth of shoots. Under the influence of the violet and blue spectrum, buds form and bloom much faster.
Ultraviolet radiation - for growing plants, UV radiation with a wavelength of 315-380 nm and 280-315 nm is used. The first type of waves does not allow plants to stretch, the second - increases their endurance and cold resistance.

Before buying a lamp, it is best to consult with experts or read the literature to clarify what type of lighting a particular plant variety needs. Each flower needs an individual lighting mode and, given its needs, it will delight its owner with chic leaves and lush flowering.

Types of artificial lighting

The modern market is replete with a variety of indoor flower lamps, but not all of them can be effective and useful for green pets. It is important to remember the rule: you can not choose ordinary incandescent lamps as additional lighting . This is due to three reasons:

Absence in the emitted spectrum of waves that stimulate photosynthesis.
Strong heating of the lamps, danger of getting a thermal burn by the flowers.
High power consumption.

Therefore, as a lamp for indoor plants use:

When choosing the type of artificial lighting, amateur flower growers are faced with many nuances, and it is not always possible to get answers to the questions that have arisen. But there are a few rules or tips that you can use when arranging places where indoor green spaces will receive additional lighting:

Indoor plants gratefully respond to additional lighting, which they really need in winter; owners immediately notice an improvement in the appearance of their pets after installing a flower lamp.

Any plant for successful growth and flowering requires the process of photosynthesis, that is, sufficient lighting.

AT winter period illumination of indoor plants is necessary through a decrease in the intensity of the sun and a short daylight hours.

There are species adapted to exist in a room environment without additional artificial lighting. But there are not so many shade-tolerant flowers.

The standard option, suitable for most indoor plants, is the western and eastern sides.

For the most part, such an arrangement, even on the windowsill, does not require bridging from straight lines. sun rays, especially at lunchtime and at the same time sufficient lighting in winter dormancy. But some flowers bloom under New Year without a pronounced dormant period.

It is for this reason that people buy such varieties, perhaps to fill in the gaps in the winter, when everything around is gray and snow is everywhere.

With insufficient lighting, your pets lose color, fade, stretch, there is no flowering.

For successful flowering of certain varieties, it is necessary during the dormant period to contain low temperatures but lots of light.

Often the lack of lighting does not depend on the intensity, but the mandatory presence of 10-12 hours a day of daylight.

For artificial illumination of plants, install lamps various designs. We will discuss this in detail in this article.

How to determine the sufficient level of lighting?

The amount of luminous flux and lighting is measured by special devices in units of "lumens" (Lm) and "lux" (Lx), this is something similar by analogy with the power of a light bulb, measured in watts. That is, the light source (lamp brightness) is measured in "lumens", and the intensity of the illuminated surface (in our case, plants) in "lux".

The more watts, the more lumens and the more intense the lamp shines. Most people confuse these two quantities and cannot figure it out when buying a product.

There are standards for this or that type, but almost no one has and does not acquire this device. There is a way out, the plant itself will tell you if it needs daylight natural light, or should artificial light be installed?

Required amount Sveta:

1000-3000 lux - shade tolerant plants, as a rule, with a pronounced state of dormancy in winter.
Up to 5000 lx - enough natural light. Feature - the pot is placed on the windowsill to obtain greater light intensity.
5000-1000 and above - indoor flowers need additional artificial lighting.

There is an automatic timer with a light indicator that can automatically turn on the light with the required intensity and also turn it off under certain lighting conditions (manually adjusted). This will significantly save you energy costs and eliminate additional worries.

All plants can be conditionally divided into groups based on their appearance and natural habitat.

Variegated species are always demanding on the intensity of sunlight and tolerate direct sunlight well.

Plain varieties with wide leaf plates are less demanding and can grow in semi-shade. The darker the color of the leaves, the less light will be needed for successful growth. Shoots are noticeably longer and thicker from light-loving plants.

Insufficient lighting will immediately affect appearance. The leaves turn pale, change color, fade. Variegated species immediately change color, shoots stretch, bend, new leaves appear small. Sometimes the flower partially or completely throws off the foliage, the lower tier turns yellow with satisfactory watering.

In all plants, growth noticeably slows down, sometimes it stops altogether.

The distance between summer and winter nodes is significantly different.

Before buying, you always need to know if the plant prefers the sun, or tolerate partial shade, whether you can provide enough light at home, based on your particular region.

In our encyclopedia of indoor plants, on every page there is a brief description of with graph - lighting. Selecting any plant alphabetical order, you will always and quickly find the information you need.

The need for lighting in winter

For the middle and southern strip of the former SND, some plants can grow without installing artificial fluorescent lamps under certain conditions.

Location relative to the poles. Sometimes it is enough to rearrange the pot to the south side in winter.
Flowering and dormant period. Pronounced dormant period from November to March. At this time, the flower does not need intense light, as growth slows down and a natural period of the day is sufficient. And, conversely, for indoor pets blooming in winter, the growing season and active growth begin, the installation of lamps in the majority is mandatory. For example, an orchid growing on a windowsill in a warm winter climate with an east-south exposure blooms on its own.
transitional types. For example, saintpaulia does not require mandatory illumination, subject to an average flowering intensity.
Variegated species for the most part need an increase in the portion of light, including ficus Benjamin, Aglaonema, Maranta.

The choice of lamps for lighting plants

There are two types of lamps: incandescent, and gas-discharge (fluorescent).

We can immediately say that the second type is more economical in terms of electricity consumption, which is very important for large rooms throughout the night.

Incandescent lamps operate from a conventional network without additional equipment, gas discharge lamps require a device to turn on. Among the second group, there are modern fluorescent lamps that allow you to use current directly from the network, but the price is several times higher than the same pricks. Let's take a closer look.

What is spectrum and how important is it?

Spectrum - the ability to emit a certain range of light waves. Unlike the human eye, plants do not absorb all rays, but only with a certain frequency of waves, with blue and red.

Orange-red light is used for seed germination and serves as a catalyst for shoot growth.

Blue-violet promotes leaf development.

Photosynthesis requires a red wavelength range. Under the influence, chlorophyll is produced, which promotes the metabolism of green mass.

Lack of blue color - leads to stretching of shoots and scarcity of leaves.

By choosing lamps with a certain spectrum, you can significantly accelerate the growth and flowering of your pets.

Sometimes several types of lamps are combined together for a full spectrum.

Incandescent lamps

This type has a tungsten coil inside, placed in a vacuum and when current flows through it, it glows. These are ordinary lamps that everyone has in their home.

Such lamps are divided into several types: halogen and neodymium.

Halogen - inside, along with the piercing spirals, there is gas to increase the service life and brightness.
Neodymium - the surface of the bulb is made of special glass capable of holding part of the spectrum. Yellow and green light is absorbed, thereby increasing the brightness. The glass contains neodymium. But in fact, the number of lumens (light output) has not increased.

There are a number of disadvantages for which incandescent lamps are not suitable as additional lighting for plants.

Incomplete spectrum, lack of blue and other colors.
Compared to the power consumption, the light output is low, i.e. the efficiency is very low (65 lm/100 W).
Through strong heating, can not be placed near the flowers, otherwise burns will appear.
Uneven lighting compared to linear discharge lamps, you will need several pieces, and this is additional power.
Service life is not great.

In floriculture, splitting lamps are used to heat mini greenhouses and greenhouses, or in conjunction with fluorescent lamps, in the spectrum of which there is very little red. They serve as a complement to the entire spectrum.

Fluorescent lamps

Lamps of this type may differ in shape, power, spectrum.

Criterias of choice :

Efficiency - the amount of light output per power used.
The full spectrum for plants is extremely important. Determined by the color rendering index Ra. The completeness of the spectrum significantly affects the growth of the flower. For plants, Ra should be at least 80 units.
flow stability.
Lamp reliability and long service life.

The shape of the lamp is also important. For several pots at the same time, linear lamps are suitable. For a small area, spiral or arcuate shapes are used.

Lamps with a three-lane phosphor (the inner part of the walls is covered with 3 layers) have the highest light output and an optimal spectrum.

A conventional fluorescent lamp has a high efficiency (60 lm / W) and does not heat up, which makes it possible to install directly above the plant.

Usually a luminaire is sold complete with a trigger mechanism, in the future, when replacing, only a combustible element is bought.

The trigger mechanism is of two types: electromagnetic (throttle) and electronic.

The second one is more reliable and stable, the flickering of the lamp is not visible. In the kit you can set the brightness adjustment.

The light source is placed at a height of 30-50 cm, strictly above the plants.

Fluorescent lamps designed for flowers

There are specially lamps with the maximum transmitted spectrum for lighting indoor plants. But the price can be ten times higher than usual. The flask is covered with a special coating. Produce such lamps OSRAM-Sylvania, Philips, GE.

The benefits are much higher and will pay off over time.

Lamps with built-in balance

There are modern small lamps with a built-in balance.

At a price much cheaper, and in terms of quality and published spectrum, they are not inferior to foreign righteous manufacturers.

They are produced with a standard base and are suitable for conventional home network, but the spectrum, unlike tubular fluorescent, is slightly different, red and green are partially absent.

For several pots, clarification is set at a distance of 30 cm.

There are also modern compact fluorescent lamps, one or two tubular with a plurality of arrangement, they are distinguished by high light output and power compared to small dimensions, as well as an excellent spectrum.

Now there are LED lamps on the market. This is the most perfect option in terms of energy savings, light output (4-6 times higher than fluorescent), durability and heating (LEDs do not heat up). There are LED lamps with different emission spectrum. One downside is that they are still very expensive.

Alternative lamps for plant lighting

As a replacement for fluorescent lamps, an alternative is gas discharge lamps. There are three types: mercury, high pressure sodium, and metal halide.

Often they are used to illuminate a large number of plants, the minimum power is 300 watts.

Discharge lamps have the highest light output at small sizes and can cover a large area.
Let's take a closer look at each type.

Metal halide. The most suitable of this line with an acceptable spectrum and high light output. The resource is several times higher than the above lamps.

They are produced by foreign manufacturers Philips (CDM), OSRAM (HCI), but the price is much more expensive than competitors.

The domestic product is produced under the DRI brand. The lamp requires a special cartridge.

sodium high pressure. Excellent light output per watt, superior to red in the spectrum, which promotes the formation of flowers and the development of the root system.

The lamps have a reflector, which further increases the illumination. From domestic manufacturers: "Lighting".

Resource up to 20,000 hours. Used for greenhouses and winter gardens with a power of 300, 500 watts and above.

Among the shortcomings: There is no blue color in the spectrum, it is necessary to additionally alternate with other species.

Mercury - the main advantage, a large amount of blue. The oldest and most inefficient lamps from the gas discharge line. Low light transmission. Produced by foreign manufacturers, OSRAM Floraset.

An important drawback: when broken, mercury vapor enters the air.

This is an outdated option for highlighting plants.

Perhaps this is all you need to know about lamps, their design, the operating range of the spectrum, for self-manufacturing artificial lighting for their plants.

Be sure to properly alternate day and night for the successful growth and flowering of your pets.