The Importance of Hydroponic LED Lights
April Kerr asked:
Growing plants with a hydroponic system is becoming a lot more popular for a variety of reasons however it’s important that you understand that there are a number of different items you will require to carry out this effectively. Because you are growing plants in a wholly unnatural environment, you will want to make sure that all the different elements are given to the plants. One of the most important elements of course is light.
Plants take the light and turn it into energy using a process called photosynthesis. This is not just an option, it a necessity and will ensure that you have plants that thrive and give you the results you are looking for. Luckily there are ways to fool plants into thinking that they have been given all the light they need, and for this you will need LED grow lights.
You might already know what an LED is from physics class but if not then LED stands for light emitting diode. Basically it’s a very simple semiconductor which has diodes that have terminals that allow current to flow in just the one direction.
There are many things that need to happen in order for an LED light to work however you will end up with different colors of lighting depending on the gap that is present between the electron chain. The size of this gap changes the frequency and this is how the color is affected. LED lights are used for many purposes other than in hydroponics and you will see them in electrical items such as TV remote controls.
When you grown any plant indoors then you will need to make sure that you provide an excellent light source for your plants because you are not giving them natural daylight. The light that you provide directly affects the plants health and is the difference between poor quality plants and lush healthy plants. Blue lights are used for plants that are very young and need to mature. However orange and red lights are used for those plants that are already fairly mature or are flowering or producing fruits. So don’t base your buying decision on what your favourite color is. This is not how hydroponic lighting works. The color you choose will depend on what type of plant you want to grow.
The problem often experienced with other types of lighting is that fact that they get hot and this can easily damage the plants you are trying to care for. With LED lighting this isn’t a problem you need to concern yourself with. Another benefit is that they have a longer lifespan compared to other lighting.
LED lighting isn’t the only type of light you can buy. There are other options such as HID, MH and HPS. It’s well worth reading up on all the lighting options available to you so that you can become a really great hydroponics expert.
Growing plants with a hydroponic system is becoming a lot more popular for a variety of reasons however it’s important that you understand that there are a number of different items you will require to carry out this effectively. Because you are growing plants in a wholly unnatural environment, you will want to make sure that all the different elements are given to the plants. One of the most important elements of course is light.
Plants take the light and turn it into energy using a process called photosynthesis. This is not just an option, it a necessity and will ensure that you have plants that thrive and give you the results you are looking for. Luckily there are ways to fool plants into thinking that they have been given all the light they need, and for this you will need LED grow lights.
You might already know what an LED is from physics class but if not then LED stands for light emitting diode. Basically it’s a very simple semiconductor which has diodes that have terminals that allow current to flow in just the one direction.
There are many things that need to happen in order for an LED light to work however you will end up with different colors of lighting depending on the gap that is present between the electron chain. The size of this gap changes the frequency and this is how the color is affected. LED lights are used for many purposes other than in hydroponics and you will see them in electrical items such as TV remote controls.
When you grown any plant indoors then you will need to make sure that you provide an excellent light source for your plants because you are not giving them natural daylight. The light that you provide directly affects the plants health and is the difference between poor quality plants and lush healthy plants. Blue lights are used for plants that are very young and need to mature. However orange and red lights are used for those plants that are already fairly mature or are flowering or producing fruits. So don’t base your buying decision on what your favourite color is. This is not how hydroponic lighting works. The color you choose will depend on what type of plant you want to grow.
The problem often experienced with other types of lighting is that fact that they get hot and this can easily damage the plants you are trying to care for. With LED lighting this isn’t a problem you need to concern yourself with. Another benefit is that they have a longer lifespan compared to other lighting.
LED lighting isn’t the only type of light you can buy. There are other options such as HID, MH and HPS. It’s well worth reading up on all the lighting options available to you so that you can become a really great hydroponics expert.
The High Performance of the UFO LED Grow Light
Susan Slobac asked:
People who enjoy indoor gardening are looking for good, bright light for their plants. In addition, they want light fixtures that are light in weight, yet offer excellent light coverage. All of these great features are available in the UFO LED. Although it looks small and round, rather like an unidentified flying object, this grow light provides amazing light at a cost-effective price.
Roughly the same size as a bread plate, the UFO LED light runs on only eighty watts of electricity yet puts out more bright light than a four-hundred watt high pressure sodium or metal halide lamp. HID, or high intensity discharge, lights, on the other hand, require seventy to eighty percent more electricity to run them at the same light capacity as the UFO LED.
Not only does it use a fraction of the energy that other grow lamps use, but it also runs very cool. This is because the UFO LED comes with three fans built in, so you will not need to purchase air-cooled ducting or reflectors and will dramatically reduce your air conditioning costs as well. A cooler running UFO LED light also ensures that you will not burn your tender plant foliage, a common problem with other types of grow lights.
Your plants will flourish under these small but very powerful lights. A UFO LED provides your indoor garden with eight times the light output that you would normally receive with an HPS or MH grow light. It does this through the use of several one-watt LEDs focused toward your plants, the light spectrums of the UFO LED grow light are in color temperatures and tones that your plants can actually use for photosynthesis. The light specrtrums output by the UFO LED is suitable for all phases of plant growth
With all of this remarkable lighting capacity, it is also encouraging to learn that the UFO LED light will last for eighty thousand and more hours, or the equivalent of seven to ten years of exceptional performance. The coverage area of this light is three feet by three feet, allowing you to grow a wide array of plants in that large growing space.
The UFO LED light is lightweight and very easy to use. It does not require any extra wiring or complicated setup, but can be used in the normal light sockets found in your home or greenhouse. So for high performance for low cost, the UFO LED grow light is a perfect choice. The UFO LED light is the indoor gardener’s best friend!
People who enjoy indoor gardening are looking for good, bright light for their plants. In addition, they want light fixtures that are light in weight, yet offer excellent light coverage. All of these great features are available in the UFO LED. Although it looks small and round, rather like an unidentified flying object, this grow light provides amazing light at a cost-effective price.
Roughly the same size as a bread plate, the UFO LED light runs on only eighty watts of electricity yet puts out more bright light than a four-hundred watt high pressure sodium or metal halide lamp. HID, or high intensity discharge, lights, on the other hand, require seventy to eighty percent more electricity to run them at the same light capacity as the UFO LED.
Not only does it use a fraction of the energy that other grow lamps use, but it also runs very cool. This is because the UFO LED comes with three fans built in, so you will not need to purchase air-cooled ducting or reflectors and will dramatically reduce your air conditioning costs as well. A cooler running UFO LED light also ensures that you will not burn your tender plant foliage, a common problem with other types of grow lights.
Your plants will flourish under these small but very powerful lights. A UFO LED provides your indoor garden with eight times the light output that you would normally receive with an HPS or MH grow light. It does this through the use of several one-watt LEDs focused toward your plants, the light spectrums of the UFO LED grow light are in color temperatures and tones that your plants can actually use for photosynthesis. The light specrtrums output by the UFO LED is suitable for all phases of plant growth
With all of this remarkable lighting capacity, it is also encouraging to learn that the UFO LED light will last for eighty thousand and more hours, or the equivalent of seven to ten years of exceptional performance. The coverage area of this light is three feet by three feet, allowing you to grow a wide array of plants in that large growing space.
The UFO LED light is lightweight and very easy to use. It does not require any extra wiring or complicated setup, but can be used in the normal light sockets found in your home or greenhouse. So for high performance for low cost, the UFO LED grow light is a perfect choice. The UFO LED light is the indoor gardener’s best friend!
A UFO LED Grow Light Helps Your Indoor Garden Thrive for Less
Susan Slobac asked:
Light weight, cost efficiency for many years of use, and bright clean light is what the UFO LED grow light will bring to your indoor gardening setup. The UFO LED utilizes special light emitting diode technology to bring you the ultimate grow light on the market today.
The first benefit you will get when you make the switch to a UFO LED light is the quality of light this small unit can produce. A UFO LED uses the power of LED to produce more light than would be given by a four-hundred watt high high pressure sodium, or HPS, grow light. It does this while using only eighty watts of energy, making it very cost efficient in terms of the lumens of light produced compared to the watts of energy needed to produce the light.
UFO LED grow lights cover nine square feet of space with wonderful light. The light produced is exceptionally well suited to plants, because each one-watt LED used in the UFO LED light is selected as part of the light spectrum that the plant can use for all-important photosynthesis. Your plants, regardless of what stage of growth they are at, will not be able to utilize green light to aid their photosynthesis. Young plants need blue spectrum light for good growth, while mature plants need red and orange spectrum light to promote fruit and flower formation. Green spectrum light is wasted energy for most plants that you end up paying for if a grow light produces light in this spectrum, yet most grow lights typically do, another advantage that comes from using an UFO LED light.
LED grow lights such as this use wide angle, directional bulbs. This is important, because their placement within the UFO LED grow light maximizes the full impact of all the light produced by directing it exactly on your plants. The light output is not diffused out to the side of the unit, to become wasted light. Because they are specifically directed, you will also be able to save money because you will not need to use any reflectors with this type of amazing UFO LED grow light.
Because the UFO LED grow light uses light emitting diodes, it runs much cooler than a traditional HID, HPS, or MH lighting system. These traditional lights needs ballasts, as well as air conditioning and ducting in order to keep the lights from overheating. They also can burn the leaves of plants if placed too closely to the plant foliage. Both of these issues are eliminated with UFO LED grow lights.
In addition to cost effectiveness and production value, the UFO led light does not require any complicated setup, and can be used with a regular outlet. The UFO LED is also long lived, and can run for eighty thousand hours or more. Try a UFO today!
Light weight, cost efficiency for many years of use, and bright clean light is what the UFO LED grow light will bring to your indoor gardening setup. The UFO LED utilizes special light emitting diode technology to bring you the ultimate grow light on the market today.
The first benefit you will get when you make the switch to a UFO LED light is the quality of light this small unit can produce. A UFO LED uses the power of LED to produce more light than would be given by a four-hundred watt high high pressure sodium, or HPS, grow light. It does this while using only eighty watts of energy, making it very cost efficient in terms of the lumens of light produced compared to the watts of energy needed to produce the light.
UFO LED grow lights cover nine square feet of space with wonderful light. The light produced is exceptionally well suited to plants, because each one-watt LED used in the UFO LED light is selected as part of the light spectrum that the plant can use for all-important photosynthesis. Your plants, regardless of what stage of growth they are at, will not be able to utilize green light to aid their photosynthesis. Young plants need blue spectrum light for good growth, while mature plants need red and orange spectrum light to promote fruit and flower formation. Green spectrum light is wasted energy for most plants that you end up paying for if a grow light produces light in this spectrum, yet most grow lights typically do, another advantage that comes from using an UFO LED light.
LED grow lights such as this use wide angle, directional bulbs. This is important, because their placement within the UFO LED grow light maximizes the full impact of all the light produced by directing it exactly on your plants. The light output is not diffused out to the side of the unit, to become wasted light. Because they are specifically directed, you will also be able to save money because you will not need to use any reflectors with this type of amazing UFO LED grow light.
Because the UFO LED grow light uses light emitting diodes, it runs much cooler than a traditional HID, HPS, or MH lighting system. These traditional lights needs ballasts, as well as air conditioning and ducting in order to keep the lights from overheating. They also can burn the leaves of plants if placed too closely to the plant foliage. Both of these issues are eliminated with UFO LED grow lights.
In addition to cost effectiveness and production value, the UFO led light does not require any complicated setup, and can be used with a regular outlet. The UFO LED is also long lived, and can run for eighty thousand hours or more. Try a UFO today!
Choosing Grow Lights for Hydroponics Gardening
Susan Slobac asked:
Hydroponics gardening makes a great hobby anytime of year, but especially during those dark cold winter months. In this system of indoor gardening, plants are grown without using soil. Instead, they are grown in a growing medium, feeding off of nutrient solution. As with any type of indoor gardening method, hydroponics gardening requires the use of grow lights in order for the plants to be able to synthesize food, grow, and reproduce, producing flowers or fruit. HID lights are often used for this purpose. HID, or high-intensity discharge lights, come in several varieties, including metal halide grow lights and HPS grow lights. All HID lights require a digital ballast in order to control electrical current through the lamp and ensure its proper function. Most also benefit from being used in conjunction with a reflector, which will direct and intensify the light that the bulb produces. LED grow lights are also very popular. These lightweight lights, using light- emitting diodes, produce a lot of light in colors useful for plant growth, and are cost effective as well. All of these lamps make great grow lights for hydroponics.
Metal halide grow lights consist of an arc tube made of alumina, inside of which is argon, mercury vapor and a variety of metals. The different metals give color to the light the lamp produces. The argon gas is used to get the lamp going at first when electrical current is introduced inside the arc tube from electrodes on either end. The arc of current vaporizes the metals and mercury, and thus light is produced. The benefit of using these lamps is that for such small bulbs they produce a lot of light, and are efficient to run.
HPS grow lights are also called high-pressure sodium lights. Like the MH lights, HPS lights also use an alumina arc tube. Inside this tube you will find sodium, mercury, and the noble gas Xenon to get the light started. Like the metal halide lights, HPS lights also require a ballast for their use, to stabilize their operation.
LED grow lights are similar in function to the lights you might see on Christmas trees during holiday times. They are a small, efficient and very bright light. The diode functions as a semi-conductor, and there are two crystals in this type of bulb. LED bulbs light up when electrical current moves from one crystal to the other. The light produced is surrounded by a reflector and is used with a lens to emit the light where you want it to go.
All of the aforementioned grow lights work well to grow your indoor plants to full horticultural splendor. They are also economical to run, and can be selected in terms of the color spectrum of light they produce in order to provide your specific plants with what they need to thrive.
Hydroponics gardening makes a great hobby anytime of year, but especially during those dark cold winter months. In this system of indoor gardening, plants are grown without using soil. Instead, they are grown in a growing medium, feeding off of nutrient solution. As with any type of indoor gardening method, hydroponics gardening requires the use of grow lights in order for the plants to be able to synthesize food, grow, and reproduce, producing flowers or fruit. HID lights are often used for this purpose. HID, or high-intensity discharge lights, come in several varieties, including metal halide grow lights and HPS grow lights. All HID lights require a digital ballast in order to control electrical current through the lamp and ensure its proper function. Most also benefit from being used in conjunction with a reflector, which will direct and intensify the light that the bulb produces. LED grow lights are also very popular. These lightweight lights, using light- emitting diodes, produce a lot of light in colors useful for plant growth, and are cost effective as well. All of these lamps make great grow lights for hydroponics.
Metal halide grow lights consist of an arc tube made of alumina, inside of which is argon, mercury vapor and a variety of metals. The different metals give color to the light the lamp produces. The argon gas is used to get the lamp going at first when electrical current is introduced inside the arc tube from electrodes on either end. The arc of current vaporizes the metals and mercury, and thus light is produced. The benefit of using these lamps is that for such small bulbs they produce a lot of light, and are efficient to run.
HPS grow lights are also called high-pressure sodium lights. Like the MH lights, HPS lights also use an alumina arc tube. Inside this tube you will find sodium, mercury, and the noble gas Xenon to get the light started. Like the metal halide lights, HPS lights also require a ballast for their use, to stabilize their operation.
LED grow lights are similar in function to the lights you might see on Christmas trees during holiday times. They are a small, efficient and very bright light. The diode functions as a semi-conductor, and there are two crystals in this type of bulb. LED bulbs light up when electrical current moves from one crystal to the other. The light produced is surrounded by a reflector and is used with a lens to emit the light where you want it to go.
All of the aforementioned grow lights work well to grow your indoor plants to full horticultural splendor. They are also economical to run, and can be selected in terms of the color spectrum of light they produce in order to provide your specific plants with what they need to thrive.
From Fluorescent to High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide, Grow Lights Help You Flex Your Flower Power
Kimberly Green asked:
If growing plants indoors is something that interests you, then you’ll most likely need grow lights to help accomplish the job. A grow light provides the special lighting and light spectrum that plants need to grow and thrive, and there are two types of lights that accomplish this: high intensity discharge lights, and fluorescent lights. High intensity discharge grow lights come in two varieties — the metal halide grow light (often referred to as MH), and the high pressure sodium grow light (often referred to as HPS). The metal halide light is designed to nurture plants during their growing cycle. The growing cycle applies to pants that are non-fruiting and/or non-blooming.
The high pressure sodium lights are designed for those plants that are in the fruiting or blooming processes. The HPS grow lights come enhanced with the blue spectrum (this is used for vegetative growth) or the red spectrum (this is used for the flowering growth). The nice thing about these types of grow lights is that they can be used throughout the entire growing, fruiting and blooming process for most plants. Fluorescent grow lights do not emit as much light as the other types of grow lights that are available on the market, and so they are not intended to be used during the plant cycle, since the lack of a bright light will yield only small growth results. Instead, fluorescent grow lights should have its softer and gentler light used to help seedlings and cuttings begin to generate growth. Fluorescent lighting is best used to help nurture young plants and blooms.
No matter what type of grow light systems you have, it will use some kind of ballast system which enables the bulb or tube to generate enough energy to strike and give off light. Typically, metal halide grow lights and HPS grow lights run from remote ballasts. A remote ballast is a special configuration in which external boxes contain the electronics and wiring needed to pre-heat the lamp, and then keep it running. Why should you use grow lights? Well, look at a plant as if it is a factory that manufactures goods from raw materials and products. Factors need energy to run, and so do plans. The energy source that enables them to grow comes from grow lights (hence the name). Usually, it is natural sunlight that is used to feed plants with the energy they need, but grow lights can be a reliable and suitable substitution.
If growing plants indoors is something that interests you, then you’ll most likely need grow lights to help accomplish the job. A grow light provides the special lighting and light spectrum that plants need to grow and thrive, and there are two types of lights that accomplish this: high intensity discharge lights, and fluorescent lights. High intensity discharge grow lights come in two varieties — the metal halide grow light (often referred to as MH), and the high pressure sodium grow light (often referred to as HPS). The metal halide light is designed to nurture plants during their growing cycle. The growing cycle applies to pants that are non-fruiting and/or non-blooming.
The high pressure sodium lights are designed for those plants that are in the fruiting or blooming processes. The HPS grow lights come enhanced with the blue spectrum (this is used for vegetative growth) or the red spectrum (this is used for the flowering growth). The nice thing about these types of grow lights is that they can be used throughout the entire growing, fruiting and blooming process for most plants. Fluorescent grow lights do not emit as much light as the other types of grow lights that are available on the market, and so they are not intended to be used during the plant cycle, since the lack of a bright light will yield only small growth results. Instead, fluorescent grow lights should have its softer and gentler light used to help seedlings and cuttings begin to generate growth. Fluorescent lighting is best used to help nurture young plants and blooms.
No matter what type of grow light systems you have, it will use some kind of ballast system which enables the bulb or tube to generate enough energy to strike and give off light. Typically, metal halide grow lights and HPS grow lights run from remote ballasts. A remote ballast is a special configuration in which external boxes contain the electronics and wiring needed to pre-heat the lamp, and then keep it running. Why should you use grow lights? Well, look at a plant as if it is a factory that manufactures goods from raw materials and products. Factors need energy to run, and so do plans. The energy source that enables them to grow comes from grow lights (hence the name). Usually, it is natural sunlight that is used to feed plants with the energy they need, but grow lights can be a reliable and suitable substitution.
Indoor Grow Lights Help Your Plants Flourish
Susan Slobac asked:
All plants, because of their need for photosynthesis, require appropriate light in order to ensure their proper growth and maturation. Indoor gardeners use indoor grow lights to supply the illumination necessary. There are a wide variety of indoor grow lights available, including LED grow lights, HPS grow lights, and even discount grow lights. There are some differences among indoor grow lights, so it pays to do a little research before you invest in them.
HPS Grow Lights
HPS grow lights, referencing high pressure sodium, are a type of HID, or high intensity discharge, light. Although a compact light bulb, they are capable of producing a lot of light, and thus their appeal to indoor gardeners. HPS lights give off light in the red to orange color spectrum, making it the lamp of choice for helping to coax your mature plants to bear fruit or flowers. HPS lamps need to be used in conjunction with a ballast, a piece of equipment that controls the flow of electricity to and through the lamp. The lamps are popular because they last a long time and are efficient to run.
LED Grow Lights
Light-emitting diode, or LED, grow lights are wildly popular among indoor gardening enthusiasts, and for good reason. These indoor grow lights are tiny and thus extremely lightweight, making them easier to use in overhead situations in a greenhouse. They also do not generate heat, thereby needing less in terms of auxiliary equipment to keep the grow room at the appropriate temperature, and do not require ballasts. LED grow lights are very efficient to run, and will save money on electricity when compared with many other types of indoor grow lights. They also provide any color spectrum of light that you might wish to use with your plants.
Why do gardeners need indoor grow lights?
Plants need light for photosynthesis, and thus if you are growing plants indoors, you need to compensate for the lack of sunlight. What you are trying to do is recreate sunlight for your plants, and this is where grow lights come into play. Of course, grow lamps are not as bright as sunlight, so indoor gardeners typically leave the lights turned on the plants for a longer length of time than natural light might occur outdoors. Without appropriate light, plants will quickly die. If you are trying to start new plants from seed, the seedlings will become weak from trying to stretch up and reach what little light there is. Instead, the light should be ample and placed close above the seedlings to ensure sturdy stems and good growth.
Consider the types of plants you want to grow indoors, and where they are in their life cycle, in order to determine which grow lamps will be best suited to your needs.
All plants, because of their need for photosynthesis, require appropriate light in order to ensure their proper growth and maturation. Indoor gardeners use indoor grow lights to supply the illumination necessary. There are a wide variety of indoor grow lights available, including LED grow lights, HPS grow lights, and even discount grow lights. There are some differences among indoor grow lights, so it pays to do a little research before you invest in them.
HPS Grow Lights
HPS grow lights, referencing high pressure sodium, are a type of HID, or high intensity discharge, light. Although a compact light bulb, they are capable of producing a lot of light, and thus their appeal to indoor gardeners. HPS lights give off light in the red to orange color spectrum, making it the lamp of choice for helping to coax your mature plants to bear fruit or flowers. HPS lamps need to be used in conjunction with a ballast, a piece of equipment that controls the flow of electricity to and through the lamp. The lamps are popular because they last a long time and are efficient to run.
LED Grow Lights
Light-emitting diode, or LED, grow lights are wildly popular among indoor gardening enthusiasts, and for good reason. These indoor grow lights are tiny and thus extremely lightweight, making them easier to use in overhead situations in a greenhouse. They also do not generate heat, thereby needing less in terms of auxiliary equipment to keep the grow room at the appropriate temperature, and do not require ballasts. LED grow lights are very efficient to run, and will save money on electricity when compared with many other types of indoor grow lights. They also provide any color spectrum of light that you might wish to use with your plants.
Why do gardeners need indoor grow lights?
Plants need light for photosynthesis, and thus if you are growing plants indoors, you need to compensate for the lack of sunlight. What you are trying to do is recreate sunlight for your plants, and this is where grow lights come into play. Of course, grow lamps are not as bright as sunlight, so indoor gardeners typically leave the lights turned on the plants for a longer length of time than natural light might occur outdoors. Without appropriate light, plants will quickly die. If you are trying to start new plants from seed, the seedlings will become weak from trying to stretch up and reach what little light there is. Instead, the light should be ample and placed close above the seedlings to ensure sturdy stems and good growth.
Consider the types of plants you want to grow indoors, and where they are in their life cycle, in order to determine which grow lamps will be best suited to your needs.
Grow Lights Will Help You Grow Award Winning Tomatoes
Kimberly Green asked:
Not every tomato enthusiast lives in Oklahoma with perfect tomato growing soil and beautiful sunlight able to grow tomatoes weighing in at seven pounds and twelve ounces (the current world record holder) so it’s important to set yourself for success if you wish to try your hand at in-door growing! Whether you plan on growing enough tomatoes to supply you through the winter months or you are in need of adequate lighting in a mid-sized green house, many urbanites are turning to artificial light sources designed specifically for growing plant life, otherwise known as grow lights.
The days of trying to position your plant racks on a windowsill in a futile attempt to catch light between the twenty-story buildings that have been strategically positioned to block all viable sunlight from your window are gone. With a small investment you’ll be set up to grow tomatoes in any room in your home. And you’ll be successful at it!
Lighting that’s suited for professional results usually comes in several pieces that require a small amount of assembly and it’s done that way so a grower can fit the right pieces together to suit their needs. First you need a lighting fixture. They come in a large array of sizes ranging from 2’ up to and surpassing 5’. Once you find a size that fits your needs you can tackle the ballast, which have an equally large amount of options for that custom growing experience. You can then cap everything off with a nice reflector to direct all that new light where it is needed the most; on your tomatoes.
If you are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed fear not: you can simply order up a grow light kit that fits your needs. These kits are offered mainly for those people who have less demanding needs and you’ll find them to be professionally built and more than adequate for the needs of the average grower. As with the individual parts that can be purchased, the kits have a very wide range of sizes and wattage to fit any application that you could possibly dream up!
With the lighting possibilities that exist today just about any produce or plant that requires large amounts of sunlight to grow can be successfully grown in-doors and with great success. After all, the largest tomato plant in the world currently grows in doors at Epcot Center In Disney World and has produced a record-breaking harvest of over 32,000 tomatoes.
Not every tomato enthusiast lives in Oklahoma with perfect tomato growing soil and beautiful sunlight able to grow tomatoes weighing in at seven pounds and twelve ounces (the current world record holder) so it’s important to set yourself for success if you wish to try your hand at in-door growing! Whether you plan on growing enough tomatoes to supply you through the winter months or you are in need of adequate lighting in a mid-sized green house, many urbanites are turning to artificial light sources designed specifically for growing plant life, otherwise known as grow lights.
The days of trying to position your plant racks on a windowsill in a futile attempt to catch light between the twenty-story buildings that have been strategically positioned to block all viable sunlight from your window are gone. With a small investment you’ll be set up to grow tomatoes in any room in your home. And you’ll be successful at it!
Lighting that’s suited for professional results usually comes in several pieces that require a small amount of assembly and it’s done that way so a grower can fit the right pieces together to suit their needs. First you need a lighting fixture. They come in a large array of sizes ranging from 2’ up to and surpassing 5’. Once you find a size that fits your needs you can tackle the ballast, which have an equally large amount of options for that custom growing experience. You can then cap everything off with a nice reflector to direct all that new light where it is needed the most; on your tomatoes.
If you are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed fear not: you can simply order up a grow light kit that fits your needs. These kits are offered mainly for those people who have less demanding needs and you’ll find them to be professionally built and more than adequate for the needs of the average grower. As with the individual parts that can be purchased, the kits have a very wide range of sizes and wattage to fit any application that you could possibly dream up!
With the lighting possibilities that exist today just about any produce or plant that requires large amounts of sunlight to grow can be successfully grown in-doors and with great success. After all, the largest tomato plant in the world currently grows in doors at Epcot Center In Disney World and has produced a record-breaking harvest of over 32,000 tomatoes.
Plant Growth and Indoor Lighting
Susan Slobac asked:
Indoor gardening makes a great hobby, especially during the gloomy and cold winter months, where in many areas of the country outdoor gardening of flowers and vegetables is out of the question. Hydroponics gardening is a popular method used by indoor gardening enthusiasts. Hydroponics is a form of soilless gardening; it instead uses a growing medium (or not, depending on the style of hydroponics you choose) in which the plant roots sit, and they are fed through the application of a nutrient solution. There are a few basic supplies you will need to get started with hydroponics gardening, including a lighting system including grow lights, a ballast and reflector. You might need growing medium, and you will definitely need nutrient. The amount and kind of nutrient and growing medium you need will depend on the specific plants you wish to grow. You can start plants yourself from seed, or you can purchase plants from nurseries and greenhouses. Grow lights are vital to your success because without proper lighting your plants will not grow and thrive. Indoor lighting of your plants affects plant growth in several different ways.
The visible spectrum is the part of the light spectrum that we can see. This spectrum is represented in wavelengths and is measured in the Kelvin scale. The spectrum ranges from purple and blue on one end, greens in the center, and orange and red on the other end. Daylight ranges from 5000 to 6500 K. What all this means to the indoor gardener is this: you are trying to replicate outdoor sunlight in an indoor setting. Plants grown indoors need 12-16 hours per day under appropriate lights in order to grow well. The kind of plants you are trying to grow will also play a part in the type of grow light you choose to use. Grow lights that emit light in the blue spectrum are best for use in plants in which you want to promote vegetative growth, such as seedling plants or lettuces, for example. If you are growing flowering plants, or fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, you will instead want to use lighting that offers red/orange spectrum light. Light in this range is best for promoting flowering and fruiting in plants. Once you know what type of plants you wish to grow, then you can obtain the appropriate lighting for them to flourish.
There are many great HID lights, or high-intensity discharge lights, that work well in an indoor gardening application. They include HPS grow lights, or high pressure sodium lights, and metal halide grow lights. Because of the lower cost yet great light output, many indoor gardeners also like LED grow lights with light-emitting diodes as well.
Indoor gardening makes a great hobby, especially during the gloomy and cold winter months, where in many areas of the country outdoor gardening of flowers and vegetables is out of the question. Hydroponics gardening is a popular method used by indoor gardening enthusiasts. Hydroponics is a form of soilless gardening; it instead uses a growing medium (or not, depending on the style of hydroponics you choose) in which the plant roots sit, and they are fed through the application of a nutrient solution. There are a few basic supplies you will need to get started with hydroponics gardening, including a lighting system including grow lights, a ballast and reflector. You might need growing medium, and you will definitely need nutrient. The amount and kind of nutrient and growing medium you need will depend on the specific plants you wish to grow. You can start plants yourself from seed, or you can purchase plants from nurseries and greenhouses. Grow lights are vital to your success because without proper lighting your plants will not grow and thrive. Indoor lighting of your plants affects plant growth in several different ways.
The visible spectrum is the part of the light spectrum that we can see. This spectrum is represented in wavelengths and is measured in the Kelvin scale. The spectrum ranges from purple and blue on one end, greens in the center, and orange and red on the other end. Daylight ranges from 5000 to 6500 K. What all this means to the indoor gardener is this: you are trying to replicate outdoor sunlight in an indoor setting. Plants grown indoors need 12-16 hours per day under appropriate lights in order to grow well. The kind of plants you are trying to grow will also play a part in the type of grow light you choose to use. Grow lights that emit light in the blue spectrum are best for use in plants in which you want to promote vegetative growth, such as seedling plants or lettuces, for example. If you are growing flowering plants, or fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, you will instead want to use lighting that offers red/orange spectrum light. Light in this range is best for promoting flowering and fruiting in plants. Once you know what type of plants you wish to grow, then you can obtain the appropriate lighting for them to flourish.
There are many great HID lights, or high-intensity discharge lights, that work well in an indoor gardening application. They include HPS grow lights, or high pressure sodium lights, and metal halide grow lights. Because of the lower cost yet great light output, many indoor gardeners also like LED grow lights with light-emitting diodes as well.