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. Proper lighting is crucial in order for a plant to flourish. Proper lighting will go a long way towards making sure that your plants thrive. Here are a few things you should be aware of in order to get the best greenhouse lighting system for your needs.
1. The first thing you need to do is figure out the amount of light you will require. This depends on the size of the greenhouse and the kind of plants you plan to grow. Some plants such as flowers and fruit, as well as those that are taller, require more light than others. Outdoor greenhouses generally require 25 watts for each square foot. However, indoor greenhouses require at least twice as much light.
2. The type of light you choose must be appropriate for the kind of plants you’re raising. Something that impacts plant growth to a great extent is the kind of light waves that are given off. For instance, if you want optimal growth for fruit or flowers, use high pressure sodium lights. The light from these lamps is in the red spectrum, and stimulates the plants’ growth hormones. If you’re growing leafy plants, they’ll thrive under the blue spectrum, which metal halide lighting is best at providing.
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. They’re not a great option anyway, because the light they give off isn’t enough for most plants to thrive. 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. Choose lighting products that will give you the results you need without using a lot of energy to power them. The most energy efficient greenhouse lights you can buy are known as high intensity discharge. Unfortunately, they’re also the most expensive to purchase. 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. Leave the lights off for 6 to 12 hours each day in your garden greenhouse, depending on what kind of plants you have.
