When growing seedlings, 65% of success is directly dependent on proper lighting. It's no secret that in poor lighting conditions it stretches out in search of light, bends towards its sources and generally lags behind in development.

As a rule, the problems of lack of light are solved by organizing artificial lighting. But we must remember that not all lamps are equally capable of meeting the needs of plants, and the light that is pleasant for humans does not always suit your seedlings.

What lamps are suitable for supplementary lighting

Do not use ordinary incandescent lamps with a tungsten filament for supplementary lighting. Infrared rays, prevailing in their spectrum, are more intended for heating and tend to stretch the seedlings rather than strengthen them. Their efficiency is so low that only about five percent of the energy expended is converted into light. Halogen lamps have a higher efficiency, but they are also of little use for seedlings.

For supplementary lighting the best way, both in spectrum and in efficiency, are suitable gas discharge lamps... It can be just luminescent - brands LB or LD, and energy-saving lamps... The latter are considered more convenient, since they do not differ spectrally from luminescent ones, but they do not require a special ballast. It is possible that LED lamps will soon be used instead of energy-saving lamps. They practically do not emit heat, but they are much more reliable and economical.

There are also special phytolamps on sale that take into account almost all the needs of plants in light. But their price is quite high, and the service life and reliability, as practice shows, clearly do not correspond to this price. In addition, the grayish-pink glow of phytolamps is unnatural for humans. For some, it irritates the eyes and can even cause headaches.

How to organize additional lighting

First of all, you need to decide: your seedlings need only be supplemented, or fully illuminated. In the first case, it is quite possible to get by with relatively cheap fluorescent lamps, almost not paying attention to their spectrum.

All lamps should be located at least 20 cm from the tops of the plants. Therefore, it should be possible to move them. This can be done in two ways: by changing the suspension of the lamp or using a stand for a plant pot, which should be changed as the seedlings grow.

With completely artificial lighting, the spectrum must also be taken into account. Here you will already need lamps specially designed for plants.

From domestic lamps for seedlings, the not expensive "LFU-30" is suitable. But on square meter they will need as many as five pieces. Of the imported ones, it is quite possible to use "Osram", originally intended for aquariums. To provide the level of illumination required for seedlings, you can get by with just two of these lamps. Both of them emit radiation in the red and blue regions of the spectrum that plants need to support photosynthesis.

Experts advise making lamps consisting of two lamps. One is a phytolamp, and the other is an ordinary fluorescent lamp. Together they will provide both illumination and optimal spectrum.

The intensity of the lighting that we call natural, in fact, depends on many conditions: the time of the year, the latitude of the area, the degree of cloudiness. But in practice, such purely domestic factors as the size and orientation of windows, the cleanliness and transparency of the glass, the shading of the windows by trees or nearby buildings have a much greater influence on the illumination. Even the color of the walls in the room and the color of the buildings outside the window matter.

How long should additional lighting last

Seedlings should be illuminated for at least 12 - 16 hours a day, and sometimes around the clock in the germination phase. Often, in a city apartment, additional lighting has to be done before the plants are planted in the ground. But, on the other hand, those who make such lighting permanent also make a mistake. Seedlings, like people, require an alternation of dark and light periods of the day. If the seedlings are located on a sunny window, it is enough to turn on the lamps only in the morning and in the evening. But in cloudy weather, as well as with shading, daylight additional lighting will also be required.

The need for light in plants is much higher than that of humans. Life without light is impossible for them. Therefore, to grow seedlings without supplementary lighting in dark room, even if it is suitable for human habitation, is a completely hopeless business. If some seedlings grow, then they are so weak, elongated and not adapted to life that they will inevitably die during planting in the ground, meeting with the first rays of the sun. Only a properly organized light regime guarantees strong, healthy and viable seedlings.

indasad.ru

Lighting for seedlings at home - a luxury or a necessity?

The arrival of the long-awaited spring for many summer residents is associated with the beginning of a new gardening season. Its start begins with sowing seeds and growing seedlings, most often on a windowsill. On the part of the grower, a lot of time and effort is put into getting good shoots. One of the areas of a successful cultivation process is correct lighting seedlings at home.

Lighting for seedlings

Sowing seeds for seedlings usually occurs in January and February. It is these months that are not very good solar activity, and daylight hours are very small. In addition, if the shoots are to grow on the windowsill of the first floor, or on the north side, then the primary task of the amateur vegetable grower is to organize the lighting of the seedlings at home.

To obtain strong and healthy seedlings, the plant must receive at least 10-14 hours of daylight hours. Natural conditions during this period, such a light regime cannot be provided. And the seedlings standing on the windowsill begin to vigorously reach for the window. In this case, a sad picture can be observed: the plants become thin, elongated and weak.

Some owners try to find a way out by installing a mirror or foil behind the plants. However, the amount of light received is still not correct. In addition, the movement of the sun makes it constantly change the position of the reflective surface, which becomes a headache for the grower.

Outdated lamps are also used for supplementary lighting of seedlings. But this option can very much dry up young shoots and even burn them. Therefore, when using an incandescent lamp for additional illumination of seedlings, a certain distance must be observed during installation. Consumption of such lamps a large number electricity and the inability to create the required spectrum of light does not make them effective for supplementary lighting of seedlings at home.

Basic requirements for lighting seedlings

A lamp for supplementary lighting of seedlings must meet the following requirements:

• For good growth young plants require a certain color spectrum. When choosing lamps for supplementary lighting of seedlings, it is better to give preference to devices with red or blue rays.
• The main purpose of the lighting source is to illuminate, not dry out and increase the air temperature.
• The beams of the lamp for supplementary lighting of seedlings should be soft and not irritating.
• The seedling container should be evenly lit. Lighting for home seedlings should capture even extreme plants.

To obtain good seedlings, it is important to choose the correct duration and intensity of supplementary lighting of the seedlings. The light intensity will depend on the selected lamp power and the distance from it to the surface. Create optimal conditions when installing a lamp for supplementary lighting of seedlings, a simple rule will help. In order not to overdry the plant, it is necessary to place your hand on the illuminated surface. If warmth is felt, then the device should be removed.

The most acceptable for plants is the illumination level within 8 thousand lux. Artificially illuminating seedlings at home makes it possible to achieve illumination of up to 6 thousand lux. A similar result can be achieved by illuminating the shoots not only in the morning or in the evening, but also on cloudy days.

Determining whether a plant needs additional lighting is very simple. To do this, you will need to direct the beam of the device to the seedlings, and if there is no difference between the illuminated and unlit surface, then natural light is enough for young seedlings.

Choosing the spectrum of light

For high-quality photosynthesis of plant cells, the full spectrum of light present in the sun's rays is required. Therefore, artificial lighting of seedlings at home requires maximum identity with sunlight, which contains waves of different lengths and different colors.

Each spectrum has various influences for plant growth:

• Red-orange light... Under its action, seed germination is accelerated, vegetation is improved and flowering is stimulated.
• Violet blue light... Supplementing seedlings at home with such rays helps to increase cell growth and the appearance of strong and short shoots.
• Yellow green... This part of the spectrum is practically not absorbed by plants, since it is reflected from the leaf surface.

Only the vegetable grower can decide how to supplement the seedlings. The choice will depend on the characteristics of the premises, stage of development, type and variety of culture.

What lamps to choose for lighting seedlings at home?

Experts are sure that the key to excellent plant growth is illumination. Today the market lighting fixtures this type is represented by a great variety. However, any vegetable grower will be interested in knowing which lamps to choose for lighting seedlings at home so that they are as efficient as possible and less costly.

Lighting of seedlings with LED lamps. It is this type of lighting that is gaining popularity among summer residents. Since the ratio between efficiency and power consumption is several times higher than the efficiency and economy of incandescent lamps.

When using LED lighting for seedlings, the grower receives the following benefits:

• Low power consumption.
• The light source can be placed at a minimum distance from the plant, since the lamp has a low temperature.
• The light spectrum of red and blue LED bulbs shows the best growing results.
• Operational safety. If water splashes on the lamp, there will be no temperature drop or breakage.
• High indicators of environmental friendliness of the device.
• There is no infrared radiation.

Supplementary lighting of seedlings with LED lamps allows you to avoid excessive drying of the plant and excessive thermal moisture, which becomes a good environment for the development of fungal diseases.

Lighting of seedlings with energy-saving lamps

Another the best option for the summer resident is the use of such devices. The "housekeeper" is a tube with electrodes. Its inner part is filled with inert gas, and the walls are covered with a phosphor. As a result of this design, after the contact of moving electrons of an inert gas and their passage through the phosphor, ultraviolet light is formed.

Ultraviolet rays are beneficial for the plant. They contribute to a more intensive growth of seedlings, which, under their influence, become strong and have a rich color. Reducing various pathogenic microbes is of no small importance when illuminating seedlings with energy-saving lamps.

Also, the advantages of such devices include the lack of high temperature by the lamp. This allows you to maintain the necessary microclimate around the plants and does not allow the air humidity to rise. Placing energy-saving lamps near seedlings is considered completely safe.

And in conclusion, in addition to the wishes of a successful season, I would like to remind vegetable growers that amateurs can not replace the sun's rays with any artificial light source. Therefore, if possible, be sure to take out the plants under the warm spring sun, which will allow them to become even stronger and more resilient.

Video: the advantages of LED lamps for illuminating seedlings

Valery Medvedev about LED lighting seedlings

glav-dacha.ru

Lighting of seedlings at home. Choosing lamps for seedlings.

To grow good and healthy seedlings, you need the right lighting. And given that we begin to plant seedlings in January - February, when the daylight hours are very short, then the seedlings definitely need additional lighting of the seedlings in the morning and evening hours. Be sure to illuminate the seedlings at home if your windows face north or the apartment is located on the ground floor.

Basically, growing seedlings of vegetables on windowsills requires 14 hours of daylight. However, in order to extend the daylight hours, not every lamp will work. If the seedling lamp generates too much heat, then you can simply burn them. Some gardeners use outdated incandescent bulbs for this purpose. However, this method is not economical and not efficient enough. When using incandescent lamps, it is imperative to install them at a distance from the plant, so as not to dry it out. Such lamps consume too much energy, they get too hot and cannot provide the plants with the required spectrum of lighting in full.

It is believed that an LED seedling light is best suited for illumination. Such lamps for seedlings are economical, consume a small amount of electricity, so even their daily use for several hours will not hit your pocket. In addition, it is this type of lamps that allows you to adjust the spectral composition of light, that is, the length of the light wave, the intensity of illumination required for a particular plant.

Among the domestic models of such lamps, the devices of the Altai company P100-P1200 are popular. You can also use, for example, LED Grow lamps and light panels, which allow you to adjust the luminous flux and are conveniently attached.

A big plus is that the lighting for seedlings with LEDs occurs practically without heating the lamps. The maximum possible temperature of an incandescent LED lamp will be no more than 40 degrees. Therefore, the plant will feel comfortable in the company of such a lamp even if it touches it closely.

Each LED seedling lamp makes it possible to illuminate an area of ​​up to 1 sq. meters. Therefore, a large number of lamps will not be required. An additional plus is the long lifespan of the LED lamps. Usually it is about 40 thousand hours.

What else you need to know about lighting seedlings at home with LEDs:

• the main disadvantage of LEDs or LED lamps is their high cost, and they will pay off in about two years,
• you can assemble a lamp for supplementary lighting of seedlings with your own hands (insert into LPO-106 lamps LED lamps-T8 18W G-13 6500K),
• you need to make sure that the seedlings do not dry out, water and air regularly,
• most importantly, it is easier to grow seedlings with additional lighting.

How to illuminate seedlings with LED lamps

Many gardeners use LED lamp for growing seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers and believe that healthy seedlings when grown in an apartment are obtained only if they are supplemented.

In the phase of cotyledonous leaves, the seedlings can be illuminated with LEDs for 3 days without a break. With the appearance of true leaves, the sprouts are illuminated 12-16 hours a day.

Install the LEDs as close as possible to the sprouts. Each plant is grown separately in 0.5 liter cups. It takes a lot of space and land to develop a good root system.

Fully artificial seedling lighting allows tomato seedlings to be grown in any dark corner of the house. For convenience, use a programmable electric timer in the socket, where you can set the time for turning the LEDs on and off.

And the most important and pleasant conclusion is that you can save electricity on LEDs.

superda4nik.ru

Do we illuminate the seedlings this way or that?

Theme supplementary lighting of seedlings not new at all for me, but in recent years new methods have appeared in this method. technical solutions which I have already tried. Previously, when illuminating seedlings, I used only fluorescent lamps, but this year I will additionally use LED - the so-called LED lamps. The novelty was tested on indoor chrysanthemums and was recognized by me as suitable for use only in experiment.

About red and blue LEDs.

I will immediately dwell on LEDs in more detail - there is an opinion that it is necessary to use LEDs of red and blue spectra of a certain length. But, knowing that white light consists of seven primary colors of the spectrum, I assumed that having LED lamps white light, naturally we have both the red spectrum and the blue one. The question, of course, is to what extent this corresponds to the ideas of the plants themselves about sunlight. After all, only they themselves can determine sufficient coverage or not enough, and we already draw conclusions.

Pepper seedlings under fluorescent lamps

Which lamps to choose?

Separately, it is worth noting that the use of certain lamps at the present time (the end of 2012) does not make a fundamental difference (as I understood from the comparison, it is still too early to state the victory of LED lamps), there is a big difference in the cost of luminescent and LED (LED) lamps. Although here and there it is necessary to make side reflectors for greater efficiency of the backlight. Apparently LED "phyto" lamps are the latest fashion and therefore are expensive and are sold mainly in online stores, and luminescent lamps can now be bought even without starters - instant ignition. If this is your first time illuminating seedlings, then I think it will be easier to make a luminescent version. In the future, the body will remain, and the lamps that have spent their assigned resources can be replaced with whatever you want. Recently, LED lamps and lamps, similar in size to fluorescent ones, have already appeared, however ...

DIY LED phytolamps, is it possible?

If we talk about the "LED" backlight, then it is worth talking about how to make yourself a rather inexpensive "phyto-lamp" on LEDs compared to its counterparts. I may be a little mistaken, but the cost of such lamps ranges from 1300 rubles to 3300 rubles and even more. What was done by me from improvised means, and several foreheads were purchased led flashlights with rubber bands, then the strips with LEDs are removed and then these round strips are connected in parallel because of the power supply, then they need only 4.5 volts. (for a flashlight, three batteries of one and a half volts are normally used) Charger for mobile phone... All this can be bought in shops even in our village. So the pinnacle of technical progress in crop production is ready. These lamps can be very easily extended in length or, on the contrary, made for additional lighting one plant. If you do not have sufficient knowledge in electrical engineering, then I do not advise you to engage in design without appropriate training, because everything related to electricity is very DANGEROUS!

An example of a phytolamp for supplementary lighting of one seedling

It is easier and cheaper to buy the simplest fluorescent lamps, my experience suggests that you should not be fooled by special phytolamps, especially since modern fluorescent lamps are much more durable and work more stable than those with which I started.

Chrysanthemum under LED lights

How much to highlight?

The working hours of your homemade growbox (this is more fashionable) should correspond to normal daylight hours, about 12-16 hours a day. Particular care should be taken to ensure that the seedlings do not dry out, are sufficiently watered and aired. The rest will come only with experience, although I note - to grow seedlings with backlight very simple.

Use backlight or not, it's up to you. Moreover, I'm not quite sure yet that LED backlighting is better than fluorescent and I will not give up my old and proven methods until finally. We will try in the present case, a comparison will show which is preferable. I constantly use fluorescent lighting, and by my example I can say that growing seedlings on a semi-frozen, sweaty window is even worse. You can glue foils for better use sunlight and increasing the angle of illumination, and the day is still very short. Where to take photons of light for seedlings for synthesis? The angle of illumination is small, the sun, that is, it will hide behind the clouds and the like. The most valuable thing is always under the lamps! Moreover, as soon as conditions permit, I take out the seedlings in a heated and pre-insulated greenhouse. The use of all agrotechnical methods in the complex allows you to achieve more bountiful harvests. I am looking forward to your suggestions for improving the supplementary lighting method.

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zelenez.ru

Lighting and supplementary lighting of cucumber seedlings when growing at home

When growing cucumbers for seedlings at home, cucumbers need more light, and this, of course, they will miss in January. Although we

We put them in the warmest and lightest place, but even this may not be enough for the intensive development of plants. Use a 20-40 W neon or krypton lamp for long-term illumination.

It will not "eat" a lot of electricity (1-2 kW for two days of continuous burning). But after all, you will not be lighting cucumbers for days

Throughout, and several hours before dawn and after sunset. Since these lamps emit little heat, you can safely place the seedlings 3-5 cm from the lamps - there will be no burn, and the plants will receive more light.

After 3-4 weeks, the seedlings will be formed and will be ready for transplantation, about which the plant "informs" us by deploying 2-3 normal

Leaf. By this time, you should have both the soil mixture and the containers into which the cucumbers will finally "move".

Continued on pages:

• Grow cucumbers in the winter at home, on a windowsill or balcony, variety selection
• When and how to sow cucumber seeds for seedlings at home
• Prepare the soil, mixture, for transplanting cucumber seedlings at home, making a place
• Care for seedlings of cucumbers in winter, feeding, plucking, pollination




Since planting of seedlings is often carried out at the end of winter, when the duration of daylight hours is still not enough to ensure full photosynthesis, the question arises of additional illumination. home greenhouse.

In the assortment of specialized shops for the garden and vegetable garden there are so-called phytolamps - LED complexes for illuminating seedlings in greenhouses. They differ from other sources of artificial light (the same incandescent lamps) by a greater efficiency of supplementary lighting due to the fact that they transmit rays of different spectra equally well:

• blue;
• red;
• purple.






Photosynthesis (the process that determines the growth and development of plants) and photomorphogenesis (the process of fruit set) reach their peak when exposed to light rays with a length of about 660 nm. This indicator is provided by a combination of red and blue light waves in a 3/1 ratio. Most phytolamps offered on the market are characterized by just such a ratio of light waves.

Another advantage of LED lamps is their efficiency - the energy consumption of such sources is several times lower than that of conventional incandescent lamps. In addition, LEDs burn out much less often.

The main disadvantage of such additional light sources is their price. High-quality phytolamps are not cheap; with small volumes of planting in a home greenhouse, a crop with such costs may not pay off. But if you make the LED backlight yourself, the savings compared to buying ready-made phytolamps will be significant.






Is it possible to assemble a phytolamp by yourself?

On horticultural forums, you can stumble upon topics describing the creation of phytolamps with your own hands using LED strips or individual LEDs fixed on metal profile... But in order to collect such a backlight for seedlings, you need to be well versed in electrical engineering. The main difficulty is assembling a current source from a resistor and a stabilizer (you can buy a special driver instead, but then the cost of the structure will be much higher). It is easier to assemble a phytolamp with your own hands according to a simplified scheme from ready-made LED lamps, which can be bought at any lighting store.

Materials and tools for assembly:

• LED lamps of red and blue color for 3 LEDs;
• a fragment of a chipboard of a rectangular shape;
• sockets for LED lamps (the number should correspond to the number of lamps);
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• soldering iron;
• fasteners;
• cord with plug.

Stages of the assembly of the structure

System assembly artificial backlight plants with LEDs according to this scheme does not provide for anything complicated. We consistently perform the following actions:










Video - Phytolamps do it yourself

Seedling lighting based on LED matrices

Above, the process of assembling a seedling supplementary lighting system from individual LEDs is described. Such systems are effective for individual boxes with seedlings a la "grandmother's balcony". For supplementary lighting of seedlings in large volumes (mini-greenhouses), it is better to use homemade lighting systems based on LED matrices. The costs of building such a device will be higher than in the first case, but still not commensurate with the costs of purchasing ready-made phytolamps for mini-greenhouses. The basis of such a system is LED matrix for plants with a double spectrum.

You will need the following components:

• LED matrices - 4 pcs;
• old processor heatsink;
• connectors for LED matrices;
• drill;
• hot glue;
• fasteners (screws);
• computer fan for 12V;
• screwdriver.

Step-by-step assembly instructions:










Video - LED phyto lamp for plants

Checking the effectiveness of the supplementary lighting system

Whichever system of illumination of seedlings you choose - factory or home-made, the principles of testing its effectiveness are the same. The main criterion for evaluation is appearance seedlings:

1. If in some parts of the greenhouse the stems are frail, of unequal length, then the plants do not have enough light. The solution to the problem may be additional illumination of the site (try to move the profile with the fixed LEDs closer to the seedlings).
2. Straight, like pick-up stems with bright green leaves indicate that the plants have enough light. In this case, you should not decrease or increase the light intensity.
3. If the leaves become sluggish, withered, most likely the backlight system "fries" a lot. Try to reduce the number of LED panels. To determine if there is overheating, hold your hand exactly over the tops of the seedlings. If you feel hot, then you have overdone the heating.
4. Remember that each crop has its own light regime. The plants themselves will help determine when to turn off the backlight. Take a closer look at their sheets: if they begin to close (stretch vertically), then it's time to put out the light. Boxes with seedlings should be illuminated not only in the dark, but also on cloudy days.

Seedling light plays just as important a role as regular watering and top dressing. We will tell you about what lighting devices to use so as not to harm the seedlings, but to maximize their quality.

1

The optimal lighting period for seedlings is 12 hours a day. It is extremely difficult to achieve such indicators in February or March due to the short daylight hours, cloudy weather. Therefore, you cannot do without the help of backlighting. It will help to extend the daylight hours, which is especially important at the initial stages of growth, evenly distribute the flow of light and prevent the seedlings from stretching, and also provide the plant with the necessary color spectrum for vegetation. the main objective when choosing a lighting device - as close as possible to natural light. A plant, like a person, needs rest, so the lights must be turned off at night.

Seedling lighting

Light has a spectral division into 12 segments, which in turn are divided into primary, secondary and tertiary colors and shades. Each of these flowers has a different effect on the plant. The most important color spectra are red and blue. Red light promotes active seed germination, seedling development and chlorophyll synthesis, and its lack causes dullness and deformation of young seedlings.

Blue light helps to inhibit the growth of the stem, especially the hypocotyl part, preventing it, which is a big problem for many gardeners. Due to the influence of blue light, cell division occurs, due to which the stem thickens and becomes stronger. Orange, yellow and green colors absolutely do not affect the development of the plant. Regular incandescent bulbs are not suitable for seedlings. They emit only a red-yellow spectrum and heat up too quickly, this can lead to burns on the leaves of the plant and disease.

2

Despite the great variety modern lamps for seedlings, fluorescent lamps and tubes are not losing their popularity. They have a fairly warm radiation, they do not overheat, which makes it possible to hang them at a short distance from the plant. The extended tubes are conveniently placed in window opening on hooks and adjustable chains. The productivity of such lamps is high. They are capable of working up to 10,000 hours without derating luminous flux.




Seedling fluorescent lamps

The color temperature of fluorescent lamps may differ, and its indicator is always indicated on the packaging and indicated by the unit of measurement K (kelvin). The lower the value, the softer the light from the lamp. Yellow tint lamps are in the range from 2700 to 3000 K, cooler tons with a blue tint - 5000-6000 K. For seedlings, it is preferable to use lamps daylight, Colour temperature which is in the range of 4000–4500 K.

Among ready-made options we recommend a lamp for illumination 3 crops of OZhZ based on three fluorescent lamps. In addition to the luminaires, the kit includes stands and a panel where lamps are suspended and inserted. The lifting height is adjustable with built-in fasteners, which is very convenient. According to the manufacturers, such lamps provide illumination of 10,000-15,000 lux, thanks to which you can get strong and healthy seedlings even in the absence of the sun outside the window.

3

Today, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are actively used in everyday life and in production. Many people recognize LEDs the best solution and for growing seedlings on the windowsill. They combine two important spectra for a plant - red and blue, as a result of their combination, a soft magenta tint... This light may be unpleasant for us, but the plant responds well to it. LED bulbs emit visible light and little heat, which allows them to be placed as close as possible to the plant without harming it.




LEDs and phytolamps Bicolor

The price range of such lamps is different, it all depends on the quality of the assembly and the power of the LEDs. However, even expensive backlights quickly pay off not only because of the high light output up to 6000 lux, but also because of the energy savings. In addition, such lamps are easy to install and operate, they practically do not require any additional devices.

Phytolamps, created on the basis of LEDs, are designed for growing any crops both at home and in a greenhouse. How not to be mistaken with the choice of phytolamp? First of all, pay attention to the lamp housing or the so-called radiator. It must be made of aluminum or some other reliable metal alloy. Such an outer shell testifies to the high power of the lamp and the quality of the luminaire itself. But it is not recommended to choose phytolamps in a plastic frame with small slots. In such luminaires, heat will collect inside the protective cap, and as a result, the lighting device can burn out and completely fail.

For home use, we recommend purchasing LED lamps Bicolor with E27 base, which can be inserted into any standard chuck. Thanks to the protective lens, the lamps have a directional spectrum of action, distributing the light beam strictly at the designated angle. The number of LEDs may vary. The most popular option is phytolamp Bicolor with 12 LEDs, the wattage of each bulb is 3W. Nine bulbs of this phytolamp are presented in the red spectrum with a wavelength of 660 nm and three bulbs in the blue spectrum - 450 nm.

The nominal power of such a luminaire is 36 W, in practice it consumes only 15-18 W, depending on the light intensity.

For the convenience of fixing the lamp, we recommend using a holder with a clothespin at the end, which allows you to fix the lamp on a bracket or on a shelf. When placing a lamp in a holder, it is desirable that it be without a lamp shade. So all the heat in the radiator will go into external environment, and not gather inside, which is extremely important in order to avoid overheating. We recommend installing two lamps on a 1.5 m window sill Bicolor.

4

Often, amateurs ask the question of how to make a backlight for seedlings? Of course, powerful lamps or complex structures it is better to purchase it in a specialized store, and for a small window greenhouse you can make your own mini-lamp.




Seedling spacer rack

An alternative to massive lamps will be a DIY ribbon illumination for seedlings. To build it you will need:

• LED bulbs with red and blue spectrum;
• thermal paste or hot melt glue;
• a piece of aluminum, profiles from furniture or any other available material for the base;
• power supply or driver;
• cord and plug.

We attach the LED bulbs to the base, after applying thermal paste or hot glue, connect them together by soldering and bring them to the power supply unit with a switch and a plug. The resulting tape can be fixed in any way convenient for you - with bolts, double tape or strong rivets. The system assembled into a single chain can be used. For a powerful luminous flux, you can make several LED strips.

5

It is not difficult to grow seedlings on the windowsill, but sometimes there is not enough space to comfortably place all the plants. In this case, it is advisable to construct special racks or install separate shelves. With the help of such designs, you will be able to save space and arrange all the seedlings in one place.

As a basis for the rack, you can use any sustainable materials starting from metal corner and ending with wooden beams from old furniture... The final design will be U-shaped. We connect the frame and shelves with screws or bolts. Using wooden beams We advise you to first make small holes for the bolts with a 1 mm drill and then slightly widen them with a larger 7–8 mm drill. This will help avoid cracking the wood.... The length and width of the rack will depend on the dimensions of your window opening. Do no more than 3 tiers in height.




Rack for seedlings at home

Above each tier, a seedling light is installed, which should not overlap daylight on the windowsill. Keep in mind that as the plant grows, the light intensity will change, therefore, when installing the lamps, you should provide chains with mounts to change the height. On initial stage growth, the backlight should be at a distance of at least 10 cm, and after the formation of cotyledons - 25–35 cm. Adjusting the light will allow you to form a strong plant, build up a green mass with a rich color and prevent the seedlings from pulling out. And if it seems to you that there is not enough light, we advise you to install reflective foil.

When choosing a suitable luminaire for backlighting, give preference to fluorescent or LED linear lamps (LED). Pay attention to the power of the bulbs, as well as the lamp housing, which should be made of aluminum. These lamps have insulated LEDs and are not afraid of humid air.

Reflectors that are installed behind the plant will also help improve lighting on the windowsill. As a reflector, absolutely any materials can be used that can transmit light through themselves and reflect it into the external environment. The simplest and budget option will become ordinary Whatman paper or sheets of white paper. Foil paper can also enhance light reflection. Such methods are effective and take up a minimum of space. Remember, reflectors can increase the scattering area, but not the intensity of the light flux, especially on cloudy days or when growing seedlings on the north side. That is why such materials must be used together with phytolamps.

The process of growing seedlings of most flowers and garden crops begins in winter. The initial stage is the preparation and germination of seeds. When the first shoots appear, summer residents pick young shoots into individual containers. At this stage, in addition, insolation is very important for the plant - getting the required amount of sunlight. Very often it is not enough because the winter day is short and the night is long. In this case, additional artificial lighting is required. It is achieved with the help of special seedling lamps.

The development of modern, innovative technologies allows the summer resident to choose the appropriate type of lighting. In stores you can find a wide range of specially combined, high-quality devices for young plants.

Experienced summer residents who have been growing seedlings for more than one year are advised to make lamps for seedlings with their own hands. It remains only to buy all the necessary components (base, choke, cable, electrical plug, lamp of the corresponding type). No special knowledge is required, you should only have basic concepts of electrical engineering.

What is the best type of lamp to choose?

There are many advantages of supplementary lighting devices, and it is rather difficult to overestimate their role in the process of seedling growth.

Firstly, artificial insolation completely imitates the flow of sunlight, therefore it contributes to the gradual development young seedling as it happens with natural light from the sun.

Secondly, thanks to good additional lighting, plants will grow "correctly", without deviations and interruptions. Many summer residents ask whether it is possible not to use lamps for home seedlings? The experts' answers boil down to the conclusion that to leave developing plants not desirable without artificial lighting. If you neglect it, such seedlings can stretch out, and the leaves will be pale and underdeveloped. In some cases, deformation of the base of young plants can be observed. This greatly affects the yield.

And thirdly, with very early cultivation seedlings (, begonia, shabo carnation, lobelia; vegetable crops-, celery, and chernukha from seeds) prolongation of daylight hours with artificial insolation is very necessary.

What to expect from a seedling lamp? How to choose suitable technology? What should you look for when choosing a plant light? Summer residents and gardeners often ask similar questions. First, you need to determine the main types of devices that are used in a modern dacha and vegetable garden:

• Phyto-lighting.
• Energy saving.

There are no conventional incandescent bulbs listed. They cannot be used for finishing the seedlings. It is too energy intensive, they do not provide the required radiation and generate too much heat. Some summer residents still combine them with other types of lighting, but this does not always provide the desired result.

Effective phytolamps for seedlings

The most effective phyto lamps for growing seedlings:

• LED lightening.
• Luminescent.
• Sodium lamps.

Seedling LED lamps ... It is not difficult to buy them today. The stores offer a wide selection of them. They emit a special light for supplementary illumination of rapidly growing sprouts during the winter short days. Many studies by scientists prove that certain spectral colors have different effects on the metabolic processes of plants. Such a lamp for illuminating seedlings must have strictly regulated ranges in order to replace the natural rays of sunlight as accurately as possible. The main colors of the spectrum are blue and red. The wavelength of the blue spectrum should be 460 nm and the red spectrum should be 660 nm. LEDs have exactly these colors in their pure form, and they significantly improve plant photosynthesis.

The basis for effective phyto-lighting in this way is LED lamps. For seedlings, it is best to use certified products. You need to buy such devices only in stores where you can require an official document. Experts note that phyto-lamps for seedlings are the most progressive method of supplementary lighting. Reviews of many summer residents say that using this technology, you can combine spectra for any culture. There are a lot of types of LEDs. This allows the desired radiations to be combined.

The indisputable advantage of this innovative technology is the economy and the ability to create illumination of seedlings with LED lamps with your own hands. To do this, you need to buy a base - special phyto-LEDs or ready-made devices (E27), and a power supply (driver). You also need a cable with a cross-section of at least 0.75, for three cores, a base (if ready-made lamps are used), and a plug to connect to power network... Such lighting is done very simply. It is necessary to connect all components to one circuit by soldering with a soldering iron and insulate the exposed areas with electrical tape.

It is recommended, for more effective illumination of seedlings with LED lamps and concentration of radiation, to make a small box of cone-shaped plywood, and cover the walls with reflective material (foil, nickel-plated metal plates). Supplementing seedlings with LED phytolamps will help every summer resident to improve their quality and yield indicators in the future.

Fluorescent lamps. For seedlings, this type of lighting is considered the most common and affordable. They serve for quite a long time, and it is not difficult to replace them. They are in the form of a glass tube, the walls of which are covered from the inside with a ball of a special substance called a phosphor (phosphorus is its basis). It helps to convert energy into light rays. Inside it is pumped under high pressure inert gas argon and a small part of mercury, which, when heated, creates vapors that are hazardous to human health. That is why fluorescent lamps for seedlings after working off should not be broken or opened. They are sent to specialized enterprises for the processing and disposal of hazardous compounds.

It should be noted that such devices in everyday life are called sources of warm light. They emit a wide range of colors, but the main color is ultraviolet, which is so necessary for many plants. Therefore, they are very often chosen by summer residents for additional cutting of young plants.

The advantage of fluorescent lamps is their size. The different lengths allow you to choose the right light for your seedlings. At home, short and medium ones are used. They can be installed on windowsills or suspended from the ceiling. Trays are usually built under them so that there is enough light emission. DIY seedling lamps can be mounted from plywood or fiberboard plates. This will save money on the purchase of ready-made fixtures. A hand-made device in terms of functionality is not inferior to production counterparts. To improve the quality of the scattering of rays, the inner part is covered with a foil ball.

Daylight fixtures have simple designs. Many people are interested in the question - how to make a lamp for seedlings? It is enough to prepare all the ingredients:

• Measure and lay out the material so that the lamp of the selected length fits there.
• The sides of the box should be trapezoidal, and the luminaire body itself should resemble a cut cone. All parts can be fixed with wood glue or small metal corners.
• When the box is mounted, plinths and starters are attached to the sides with screws or super glue. The power supply can be installed on the roof of the luminaire.
• The inner surface should be covered with foil paper or clean foil. You can use food foil for this.
• When the whole structure is ready, it is necessary to equip it with a cable with a plug for mains supply. After that, you can use it for its intended purpose.

It is necessary to install fluorescent lamps for additional illumination of seedlings at a height of 25-40 cm above the surface with placed trays. The distance must be adjusted, therefore it is recommended to make hangers for luminaires from flexible material... For this, many summer residents choose metal chains, which are easy to control and adjust the height.

It should be noted. If it is not possible to make suspensions from the ceiling, you can use wood or metal stands. Making them is also not very difficult.

Lamps are widely used to illuminate seedlings of "daylight" in large greenhouses and greenhouses of agricultural enterprises, for which the cultivation of young seedlings and garden crops is listed as a business. They allow you to cover quite large areas, providing the necessary light for many young plants. They are mounted very easily among themselves. You can buy ready-made luminaires with built-in fluorescent lamps. Some enterprises use custom-made lamps that are made for ergonomics. industrial premises and best of all provide young plants with the necessary light.

Sodium lamps. Some of the safest for the eyes and human health, they are used for supplementary lighting of seedlings, both at home and on an industrial scale (large greenhouses). Sodium lamps are best suited for supplementary lighting of seedlings with a power of no more than 100 watts. They emit mainly the red-orange spectrum of light. It is necessary for plants during flowering and the appearance of ovaries. They are very economical and serve for a long time for the benefit of the dacha economy.

It should be noted that it is possible to increase the efficiency when using sodium lamps (HPS) by including a capacitor in the circuit.

The structure of the device is very complex. It consists of a base, a glass bottle and a burner (discharge tube cylindrical). Inside the glass container are vapors of mercury and sodium, which are ignited by creating an arc. When the sodium vapor is heated with the xenon firing gas, a high pressure is created. The result of this process is the emission of orange or golden-white hues.

The lamps are launched under the activation of an electromagnetic or electronic starter. An IZU (Pulse Knocking Device), which is sold with the appliance, can also be used. Due to the relative bulkiness, many summer residents refuse sodium lamps, but they are very effective when illuminating seedlings.

Energy saving lamps for illumination of seedlings

Modern trends in the field of agrotechnical sphere allow the use of energy-saving lamps for growing seedlings. At home, they use ordinary household lamps or create a special box with built-in plinths.

It should be noted that the main advantage of this technology is bispectrality (the possibility of choosing and combining several types of lamps to ensure the emission of the required spectrum colors). Thus, you can provide the plant with the following sources:

• Daytime. Ultraviolet radiation necessary for highlighting plants throughout the entire period of development. It is also used as supplementary lighting for seedlings at any time of the day.
• Warm(Red). Indispensable during the active flowering phase.
• Cold(blue). The colors of this spectrum are necessary at the initial stage of plant development - seed germination and the appearance of the first shoots.

Induction devices are one of the most effective energy-saving technologies for supplementary lighting of seedlings.

Induction lamps ... You can often hear the question of which lamp is best for growing seedlings? More recently, another technology for supplemental illumination of young plants has appeared - induction (gas ionization using electromagnetic radiation). The light source is plasma, which is created as a result of magnetic induction. Such devices can be considered one of the most advanced, as they emit two of the most sought-after colors from the spectrum (blue and red). They are also called bispectral (bicolor seedling lamp). In addition, induction lights can heat up to 70 ° C. This advantage helps to provide warmth to the plants.

The choice of lighting technology for plants is a very important component of the quality growth and development of young plants. Seedlings develop faster under a lamp, especially during periods of short winter days or when there is a lack of daylight in greenhouses.

Principles of placement of lamps for seedlings

There are several rules for installing one or another type of seedling lamp. Lighting of plants should be carried out in such a way that it does not harm them, but, on the contrary, helps. What to do and what to look for the most when installing lamps:

1. Do not install seedling illumination from the sides of trays or containers. This can affect the evenness of the stems. All plants are drawn to the light, therefore, with lateral artificial lighting, they can deform, bend, bend. If the lighting has already been mounted using this method, it is necessary to remove it and reinstall it so that the light is at the top.
2. It is not allowed to install light sources far from the seedlings. Elongated stems and pale leaves are a sign of not keeping the distance (exceeding). In this case, it is recommended to reduce this distance by about a third.
3. It is also not recommended to install lamps too close. This can lead to burns on the surface of plant leaves. If such signs are found, it is necessary to immediately increase the distance between artificial light and seedlings.

It should be noted that each plant requires an individual approach to lighting. Only when the seedlings are developing correctly does this mean that the distance and type of lamps are selected correctly.

Which seedling lamp to choose? To do this, it is recommended to view a short overview of the most popular types of these devices from reliable manufacturers.

Seedling lamp overview

Today, many manufacturers create big choice lamps for finishing the seedlings. LED lamps, for example, have been used quite recently, since this technology is only developing, but has already found its application in gardening. This innovative method has bispectarity properties, which allows plants to be influenced by two spectra at once, which are so necessary at the initial level of development of a young sprout. What to buy a lamp for illumination of seedlings?

According to experts and experienced summer residents, the best light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are:

• Philips... The world's leading manufacturer of lighting technology. Almost any device from this company can be suitable for supplementary lighting of seedlings. The best model is Philips MAS LEDtube.
• Electrum... The Swiss brand is also represented in the seedling lighting market. Best lamp models: Electrum T8 24W G13 4000 (linear), 1.5W LC-4 GU 4 (capsule).
• Bellson... A Chinese manufacturer that has conquered its share of the lighting market niche. Most best models: T8 LED G13 (linear lamp), LED G53, Industry E
• STARLIGHT... Another leading manufacturer of lighting products in China. It offers its products in more than 40 countries around the world. The best for seedlings is the following model: Eco LT8-1040,

Seedling LED lamps are very high quality, economical and durable. They are easy to install, so creating high-quality backlighting will not be difficult.

Among gas discharge sodium lamps - Reflax for seedlings is the best solution. They stand out for the fact that they have a good effect on plants and do not irritate the eyes. You can equip your greenhouse or a place in the house that is allocated for seedlings with them without much difficulty with your own hands. The bulbs are screwed into a regular base. The only drawback is that they require a pulsed igniter, which is sold in the kit, to start them. You can buy Reflax seedling lamps at any lighting store. Many people are interested in the price of such lighting sources. It should be noted that the price of a lamp for Reflax seedlings is about 7,500 rubles.

The manufacture of sodium devices is engaged in and German manufacturer, the Osram company, which presents the opportunity to acquire the best way the device is a Plantastar 600W sodium lamp with an E40 base.

Among the fluorescent lamps there are also leaders. One of the best is the 18-watt Fluora. This seedling growing lamp, which you can buy in online stores, has proven itself well at many international exhibitions and forums. For additional illumination of plants, it is enough to install two such lamps on 1 m 2. It is one of the best in its niche market. The Flora lamp for seedlings has received numerous reviews from summer residents and quality certificates from international experts.

Also phytoluminescent lamps from a manufacturer called PAULMANN are in great demand. Especially in the trend of the model from 40 to 100 watts. They do not heat up well and can last a long time.

How to make a backlight for seedlings with your own hands?

Seedling illumination is one of the most important issues, over which every year both novice gardeners and gardeners, and experienced business executives puzzle over them. Extra light largely determines the success of the development of healthy and robust plants.

The advantages of additional lighting are:

• prolongation of daylight hours, which is especially important when growing seedlings early;
• additional light provides all-round illumination of plants, thereby preventing the stretching of the plants and their deformity;
• providing plants with the necessary spectrum guarantees their gradual development to adult crops.

Practice confirms the need and importance of supplementary lighting of seedlings of all cultures. The better to highlight the seedlings is already a more complex and multifaceted question.

Plants that have been regularly highlighted grow more hardy, strong, robust and resistant to pathogens of various infections, and the yield per plant also increases.

The feature of the backlight is the maximum approximation of the illumination to the natural spectrum of sunlight.

The most important spectra in the beam are red light, which is responsible for plant growth and development, and blue, which provides correct development cells. Taking this into account, it is recommended to select light elements in these two spectra.




In this graph, we see that in the red spectrum photomorphogenesis (fruit formation) is maximum! This should also be taken into account when designing lamps for seedlings! Pay more attention to the red spectrum!

The main ways to highlight seedlings at home

Among the options for organizing the backlight presented to date, the following methods are distinguished:

• lighting for seedlings on the windowsill without lamps;
• additional lighting of seedlings different types lamps.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, which largely determine the field of application of this or that lighting option.

Illumination without the use of lamps

To organize lighting on the windowsill, they often use simple design from a cardboard box. The top and side of the box are removed, small sides are left. This whole structure is covered with foil and installed behind the plants. Sunlight entering through the window falls on the foil and reflects on the plants, providing all-round illumination of the crop.

This method is affordable and economical, but at the same time it is quite effective. However, a significant drawback does not allow the use of such a technique for large plantings - in cloudy weather or on the north side of the house, there is not enough light and the foil will not be able to compensate for the darkening. In such cases, you cannot do without lamps.

See also: Planting cucumber seedlings in hot sawdust (video)

Lamps

• organize space - free up the windowsill. make tables in the room, build a shelving unit;
• provide fixtures for lamps - various hooks, homemade "ears";
• stretch the wire from the stationary electrical network or a generator set.

The most important process in arranging a backlight is choosing suitable lamps... Gardeners in their experiments use:

• Sodium lamps high pressure ... Provide stable warm light, which has a beneficial effect on seedlings, but at the same time lamps require additional equipment(power regulators), and also have an unnecessarily high price, which is incomparable with the yield of the average gardener.
• Phytolamps. Perfect solution for backlighting - the spectrum of violet-pink lamps is ideal for plants, but very harmful to humans, therefore it is recommended to supply such lamps with a special reflector.
• Sodium metal halide elements... Also quite affordable and effective method additional lighting of the premises, but still there is very little blue in the spectrum, and therefore the plants develop and hatch with difficulty.
• Fluorescent lamps... These fluorescent lamps are good in many ways, but still their light is too cold, and therefore poor in the red spectrum.
• Classic incandescent lamps... They are some of the most useless for supplementary lighting. Bulbs are more suitable for heating a room than for lighting it.
• LED lights... These types of lamps are among the most promising available and have whole line features that are worth talking about separately.

Benefits of LED seedling lighting

Illumination of seedlings with LED lamps gives the gardener and plants a number of undeniable advantages that are worth mentioning:

• when creating a lamp, you can combine the two most important spectra - blue and red - and create an ideal seedling lamp;
• LEDs are quite affordable, and their low cost quickly pays off;
• LED lamps consume a minimum amount of electricity, but give out a sufficient amount of light - up to 6000 lux required for the normal development of plants;
• ease of installation and ease of use have won the love of millions of gardeners.

See also: How to grow leek seedlings: from sowing to harvesting

LEDs are modern materials, which are actively used in everyday life and at work. It is quite effective to use LED lamps on the seedling racks - they illuminate the area well and do not heat the air.

To create a ribbon LED lamp will be required:

• red and blue LEDs;
• thermal paste, it can be replaced with hot melt glue, but it is more expensive;
• base - a piece of aluminum, a profile from furniture, any material at hand, up to the old ruler;
• driver or power supply - it provides current stability and the required voltage;
• cord and plug.

They are connected to each other by soldering and lead to the driver, which is respectively connected to the switch and plug. The tape is attached with bolts, double tape or rivets to the prepared surface. After that, it is assembled into a single circuit with a driver, cord, switch and plug.

Illuminated seedling rack

Building a rack will not take you much time, but it will significantly save on space for seedlings by placing containers with soil and seedlings in several tiers.

The design is extremely simple - shelves with hollow compartments for boxes. The length and width of the rack directly depends on the size of the seedling boxes. It is recommended to install no more than 3 rows in height. Each row is illuminated by its own lamp, which is attached to the bottom of the top seedling box.

What better lamps each gardener decides to highlight the seedlings for himself. Someone loves fluorescent lamps, while others consider LED bulbs to be the best. Conduct experiments and watch your pets, find a comfortable way to grow seedlings. After all, gardening is primarily a pleasure!

Read also: Video: how to grow cucumber seedlings

Video: the benefits of LED seedling lamps

In this video experienced gardener Valery Medvedev conducts an experiment with seedlings, and proves that LED lamps for seedlings are the best choice!

Video: assembling a simple LED lamp with your own hands

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