Considering that we start planting sprouts most often in January, when the daylight is particularly short, additional lighting is the rule number 1. It is necessary in the morning and evening hours. Pay particular attention to this issue if your windows are facing north or you live on the ground floor. But modern phyto-lamps are so expensive that, in aggregate, the cost of a greenhouse, such vegetables are then obtained “golden”. Really did not cope without modern technical innovations? And what can be built in the home workshop? In fact - a lot, it is only important to first deal with such concepts as "spectrum", "cone" and "svetodidody." So, do the backlight for seedlings with your own hands!

Why seedlings special lights?

With low light, the photosynthesis of plants proceeds sluggishly, the biomass grows extremely slowly, and the seedlings are ill. And each plant has its own requirements for the spectrum of illumination, but, in general, there are all the components in white daylight. And modern technology still allows you to get as close as possible to the desired parameters.

About the "necessary" and "unnecessary" spectrum

As for the "usefulness" of the spectrum, the biggest mistake is that the seedlings do not need the green light at all - because it reflects it. Actually, it is also needed as - for many important processes. Do not experiment with it!

The most complete spectrum - from sunlight. It is full of different colors and different lengths. So,

  • Blue and purple are designed to regulate cell growth so that the shoots are short and strong.
  • Red has an effect on seed germination and stimulates flowering.
  • Yellow and green - reflected from the leaf plate, but necessary.

Of course, artificial light sources with all the achievements of modern science are still far from the sun - they still have shifts to one side or the other of certain colors. Therefore, as a reflector it is better to use a matte screen - it not only increases the efficiency of the backlight, but also makes the light "diffuse" - diffused. This is much better absorbed by plants than straight and hot.

What type of lamps to prefer?

Optimum illumination is 8000 lux, and with the help of additional lamps alone you can easily achieve illumination of 6000 lux. You can use the following lamps for high-quality backlight devices:

  • Phytolamps are the most popular for growing the seedlings. They are especially effective, compact, environmentally friendly, safe, economical and durable. Paulmann fitolamps have been recognized as the best of them - they do not heat sprouts and serve for a long time. Disadvantages - emit a lilac-pink glow, which causes headaches in people. To avoid this, use external mirror reflectors.
  • Mercury lamps have the greatest "cross-section" in the field of daylight - why they are called so. For a man, this white light is just the most important, but for plants it is no longer so. They need more red and purple part. And only phyto lamps have a radiation maximum in the extreme parts of the spectrum.
  • Sodium Metal Halide Lamps  - effective and economical, easy to use, but they lack the blue spectrum.
  • Domestic sodium lamps  Reflaks high pressure. It is advisable to put several varieties: DNAZ with built-in mirror reflector, DNaTT without such reflector, DRiZ with a stable luminous flux. It is best to combine all of them, and they all emit an orange-yellow glow that does not irritate the eyes. They are only expensive, and it is necessary to additionally install a regulating device.
  • Conventional incandescent bulbs  not only inefficient, but also uneconomical. They convert only 5% of the energy into light, and the remaining 95% into heat radiation. The seedlings from this only pulled, dries and burns. Yes, probably, there is nothing easier than hanging an ordinary lamp. But, unfortunately, this is a very inefficient way. As we have already noted, it gives little light, but it is too warm and the light is shaking coolly.
  • Fluorescent lamps  LBT or LB type - these are fluorescent lamps that provide cold light. Because they are thin, you will need to put them a few pieces at once, but note that the proportion of red light in them is low. Before the container with plants, leave at least 15-35 cm.
  • Especially good lED bulbs: economical, durable, with them it is easy to choose the desired intensity and spectrum.

And which of the lamps to choose is up to you.

  • Step 1. Purchase inexpensive lamps (for example, LPO-01-2h36) and two OSRAM L36W / 765 lamps for daylight in addition to each lamp.
  • Step 2. Hang a white fabric curtain or foil reflectors behind the plants so that the seedlings have enough light from all directions.
  • Step 3. Fix the lamps on the wire hinges - this allows you to quickly make disassembly if necessary.
  • Step 4. Hang the shelves - the best option when four of them are up to 36 cm high and three are exactly 22 cm. Low ones are good for strawberries, petunias and lobelia.

With such a “system”, the shoots are quite comfortable: in the daytime the temperature reaches 26 ° С, and at night it drops to 20 ° С. At the lowest shelf, where the coolest of all, put barely sprouted seedlings - it is recommended to reduce the temperature for two or three days. The only negative: LED lamps are expensive - when grown, they will pay off only after two years.
  Video comparison of fluorescent and LED lamps:

Design LED backlighting by yourself

LEDs are convenient because they can be positioned at their own discretion. It is better, of course, to make them in two lines - for the sake of uniformity of illumination of the entire area. Also remember that each LED has a light cone with an angle of 70-120 ° C, and therefore they need to be positioned so that the projections of the cones overlap each other.

LED lamps are used already by those who have understood well what plants really need and have tried all other species. This is a conscious choice in favor of low power consumption and the ability to create your own personal spectrum. Even by combining a variety of spectra through LEDs, today they grow varieties that have never been seen before! And for good strong seedlings it is also useful to combine different spectra at different times:

  • Before the picks. Here it is better to use blue and red LEDs in the ratio of two to one. Blue well stimulates the growth of roots, but slightly slows the development of the stem - so that it grows more, not up, but in breadth. The stem is thick, and there is a small distance between the leaves.
  • After the picks.And here for a couple of days it is better to reduce the intensity of illumination. Indeed, at this time the plants are under stress, and they need a period of rest for some time. Therefore, for about a month, finish the sprouts in the ratio of 1: 1 - blue and red.

So, here's how to make your own backlight. The first step is to get several LEDs in a specialized shop:

  • Red 3GR-R in the amount of 30 pieces, with a wavelength of 650-660Nm.
  • White 3HP2S 3800-4300K ​​in the amount of 10 pieces, and pure white 4800-5300K - also 10 pieces. The first ones in their parameters correspond to the midday sun, and the latter - to the morning sun.
  • Blue 3GR-B 445-452Nm in the amount of 20 pcs.

And the drivers for them: HG2217 and RLD10 PWM. All this can be purchased also in online stores.

We implement the scheme in such a way that you can include a variety of colors and their combinations. For example, 20 blue and 20 white. The lamp body should be an industrial lamp with 2 lamps. From it, simply remove the internal filling.

We attach the LEDs with hot glue - straight to the aluminum plastic. By the way, it can be purchased at a regular hardware store. After we fasten the fans, even those that remain from the old power supplies will do.

Here's how even easier to build a LED lamp for seedlings. What you need for this:

  • Power supply 24 V and 2 A DC.
  • The power supply unit 12B for a cooler.
  • Computer cooler for cooling.
  • Anodized aluminum strip - to remove heat from the diodes.
  • Blue LED Matrix 10W Integrated High power LED.
  • Two red 10W Integrated High power LED LED arrays.
  • Wires, hot melt glue and epoxy glue.
  • Step 1. Strip the ends of the wires and coat them with melted tin.
  • Step 2. To the ends we solder the diode arrays so that the “+” and “-” from the adjacent diodes are connected.
  • Step 3. Solder the wires to the remaining ends, which are then connected to the output of the power supply. It is important that the number of diodes is chosen so that their operating voltage is totally equal to the parameters of the unit - if it is 24V, then the same amount is needed.
  • Step 4. We take a strip of aluminum and make two “ears” in it for fixing the cooler using hot melt glue.
  • Step 5. Glue the chain of diodes to aluminum - epoxy glue.
  • Step 6. Bend the edges of the aluminum strip so that it becomes a reflector.
  • Step 7. Turn on the socket - everything works!

Believe me, this is your strength!

How to check if the light came up?

It is easy to understand whether the seedlings of light are enough: if the stalks stretch, it means that they are not enough. And if the plants are straight, have wide bright green leaves - the shoots are healthy. But how to determine whether the lamp does not fry? Just put your hand right in front of the leaves - do you feel warm? If yes, then it still fries.

By the way, about when it is necessary to turn off additional lighting in the evening, the plants themselves will be prompted - their leaves will begin to close up, as it were, in an upright position. And each variety needs its own dose of light - usually around 13 hours, although there are also such crops that need everything 17.

Remember: you need to light up the plants on cloudy days. Determining whether the backlight is needed is simple: turn on the lamp, if you notice that the illumination has increased, it means that additional light is needed. If no difference - just turn it off.

Yes, in theory, all this seems difficult - but in practice everything is much simpler, try it!

Artificial lighting for seedlings grown on the windowsill is an absolutely necessary component of care. Organizing this process is more difficult than, for example, ensuring watering or loosening. To illuminate the plants correctly, you must first carefully examine their needs and characteristics of various types of lamps. Let's learn how to choose a lamp for seedlings on the windowsill.

Is it possible to do without backlighting?

It is not necessary to hope that on the lightest window sill the seedlings receive the full rate of natural light.

A scanty winter sun for a short day is categorically not enough for normal growth and development of plants.

In addition, the light falling from the window, makes the stems pull in one direction, you have to constantly turn the container.

With a properly positioned lamp, the lighting is scattered and the plants are pulled up. Natural light coming from a well-positioned window can be enhanced to a certain level with the help of a reflector made of foil, but in the morning, in the evening, and in cloudy weather, a lamp is indispensable.

What should be the additional coverage of seedlings on the windowsill?

When organizing seedling lighting, three parameters are taken into account:

  • Duration
  • Intensity
  • Light quality (spectrum)

Light day in the winter time should be extended so that it is for different plants from 12 hours to 17 hours. The optimal light intensity for most plants is 8,000 lux.

With artificial lighting, 6,000 lux are achievable, this is enough to get healthy seedlings.

The spectral composition is especially important. Sunlight contains a full spectrum, artificial should contain the most important components for plants - red and blue.

Red promotes plant growth in length, especially necessary for seed germination and early stages. The blue-violet spectrum intensifies photosynthesis, the cells actively divide under its influence, the stem thickens.

It is desirable that the luminaire device allows you to change the qualitative composition of light depending on the stage of plant development.

Types of lamps used in the cultivation of seedlings on the windowsill

There are many devices for highlighting indoor plants, but none of them can completely replace the sun. We have to choose the appropriate option, taking into account all the advantages and disadvantages, including efficiency and ease of use.

An ordinary incandescent lamp, as a lamp for seedlings on a windowsill, is not suitable, as it does not provide the desired spectrum and emits too much heat.

Fluorescent  or the so-called fluorescent lamps produce a certain amount of red in the spectrum, do not emit heat, are economical and durable.

The disadvantage is low power to get the right level of illumination, you have to install a number of such lamps, which is not very convenient.

Phytolampscurrently quite popular luminaires are also categorized as fluorescent, but designed specifically for plants and ideal in terms of light quality, they give a violet-pink spectrum - exactly what you need.

For a person, such light is harmful, therefore phytolamps must be supplied with a reflector - a screen that separates the lamp from the eyes and at the same time enhances the illumination in the desired area.

You can purchase a ready-made reflector or make it yourself from mirrors or foil attached to the frame. The matte screen is good for making the lighting more uniform.

Sodium Metal Halide Lamps  High pressures, such as Reflax, are available in several versions, including differences in the composition of the spectrum. Some of them provide for the regulation of the level of illumination with a reflector.

The cost of metal halide devices is low, they consume little energy. High-pressure sodium lamps are much more expensive, moreover, in addition to them, a power regulator is required, but the results from their use are very good due to the high power and adequate spectrum.

Lighting lED lamps  - a modern, popular and most promising way, combining the advantages of others. The main one is the possibility, by combining the elements, to receive light of almost any composition, besides being powerful and uniform.

With the help of LEDs you can provide your seedlings with ideal lighting conditions, if you have basic knowledge of the needs of plants and experiment a little. Such a lamp is easy to assemble with your own hands, then it will cost inexpensive. Energy LED lamp consumes three times less than luminescent, and the life of more than 10 years.

Manufacturing and installation of LED lamps

For the manufacture of the device with your own hands you need to buy in the store the right amount of LEDs.

In order to be able to provide the most complete range, and apply it at different stages of cultivation, practitioners are advised to purchase: 30 red (3GR-R), 10 white (3HP2c 3800 - 4000K), 10 pure white (4800 - 5300K), 20 blue ( 3GR-B) LEDs.

From this set it is convenient to make various combinations in the direction of the offset of blue or red. At the beginning of germination, before the picking stage, good results are shown by alternating red and blue diodes in the ratio of 2: 1. After the picking, a softer light is recommended - 1: 1.

The LEDs with the help of a soldering iron are combined into a circuit and connected to a power supply unit that serves as a stabilizer. With the help of hot melt or bolts attached to the base, which can serve, for example, aluminum strip or a standard ruler.

If you arrange them in two rows, the lighting will be more uniform. The distance between the elements must be maintained so that the lighting zones overlap slightly, leaving no dark gaps. A power cord with plug and switch is connected to the power supply.

Installation of fluorescent lamps

A pair of fluorescent lamps is fixed on a wooden bar about 4 cm thick. On its upper surface, in the area inaccessible to moisture, fix electronic ballast. According to the scheme indicated on it, lamps are attached via contact pads.

The lamps are carefully inserted into the clips previously attached to the bar. It is desirable to provide the lamp with a reflector. Hanging the device is better not on the loops, but on chains, so that you can change the height of its location.

You can connect a store-acquired timer to the luminaire so that the lighting mode is automatically adjusted.

Luminaire layout and backlight control

Artificial lighting allows you to place the boxes with seedlings in 2 or 3 tiers, to more economically use the space on the windowsill.

For this, a rack consisting of a number of shelves is made of wooden timber. The lamp is suspended above each box, attached to the lower part of the tier above.

The degree of illumination can be adjusted using the distance between the lamp and the seedlings, but it should not be less than 15 cm.

With a lack of light, the stems are too drawn up, they are thin and weak, and under normal lighting they are strong and dense.

As the seedlings grow, the light source will have to be raised; this possibility should be provided for in the design of the lamp and the shelving. If the lamp emits heat, then at the plant level it should not be felt with the palm.

It makes no sense to turn on the lamp when the backlight is not noticeable to the eye, this means that there is enough natural light.

In order to get early seedlings, the seeds should be planted as early as January – February, the specific dates depend on the type of plants.

To create a healthy, well-developed plant, you must observe several conditions:

  • temperature conditions. It is selected taking into account the plant, may have significant fluctuations of indications day and night;
  • indicators of air humidity, irrigation and spraying;
  • duration of daylight.

How to regulate the first two components in this article we will not consider, let's talk only about the optimal modes of light illumination.

For many hundreds of millions of years, plants have adapted to solar radiation. It is his parameters that are most favorable for them; any deviations will certainly affect development. Solar radiation consists of visible and invisible waves. The visible waves include light, the invisible spectrum includes infrared and ultraviolet waves, gamma and beta radiation. The absence of at least one component for plants becomes a stressful situation; all summer residents need to know this before choosing lighting lamps.

Currently, there are several fundamentally different types of lamps, sometimes it is difficult among them to choose the best option for highlighting seedlings. Light from which lamps is most favorable for plants?


The rest of modern fixtures should not be considered, their performance characteristics are significantly inferior to LED.

Video - Highlighting plants, seedlings. Overview of all types of plant lighting lamps

What color should be the lighting for seedlings

This is a very important topic that deserves detailed consideration. You need to know all the nuances, and only then proceed to the manufacture of seedling lighting. You can meet the recommendations to use monochrome blue and red lamps, only they provide optimal growth of plants.

What really?

First of all,  for the normal development of plants, the whole spectrum of solar radiation is needed, and which plants to use on this phase of development is chosen independently, during evolution they learned to do it much better than humans. A plant will never be able to tell which waves it is not enough for them, and which ones are abundant. It will be possible to notice this only after growth is inhibited, that is, it is already too late.

Secondly. Any seedlings before planting in open ground should undergo a gradual acclimatization and hardening in the fresh air. Plants get used not only to the temperature of the air, but also to natural light, the tempering process is always stress. Why do you yourself add light to temperature stress?

Thirdly.  Monochrome LED lamps are much more expensive and so expensive ordinary. There may be a situation when the backlight will be much more expensive than finished seedlings purchased in a store or on the market. Why then do self-cultivation?

LED lamps and so have a fairly limited range of waves, we advise to check them before making the backlight. To do this, pass a narrow beam of light through a transparent prism, the output should be a rainbow of all colors and their shades. Such a lamp will create the most comfortable conditions for seedlings. If these questions are clear, you can start making the lights with your own hands.

Step-by-step backlight making instructions

First you need to decide on the number of seedlings and their location. It is recommended to place it on the windowsill, in this place the plants will be able to receive a small amount of natural sunlight, which no lamps can fully replace (we spoke about this above). This is the situation we take as the initial conditions.

Step 1.  Calculation and preparation of the necessary materials. For the manufacture of the backlight, you will need LED lamps, cartridges, electrical cables, a switch, a plug.




For the screen you need to prepare plywood about 2 mm thick and foil.



The device should be fixed on a telescopic stand, if it is difficult to find it, you can make a stop yourself with the ability to move the lamps in height.

Devices that measure the illumination, do not buy, have to use the experience of practitioners. For lighting, it is enough to purchase 3W LED bulbs. They can be placed at a distance of 30–40 cm from each other, this will allow you to create a fairly powerful luminous flux, the regulation of the power of the flow is made by raising / lowering luminaires. If you plan to plant seedlings of very light-loving plants, then you can buy 5–6 W lamps in stock.

Step 2.  Remove the plastic cover from the lamas, collecting the rays in one stream. In our case, need a diffused light. Depending on the manufacturer, the pad may twist or snap onto the latches.

Step 3. Make a reflector. It will perform two functions: to make the light more uniform over the entire area and to serve as a framework for fixing electrical armature. The reflector can be made of plywood, fiberboard or thick cardboard, the inner surfaces are glued over with foil. How to make it?


Important. If the reflector is made of cardboard, then the bottom should be strengthened - light bulbs, cartridges and electrical cables can deform it. For reinforcement, you can use a thin wooden batten: attach it to the back of the cardboard element with a stapler or small studs.

Step 4.  Collect all the individual elements of the reflector. If they are made of plywood, then it is safer to assemble it with glue, if it is made of cardboard, then scotch tape is enough.

Step 5. Cover the reflector from the inside with foil. You should not try to make it very smooth, the existing bends will further diffuse the light.

Step 6.  Insert the cartridges into the holes and clamp them with a special mounting nut, check that all the assemblies are secure.

After that, you can proceed to the connection of electrical cables. Special knowledge is not required, but the work should be performed in compliance with the rules of the EMP. It is advisable to do the wiring from the inside of the reflector. There are no high temperatures, you should not be afraid of overheating cables, but in such a place children cannot get to the electrical contacts.

Bulbs should be connected in a parallel way, for this you need to use a terminal block. The number of terminals must correspond to the number of cartridges. Before starting the connection, you need to prepare wires; to do this, cut them in length, taking into account the location of each cartridge. Remove the insulation at the ends and prepare the cable for connection. Connect all the lights one by one, using a tester, check that the connection is correct. Everything is normal - you can connect a long wire with a plug and a switch. An ordinary hanging switch for 1–2 A will fit, the power of all the bulbs is very small.

Important note. Carefully check the reliability of the connection, each connecting bolt must be tightened at least twice. All visible connections should be isolated, access to live wires should be completely excluded.

Install the switch in a convenient place to use, it should always be easily accessible and not hinder the seedlings from developing.

How to use homemade lighting

The development of seedlings depends on the composition of the soil, the irrigation pattern, the fertilizers used, the temperature conditions and the lighting. Let's stop on the last factor, it can be controlled with the help of illumination.


As soon as personal experience of growing seedlings with the use of illumination appears, you can already experiment with different lighting modes.

We considered the manufacture of the most simple version of the backlight. If you understand carpentry, you can make more functional and durable variants of lighting from wooden slats with several degrees of freedom. They will be regulated not only by height, but also by the angle of inclination of the lamps.

Use for lighting fitolamp

A completely new design, lighting has a narrow variation in wavelength for each growth phase. Above in the article we have already stopped a little on this topic. If there is a desire, you can use fitolamps during the manufacture of the backlight, just do not expect a significant improvement in the quality of seedlings. Such lamps are considered an advertising product of manufacturers. Remember the "unique" UFO heaters. For a huge price, ordinary spiral heaters are realized, the cost of which is several orders of magnitude lower, and all performance characteristics and physical principle of operation are absolutely the same.

Video - Backlighting seedlings with LED lamps

  Usually, when growing seedlings, gardeners do not use any lighting elements, considering their purchase as a waste of money. However, if you have a lot of boxes with seedlings and everyone does not have enough space on the window sill, then the question of artificial lighting becomes much more relevant. The plants grown in the shade are much smaller and weaker than seedlings that receive a sufficient amount of light, therefore, given this fact, it makes sense to think about buying the appropriate fixtures. With proper placement and accurate selection of power device, no burns should not be afraid.

Is it possible to highlight seedlings with a conventional lamp

The cheapest option today lighting elements is ordinary incandescent lamp, but it is definitely not suitable for highlighting seedlings. Firstly, even the most powerful and expensive version of such a device will not allow you to get the necessary amount of such important blue and red light due to the limited light spectrum, and secondly, no matter what distance above the seedlings you place lights, the risk of burning still very high. That is why it is worth considering other options for the organization of artificial lighting.

Did you know? In the American city of Livermore (California) on one of the fire stations there is a so-called centenary light bulb, which has been shining almost continuously since 1901. It is noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the most durable.

Types of lamps

Among the many on the market, the luminescent and LED versions are particularly popular, but in order to understand exactly what their advantage is, it is important to study the characteristics of other fixtures: sodium, mercury, metal halide.

Fluorescent

This kind of lamp is gas discharge light sourcewhere an electrical discharge in mercury vapor provides an ultraviolet glow. Subsequently, when using a special conversion agent, it is transformed into visible light fluxes. Fluorescent lamps are characterized by much greater luminous efficacy than the usual incandescent lamps with the same power indices.
  With a more detailed study of all characteristics of fluorescent lamps, we obtain the following data:

  1. Efficiency - maximum 20-22%.
  2. Lifetime - when turned on about 2000 times, about 5 years.
  3. Light efficiency - 50-80 lm / W.
  4. Energy consumption - 15-65 W / h.
  5. Color temperature - 2700-7700 ° K (depending on the variety).

Obviously, fluorescent lights have a mass meritsBecause they not only give off much more light, but also emit various shades, while providing diffused lighting. In addition, in comparison with standard incandescent bulbs, such types of lighting elements can guarantee longer work, of course, if you are not going to use them in public places (there is a limit on the number of inclusions). Lighting in this case will be as close as possible to natural.
  As for deficiencies  fluorescent lamps, then they include the following:

  • chemical hazard due to rather high mercury content (from about 2.3 to 1 g);
  • unevenness and linearity of the color spectrum, which is sometimes hard perceived by human vision;
  • a change in the color spectrum due to the degradation of the phosphor (as a result, the light output decreases and the efficiency decreases), but this takes time;
  • with a small capacitance of the lamp capacitor it may flicker with double the frequency of the power supply;
  • availability of a starting device, which is supplied with either an unreliable starter or an expensive electronic ballast.

Did you know?The ancestors of modern fluorescent lamps were gas-discharge versions of these lamps, which appeared in 1856. The first person who managed to observe the glow of gas under the influence of current, was the famous scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.

In such types of lighting elements, the light source is sodium couplescontaining a gas discharge. Because of this, in their spectrum of light resonant radiation of bright orange color prevails. Of course, the color quality in this case cannot be called perfect, since the radiation itself is characterized by monochrome.
  Based on the value of the partial vapor pressure, all such lighting elements are divided into lamps of low and high pressure, and characteristics of luminaires are expressed in the following figures:

  1. Efficiency - maximum 30% (for high-pressure lamps).
  2. Service life - up to 16-28 thousand hours.
  3. The light output is 150 lumens / watt (in the case of high pressure lamps) and 200 lumen / watts (for low pressure lamps).
  4. Power consumption - 70-60 W / h.
  5. The color temperature is 2000-2500 ° K.

Features of the color spectrum and significant flicker with double the frequency of the mains supply allow the use of sodium lamps in street lighting, in particular decorative and architectural.

Benefits  This option are as follows:

  • long-term work;
  • relatively high light output during the entire period of operation (below 130 lm / W can be observed only at the end of the lamp service);
  • radiation comfortable for human eyes;
  • possibility of use in the cultivation of seedlings in the later periods or for other domestic purposes.


  As for deficiencies  sodium varieties, it is:

  • manufacturing difficulty due to the presence of sodium vapor;
  • poor color quality;
  • high sensitivity to sudden voltage drops in the mains (for long service, the voltage fluctuation should be no more than 5-10%);
  • the need for additional equipment (there must necessarily be a control gear, selected in accordance with the characteristics of a particular lamp);
  • the need for a simple (5-10 minutes) before re-starting;
  • low environmental safety due to the presence of sodium vapor inside the lamp bulb.


  Perhaps for domestic purposes such lamps would be appropriate (for example, for street lighting), but when growing seedlings it makes sense to consider other options, characterized by greater safety of use and a wide color spectrum.

Important! Monochrome radiation from high-pressure sodium lamps (in the orange-yellow spectrum) will be appropriate to speed up the process of budding crops, so they are sometimes installed in greenhouses.

Mercury

Discharge lamps of this type are another good light source, the optical radiation in which occurs due to discharge in mercury vapor. Based on the gas pressure in the lamp, RL is released with low, high and ultrahigh pressure. Accordingly, the partial pressure of mercury vapor is distributed as up to 100 Pa, up to 100 kPa and 1 MPa or more.

Characteristics of mercury lamps are expressed in the following indicators:

  1. Efficiency - maximum 10-12%.
  2. Service life - up to 10-15 hours.
  3. Light efficiency - 45-60 lumen / watt.
  4. Power consumption - 50-400 W / h.
  5. Color temperature - up to 3800 ° K.


  These types of lighting elements are economically unprofitable, and are most often used for lighting city streets, industrial facilities and workshops, where there are no high demands on the quality of color rendering.

Virtues  gas discharge mercury lamps are expressed in the following:

  • they are compact;
  • possess rather high luminous efficiency;
  • 5-7 times more economical than ordinary incandescent bulbs;
  • when used correctly, provide up to 15,000 hours of stable operation;
  • much less incandescent bulbs heat up;
  • reproduce different colors;
  • can work in conditions of low and high temperatures (from +50 to -40 ° C).

disadvantages  mercury lighting elements are not less noticeable, they include:

  • low color temperature (not more than 3800 ° K);
  • long ignition (7-10 minutes);
  • high susceptibility to changes in the network;
  • relatively low color reproduction;
  • long lamp cooling period;
  • reduction of color rendition, starting from the second half of the operational period;
  • low level of environmental friendliness due to the presence of mercury in the structure.


  Like sodium lamps, mercury lamps are more suitable for domestic purposes, but for the successful cultivation of seedlings in the initial stages of their capabilities will not be enough.

Metal halide

This species, as described above, represents the group high-pressure gas discharge lighting elements. However, unlike them, the metal halide provides luminescence due to the introduction of special additives into the burner - some metal halides.
The characteristics of metal halide lamps are expressed in the following terms:

  1. Efficiency - maximum 16-28%.
  2. Service life - up to 6-10 hours.
  3. Light efficiency - 80-170 lumen / watt.
  4. Power consumption - 70-400 W / h.
  5. Color temperature - from 2500 ° K (yellow light) to 20 000 ° K (blue light).

Metal halide lamps are mainly used in outdoor architectural lighting and for illuminating decorative elements, although their use in industrial and public buildings and concert scenes is not excluded. They will be an excellent solution to the issue of lighting wherever you need increased brightness and spectral characteristics as close as possible to daylight.

Benefits  IPM are as follows:

  • high light output (up to 170 lumen / watt);
  • good energy efficiency;
  • relatively high power characteristics (up to 3500 watts);
  • stable operation regardless of temperature;
  • the maximum approximation of light to the sun, so that radiation is normally perceived by the human eye;
  • small size of the lamp;
  • long term use.

  TO cons  metal halide lighting elements include:
  • higher cost;
  • a change in the chromaticity of the radiation due to power surges in the power grid;
  • long start;
  • the need for reliable lamp cover in the lamp (high voltage can lead to an explosion of the element).

Did you know?Thomas Edison's incandescent filament was made from carbonized bamboo.

LED light

Many summer residents consider the LED version of luminaires to be the optimal solution for the need for additional lighting of seedlings. This stand-alone device has many advantages, especially in comparison with many other lighting options. At a minimum, it consumes much less electricity, since the technology is based on a completely different principle of radiation. In addition, the outgoing light as close as possible to natural sunlight, which has a beneficial effect on plants.
Characteristics of modern LED lamps are represented by the following values:

  1. Efficiency - maximum 99%.
  2. Service life - up to 100,000 hours;
  3. Light efficiency - 10-200 lumen / watt;
  4. Energy consumption - 1 W / hour (per diode).
  5. The color temperature is 2700-6500 ° K.

Various design features of LED lighting elements allow you to use them absolutely in any places: for example, tapes are easy to fasten to furniture, and lamps can be screwed into ordinary sockets.
  Among the main advantages  allocate:

  • low electricity consumption (only 10% of the consumption of standard incandescent bulbs);
  • long service life without a significant reduction in the quality of radiation;
  • high resistance to mechanical stress;
  • environmental friendliness (LEDs do not need any harmful substances);
  • the possibility of regulating the intensity of the glow;
  • low voltage in working condition;
  • fast warming up to maximum light intensity;
  • lack of serious heating of the case.


  Significant deficiencies  LEDs do not, however, it is worth noting their sensitivity to elevated temperature (it is impossible to apply in saunas), the lack of complete information about the characteristics on the packaging, but this is more likely due to dishonesty of manufacturers.

Which lamp is better to use for growing seedlings: fluorescent or LED

After considering all possible types of luminaires for illuminating seedlings, in our opinion, only two of them can be called: lED and fluorescent. Gas-discharge varieties (mercury, sodium and metal halide) are not always able to provide the necessary conditions for plants. For example, in mercury lamps, the flux of light is almost two times less than in others, and sodium because of its bright yellow-orange glow is more suitable for flowers and to illuminate crops in the late periods of cultivation.

Important!Sodium varieties of lamps can not be plugged in immediately into the outlet, they have a special connection.

As for the metal-halide lighting elements, this is the most expensive option, and it is better to use it in cases when vegetative development is preferable, rather than flowering. Conventional incandescent bulbs should not even be considered, since instead of the desired seedlings of the blue-red spectrum, they emit a rich yellow-red, they quickly heat up and do not fit well into the overall interior.

Given all the above, it is only logical to consider two options for seedling lighting: using fluorescent and LED lamps. The first ones are distinguished by the full luminescence spectrum (of course, with the right choice and connection), and the second ones are characterized by low power consumption and the possibility to choose a specific variant of the lighting element for any stage of seedling development: first, the blue color should be dominant, and the red-orange one should be complementary.
  It is believed that LEDs have more favorable characteristics in comparison with luminescent lighting elements, but one should not forget about the importance of correct location. If the LED light beam will be directed directly to the box, and the energy-saving fluorescent lamp is fixed too high, then it is clear that the light from it will be diffused, and not reaching the plants. However, LED lighting elements are considered to be popular today, so it is worth exploring them more closely.

How to choose a LED lamp for plants

Unlike many other luminaires, the LED group has a large variety of design variations, which can also be characterized by individual functional features.

Lamp type

In appearance, the LED design emit lamps (mainly round and square), ordinary light bulbs (screwed into the base) and LED strips that can be attached anywhere. Popular forms include "corn", "flask" and LED tubes (especially T8 or G13).

LED in shape tubes  - a good solution if you need to slightly change the tubular fluorescent lamp, since the new elements fully correspond to their size and the location of the contacts (the LEDs are placed on the board along the entire length of the lamp).
Tube lamp  The form flasks  - the most common type of lamp that can be found with both SMD and COB LEDs. Most often it is a matte flask, which guarantees good dispersion of light fluxes. Also an attractive option will be the varieties with filament LEDs, which look very similar to standard incandescent bulbs, only long LEDs take the place of the spirals.
Corn Lamps  got its name from the cylindrical shape and the surface, covered with SMD-LEDs. This design of the lighting element allows for a good distribution of light fluxes and high power of the lamp itself.
  When choosing a LED lighting element, it is important to consider the type of base (of course, if we are not talking about the tape).

They are divided into the following types:


Important!When arranging space for seedlings, the GX 53 base will be appropriate, since lamps with such a connector are excellent for overhead and built-in lamps on the furniture or the ceiling.

Number of LEDs

Modern LED strips for plants can have a different color ratio (red to blue). This is 10: 3, and 15: 5, and 5: 1. The best option in most cases is considered the latter, in which there is 1 blue for 5 red LED bulbs. True, such a solution can be called optimal only if the seedlings are on the windowsill and receive additional lighting from the street.
  As for the total number of LEDs, this value will depend on the area of ​​your plantings in pots and glasses. On 1 square. m is usually enough 30-50 W of LED power, that is, 30-50 pieces of LEDs of 1 W each. However, these values ​​will be valid only when it comes to the additional lighting of seedlings on the window sill, otherwise the number of diodes will have to be increased.

Power

The brightness of the radiation directly depends on the power characteristics of the LED lamps. Thus, lighting elements of 2-3 W can provide a luminous flux of 250 lm, 4-5 W - 400 lm, and 8-10 W - 700 lm. However, these indicators are not enough for most of the cultivated crops, so we recommend focusing on the power of 25-30 W, which allows you to get 2500 liters. If necessary, you can install several such lamps.

Glow spectrum

Consider the effect of different types of rays on the culture:

  • red (720–600 nm long) and orange rays (620–595 nm) are the main sources of energy for successful photosynthesis, and it is on them that the rate of change of all processes within the process depends. An excessive amount of such radiation will slow down the transition of the plant to the flowering phase;
  • blue and violet rays (490-380 nm) are responsible for the production of proteins in culture and accelerate flowering;
  • ultraviolet rays (315-380 nm) reduce the rate of "forcing out" of plants and contribute to the development of individual vitamins, while similar rays with a wavelength of 280-315 nm increase their frost resistance;
  • yellow (595–565 nm) and green (565–490 nm) radiation have practically no effect on the vital activity of plants and do not carry significant benefits.

 Consideration of all these features is necessary for proper selection of lighting. Glow conventional LED elements as close as possible to natural lighting and meets all the needs of seedlings, but if you want you can buy the so-called "multispectrum" lamps. According to manufacturers, these fitolampy designed specifically for the growth and development of seedlings and support them better than conventional light sources.

Does it make sense to overpay when buying such a lamp - it is unequivocally difficult to answer, because even with ordinary LEDs, seedlings grow well. The only thing you should not forget is the presence in the radiation of the blue and red color spectrum, as well as the optimal placement of lighting elements.

Important!Excessive light leads to partial destruction of chlorophyll, and, as a result, yellowing of leaflets. If you do not pritenit seedlings may cause burns.

All existing varieties of LED lighting elements are produced for different purposes, so it is not surprising that each of them can have its own protective coating on the shell. It is the degree of protection that makes it possible to determine whether the lamp can be installed outdoors, in a dusty or damp room, or in a pool.

Usually this indicator is marked by the manufacturer on the package with LED and consists of two numbers: the first one indicates the class of protection against dust and mechanical damage, and the second one indicates the level of protection against moisture. More accurate values ​​for LED lamps are given in the table:

Price range and manufacturer

The effectiveness of LED lamps and the long-term nature of their work directly depends on the manufacturer’s good faith, therefore, when choosing a specific lighting element, it is worth paying attention to this indicator. One of the most reliable and time-tested companies are Optogan, Optocoupler, Artleds from Russia, as well as Agilent Technologies, a world-famous manufacturer that has been producing the described lamps for years.

Optek Technology, Edison, Philips Lumileds, Toshiba, which offer lighting elements of the most diverse configuration to the consumer, are considered to be equally well-known suppliers of LED products.

As for pricing, it all depends on the type of product (lamp, lamp or ribbon) and its power characteristics: you can spend as a couple of dollars, and several dozen.

Lighting for seedlings: the calculation of the number of lamps

Choosing a good LED lamp does not guarantee the desired result, as one lamp can not cope with many plants. If you have several boxes, it is better to pre-calculate the required number of lighting elements, taking into account following factors:

  • the type of crop grown and its need for light (usually a value of 6000 lux is sufficient);
  • the angle of installation of the lamp (allowed both horizontal and vertical placement);
  • distance from the lamp to the top of the sapling;
  • the area you want to light.


  We give an example of the correct calculation for. For high-quality lighting of seedlings that are in a pot of 0.6 square meters. m will need 5000 lux, so multiply this value by the available area of ​​plantations (0.6 sq. m.) and we get 3000 lm - the value of the optimal luminous flux for a particular case. The lamp itself can be placed horizontally, at a distance of 15-20 cm from the planting surface.

Important!A certain percentage of the luminous flux can be absorbed by the walls and objects placed in the room, especially if the light source is far from the plants. To compensate for these losses, it is desirable to purchase a lamp 10-30% more powerful.

How to fix the lamp: the distance from the lamp to the seedlings

Modern lamps are already sold with ready mounts, and you just have to fasten them with screws to the support.
  If possible, preference should be given to those species that will later allow the height of the lamp to be adjusted due to the supplied chains, because with the growth of seedlings it may be necessary to change the position of the lighting element.

On average, at least 25 cm of free space should be kept from the LED phyto lamp to the plants. When doshedivanii plantings fluorescent lamps with a capacity of 300-400 watts per 1 square. m, acceptable lighting will be provided only when the lamp is located at a distance of 20-30 cm.
  If the seedlings are located far from the window and natural light doesn’t get into it at all, then it is no longer a reflection on light, but full coverage. In this situation, the lamp should hang at a height of 60-70 cm, but the exact zone of "illumination" will depend on the light-loving culture. An approximate circle of "illumination" in the ratio of the diameter and the height of the suspension of the lamp looks like this:

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Rules for lighting up: how not to harm the plants

An overabundance of light is also undesirable for seedlings, as well as its lack, therefore, when lighting up your seedlings it is worth adhering to certain rules:

  1. It is advisable to sow the seeds in March or April, when there is enough daylight (no lamp can completely replace the sun).
  2. With a normal daylength for 12 hours (the light constantly hits the seedlings), the lamps can not be installed, and to increase the lightness, simply install reflective screens (for example, foil, mirror or just a white paper sheet) next to the boxes.
  3. If the lighting is still done, it is necessary to take into account the change of photoperiods: day and night. Plants have to get used to the regime, because playing with light can have a bad effect on their development.
  4. Each type of cultivated plant should have its own additional lighting mode and photoperiod duration: for example, almost any vegetable needs a certain amount of natural daylight, and some flowers prefer penumbra.

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  - it's not easy. It is drawn out, becomes pale, or is affected by a fungal disease. However, experienced gardeners have learned how to grow strong and healthy seedlings. They know that the plant, first of all, needs light. Its lack does not allow to grow up full-fledged shoots.

Therefore, the backlight plays a key role in the difficult business of growing seedlings. With it, sprouts get everything they need for growth. Illumination for plants is needed, despite the skeptical comments of some gardeners, they say, and so grow. Consider the choice of lighting for plants.

In the open ground, plants receive the entire spectrum of solar radiation. But putting them in the living room, the picture changes. Culture loses the most useful radiation - blue and red. It is these spectra that contribute to the development of healthy, developed and strong seedlings. Under apartment conditions, it is impossible to give them useful light.

But the illumination solves the problem, it provides the plants with blue and red radiation - sprouts do not stretch, do not fade and do not get sick.

The plant's immune system is getting stronger. Now I understand why we need additional lighting seedlings. Moreover, it can be used to grow plants all year round and provide them with a full day of light, even if it is artificial. Moreover, the red color helps the development of already grown seedlings, and the blue forms tiny, barely sprung sprouts, it participates in photosynthesis - the leaves become that very healthy green shade, but not pale.

The benefits and benefits of additional lighting are no longer discussed, everything is clear without further arguments, it is necessary for plants as well as water. Consider the types of lamps and figure out what to choose from a large range in garden centers.

The correct choice of illumination is based on the calculation of the number of suites and lumens per area occupied by seedlings. First you need to understand the most important characteristics of the lamp - what is a suite and what is lumen. The latter denotes the unit measuring the luminous flux. A suite shows the degree of illumination of 1 m2 of luminous flux. It is on the suites and you need to pay attention when buying a backlight. Ideally, the number of suites should be no less than 8,000. If the area with a seedling is larger than 1 m2, lamps are needed that would total 8,000 liters per square meter. That is, as a rule, one device is indispensable.

On a standard window sill need at least two lamps.

When choosing a backlight, you should also pay attention to the type of radiation - must be red and blue without fail. The uniformity of illumination plays a large role, otherwise the plants will develop unevenly. So, there are several types of lighting:

  • Phyto lamp

Let us examine each view and see what to choose for a home greenhouse for the benefit of green pets.

Popular among gardeners type of lighting. It also provides useful radiation, and saves electricity, as is evident from the name of the lamp. The backlight is inexpensive, serves for a long time. With its help, the gardener grows quite healthy and strong seedlings.

Energy saving lamps are the most common and widely used types of backlighting in gardening.

However, energy-saving backlights are usually weak. Specifications indicate insufficient suites and lumens. Therefore, even on a standard window sill you will need 2-3 lamps or more depending on the area. Otherwise, the plants will reach for the only "sun", which is not enough for everyone. Stems will be crooked and rather weak.

Another alternative type of lighting, which is used by gardeners. It is certainly not designed specifically for seedlings, but its effectiveness is evaluated and used.

When choosing these lamps should pay attention to the technical characteristics.

The color temperature index, which is indicated by the letter “K”, must be above 4 500. What does this mean? The higher this figure, the more blue radiation the plant will receive. A mark of 4 500 corresponds with sunlight. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to this parameter. From a low rate there will be no sense. Alternatively, a fluorescent lamp can be used for illumination, but a phyto lamp, of course, will not replace it.

  Phytolamps

This type of illumination is designed specifically for flora and includes subspecies. On them and dwell for a more detailed study. Allocate:

  • LED. These lamps are very comfortable. These are small appliances that consume a small amount of electricity. Efficiency is large, it is considered the best option for lighting seedlings. The lamp takes into account all types of radiation necessary for the normal development of crops.
  • Metal halide. These devices are ideal for growing plants. They include useful emissions with good light transmission. Moreover, the efficiency of metal halide lamps is higher than that of mercury lamps. They use metal iodides, not just mercury.
  • Sodium. These lamps are used for growing already grown seedlings. The fact is that the prevailing hue in the backlight is red. He is responsible for the immunity of culture, gain strength c. However, it is also suitable for seedlings.
  • Induction They differ from their fellows "endless" period of work - up to 100,000 hours. That is, once you have purchased such a lamp, you can forget about replacing or buying a new one - definitely enough for the gardener's age. According to all characteristics, the lamp is optimally suited for highlighting plants. It emits both blue and red spectrum.

These types of lighting are actively used in specialized garden centers, greenhouses and winter gardens. Experienced gardeners prefer them, since the lighting efficiency of phyto lamps far surpasses their fellows.

All these types of fitolamps should be in the arsenal of a professional gardener who does not deny the need for light for green pets, especially in early spring. They will help grow healthy and strong.

Installation of the backlight is based on the technical characteristics of the device. Remember suites and lumens? From their number and indicators of the transmission of light and lamps are installed. That is, the plant should receive enough light.

Even if the gardener purchased an LED device with good characteristics, this does not mean that one lamp will be enough for a large area with seedlings. On a standard window sill, for example, you will need two phyto lamps. Install them vertically, not from the side or bottom.

Special devices do not heat, but illuminate, so do not be afraid to lower the lamp above the plants.

The distance from the device to the plants will be about 30-40 cm, depending on the culture. If you install the lamps on the side, the seedlings will start to bend towards the light, which is undesirable. If the leaves begin to grow rough around the edges - the lamp is too close. That is, look at the plants and adjust the distance between the lights.

The use of backlighting should be efficient and useful. Therefore, it is important to follow the basic rules for the use of lighting equipment for seedlings. First of all, it is necessary to consider the planting season:

  • If it is February or even January, the lights should work daily - 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening. That is, you need to light up the light day to the standard summer day.
  • In March and April there are much more light hours than on winter days. Therefore, it is advisable to use lamps for 2-3 hours in the morning and evening.

Shoots, just appeared, many light up around the clock. But this is not entirely correct. The biological process of development implies a rest period - night. Plants also need it, like all living things. Therefore, the seedlings should be lit standard 12 hours, not more.

The period of highlighting will also fall on a day on cloudy days. The end of April, May does not require additional coverage. Seedlings are already being carried out to fresh air for hardening, where plants receive a daily rate of true sunlight. The use of illumination depends on the region, planting period and day length. Consider these factors. So the lighting devices will give a useful and effective result.

When using fluorescent lamps, the light is scattered so much that cultures do not receive enough of the prescribed solar diet. Experienced gardeners have come up with a trick - they construct partitions of white paper or foil. These materials collect light and reflect it on seedlings. So useful lighting does not "run" around, but focuses on plants.

If the containers are located on the windowsills, the backlight can be attached to special, removable pins.

They are attached to the upper horizontal surface of the frame, lighting equipment is hung on them. At the end of the season they are removed and cleaned until the next spring.

Boxes with seedlings preferably placed on the eastern or western windows. So do not have to spend too much on electricity, despite the use of special lamps. The fact is that there is more sun in the west and east than in the north. The use of equipment will be reduced by a couple of hours. The south side, although sunny, is not recommended for growing seedlings. Young seedlings can burn on the windowsills due to direct sunlight.

Illumination is needed for every gardener who is engaged in growing not only seedlings, but also all-season crops. Having understood why it is needed and what types of lighting lamps are suitable for green pets, you can purchase helpers for growing healthy and strong seedlings. Also do not forget about the simple, basic rules of care for young seedlings.

More information can be found in the video: