Indoor plants do not always have enough light at home. Without this, their development will be slow or incorrect. To avoid this, you can install LEDs for plants. It is this lamp that is able to give the necessary spectrum of color. LED lamps are widely used for lighting greenhouses, conservatories, indoor gardens and aquariums. They are a good substitute for sunlight, are inexpensive and have a long lifespan.
Photosynthesis of plants is a process that takes place with sufficient light. Also, the following factors contribute to the proper development of plants: ambient temperature, humidity, light spectrum, length of day and night, carbon sufficiency.
Determination of light sufficiency
If you decide to install lamps for plants, then you need to do it as correctly as possible. To do this, you need to decide which plants lack the beam, and which it will be redundant. If lighting is designed in a greenhouse, then it is necessary to provide for zones with a different spectrum. The next step is to determine the number ofLEDs. Professionals do this with a special device - a luxmeter. You can also make calculations on your own. But you have to dig a little and design the right model.
If the project is for a greenhouse, there is one universal rule for all kinds of light sources. When the height of the suspension increases, the illumination decreases.
LEDs
The spectrum of color radiation is of great importance. The optimal solution would be red and blue LEDs for plants in a ratio of two to one. How many watts the device will have is not a big deal.
But more often single-watt ones are used. If there is a need to install diodes yourself, then it is better to purchase ready-made tapes. You can fix them with glue, buttons or screws. It all depends on the provided holes. There are a lot of manufacturers of such products, it is better to choose a well-known, and not a faceless seller who cannot give a guarantee for his product.
Length of light waves
The spectrum of natural sunlight contains both blue and red. They allow plants to develop mass, grow and bear fruit. When irradiated only with a blue spectrum with a wavelength of 450 nm, the representative of the flora will be undersized. Such a plant will not be able to boast of a large green mass. It will also bear fruit poorly. When absorbed in the red range with a wavelength of 620 nm, it will develop roots, bloom well and bear fruit.
ProsLEDs
When a plant is illuminated with LED lamps, it goes all the way: from sprout to fruit. At the same time, during this time, only flowering will occur during the operation of the luminescent device. LEDs for plants do not heat up, so there is no need for frequent airing of the room. In addition, there is no possibility of thermal overheating of flora representatives.
Such lamps are indispensable for growing seedlings. The directivity of the radiation spectrum contributes to the fact that the shoots grow stronger in a short time. Another advantage is the low power consumption. LEDs are second only to sodium lamps. But they are ten times more economical than incandescent lamps. Plant LEDs last up to 10 years. Warranty period - from 3 to 5 years. By installing such lamps, for a long time you will not have to worry about replacing them. Such lamps do not contain harmful substances. Despite this, their use in greenhouses is very preferable. The market today represents a large number of different designs of such lamps: they can be suspended, mounted on a wall or ceiling.
Cons
To increase the intensity of radiation, LEDs are assembled into a large structure. This is a disadvantage only for small rooms. In large greenhouses, this is not essential. The disadvantage can be considered a high cost compared to analogues - fluorescent lamps. The difference can be up to eight times the value. But diodes will pay for themselves after several years of service. They can save a lot of energy. A decrease in luminosity is observedexpiration of the warranty period. With a large greenhouse area, more points of lighting are needed compared to other types of lamps.
Lamp Radiator
It is necessary that heat is removed from the device. It will be better done by a radiator, which is made of an aluminum profile or a steel sheet. Less labor will require the use of a U-shaped finished profile. Calculating the area of the radiator is easy. It should be at least 20 cm2 per 1 watt. After all the materials are selected, you can collect everything in one chain. LEDs for plant growth are best alternated by color. In this way, uniform illumination will be obtained.
PhytoLED
Such a new development as a phyto-LED can replace conventional counterparts that shine in only one color. The new device in one chip has collected the necessary range of LEDs for plants. It is needed for all stages of growth. The simplest phytolamp usually consists of a block with LEDs and a fan. The latter, in turn, can be adjusted in height.
Daylight lamps
Fluorescent lamps have long been at the peak of popularity in domestic gardens and orchards. But such lamps for plants do not fit the color spectrum. They are increasingly being replaced by phyto-LED or special-purpose fluorescent lamps.
Sodium
Such a strong saturation light, like that of a sodium apparatus, is not suitable for placement in an apartment. Histhe use is expedient in large greenhouses, gardens and greenhouses in which plants are illuminated. The disadvantage of such lamps is their low productivity. They convert two-thirds of the energy into heat and only a small part goes to light radiation. In addition, the red spectrum of such a lamp is more intense than the blue.
Make the device yourself
The easiest way to make a plant lamp is to use a ribbon that has LEDs on it. Need it red and blue spectra. They will be connected to the power supply. The latter can be purchased in the same place as the tapes - in a hardware store. You also need a mount - a panel the size of the lighting area.
Production should begin with cleaning the panel. Next, you can glue the diode tape. To do this, remove the protective film and stick it to the panel with the sticky side. If you have to cut the tape, then its pieces can be connected with a soldering iron.
LEDs for plants do not need additional ventilation. But if the room itself is poorly ventilated, then it is advisable to install the tape on a metal profile (for example, aluminum). Lighting modes for flowers in a room can be:
- for growing far from the window, in a shaded place, 1000-3000 lux will be enough;
- for plants that need diffused light, the value will be up to 4000 lux;
- flora that need direct light - up to 6000 lux;
- for tropical and those thatbear fruit - up to 12,000 lux.
If you want to see indoor plants in a he althy and beautiful form, you must carefully satisfy their need for light. So, we found out the advantages and disadvantages of LED lamps for plants, as well as the spectrum of their rays.
