Illumination of indoor plants in winter. How to choose the right lighting for indoor flowers

An important component of full growth indoor plants is a light for home flowers. The lack of natural light, which negatively affects growth and flowering, can be compensated for by artificial lighting for indoor plants. Additional lighting also promotes the rooting of young shoots and seedling growth.

Why do plants need light?

An important factor in the life of house flowers is light. It is involved in the process of photosynthesis, when nutrients - carbohydrates and oxygen - are released from water and carbon dioxide. The process occurs in the leaves, which absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight. Carbohydrate compounds accumulate in the roots and feed the plant.

With the onset of darkness, the reverse process occurs - “night breathing”, when oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is released.

Shortage sunlight for home flowers leads to a reduction in absorbed energy, the plant does not produce carbohydrates in the required quantity, weakens, the stems become thinner and the leaves become lighter.

Signs of low light

The following external signs indicate a lack of light:

Changing the natural color of leaves
The lower leaves of indoor plants turn yellow and fall off. On young shoots, leaves appear pale and smaller in size. The color of variegated plants loses its brightness, the pattern disappears, and they become simply green
The stems stretch towards the light and bend
The difference between the length of internodes in summer and winter can be 2-3 times
New flower buds are not formed, adult flowers fall off, and young buds are small and do not bloom

Lighting requirements for houseplants

The illumination of the room depends on the size of the windows and their location relative to the sun. It changes with the appearance of cloudiness, depending on seasonality, daily time, and the presence of shady trees and shrubs outside the window. It is known that solar Activity much stronger in the evening than in the morning. Light for house flowers can be both a helper and a pest, so it is important to take into account all the features.

The most illuminated place will be the room on the south side. The window sill on the east and west sides is also illuminated. A place in the room at a distance of 1-2 m from the window, except for the north side, is considered partial shade. Near the north window, the place in the immediate vicinity will be partial shade. Shaded areas include areas at a distance of 2-3 m from windows to the west and east, 3-4 m on the south side, and at a distance of 1-2 m on the north.

Shade-tolerant species are not left in bright sun; a distance of 3 m on the western or eastern side would be optimal. On short winter days they are moved closer to the window.

Flowers that love partial shade require a lot of diffused light. This category includes kokedama, zemnokulkas, alocasia. They also require cool air to grow properly. Medium lighting for indoor plants will ensure placement by a window or on a windowsill from the east or northeast.

Houseplants that require bright light summer heat make shading to prevent burns and drying out. To protect from direct sunlight, use blinds that diffuse light or move the flowerpot a meter from the window. A bright location for flowers will be in the west or southwest. In winter they are moved to the southern windowsill.

Houseplants native to desert, semi-desert and Mediterranean climates are not afraid of exposure to the sun. For example, cacti and succulents can be placed on a south-facing window.

Which window should you place your favorite flower on?

East side

On the east side, soft light for indoor plants occurs only in the morning. It is favorable for the following colors:

Asparagus, azalea
Begonia, gardenia
Dieffenbachia, dracaena
Clerodendrum, crossandra
Arrowroot, nepenthes, nephrolepis
Roicissus and poinsettia
Certain types of ficus, philodendron
Chovea, Eschynanthus and Aechmea

In the southern regions, these flowers are placed in the northeast, in the northern regions - in the southeast.

South side

The windows of the southern rooms are filled the maximum number Sveta. In the northern regions here the best place for flowers.

Abutilone, brugmansia
Gloriosa, hibiscus
Indoor rose and jasmine
, cacti
Pachystachys, passionflower
Setcreasia, succulents
Thunbergia, ficus benjamina, date
Hoya, chlorophytum, yucca

On hot days, flowers on a south window should be ventilated and periodically sprayed to compensate for dry air.

West side

The windows on the west side are illuminated by the sun at sunset. The arrangement of flowers here is especially appropriate for summer days in the southern regions.

A room facing west maintains a constant daily temperature, which is beneficial for flower growth.

Suitable for Western rooms:

North side

The northern windows receive little light and remain in shadow throughout the day. Plants in rooms are installed no further than 2 m from the window.

Flowers for northern shade:

Lighting for flowers

Lamps for indoor plants are selected according to two parameters: light intensity and luminous flux spectrum. The spectrum of natural light ranges from ultraviolet to infrared rays.

Lamps do not fully provide the entire spectrum of radiation. It is necessary to provide red and blue-violet light for indoor plants as the most necessary.

The growth of greenery is favored by blue-violet light, red rays accelerate the emergence of sprouts in seeds and the development of shoots, chlorophyll absorbs radiation from the red and blue spectrum.

Various types of lamps are suitable for additional illumination:

Luminescent
Gas discharge
Sodium and metal halide
LEDs
Phytolamps

The spectrum of fluorescent lamps is as close as possible to natural. In addition, they hardly heat up, which eliminates the possibility of burns on the leaves. Used for illumination fluorescent lamps white (3500K) or warm white (2700K) light. Their use allows for long-term flowering of balsams and Saintpaulias.

Sodium and metal halide lamps have high luminous efficiency, consume little energy and last a long time. To connect, you will need a pulse-type ignition device, a switch and a timer. Fixtures are effective for illuminating a small group of plants. I install them at a height of 1.5 m.

Conventional electric lamps emit light in the wrong spectrum for plants and also become very hot, which can cause burns. An excess of the red-orange spectrum in incandescent lamps accelerates the vertical growth of plants and they become excessively elongated.

The combination of LED lamps with different spectra allows you to obtain the necessary lighting for indoor plants, promoting vegetation.

Phytolamps for indoor flowers generate light in the blue and red range of the spectrum, which accelerates chemical reactions and has a positive effect on growth. The combination of two light streams produces purple (pinkish) light, which is unpleasant to the human eye.

Lamps for indoor flowers are installed at a height of 15-80 cm. Lamps with a power of up to 400 W are placed at a distance of 15-50 cm, with a power of 600 W - 50-80 cm above the plant. Powerful 1000 W lamps are installed at a height of 1 m.

The installed lamp must provide uniform illumination. It is advisable to install a reflector for maximum light transmission.

There is no need for round-the-clock lighting on the gloomy days of the winter months. It is enough to extend the daylight hours for 3-4 hours. Excess light causes plants to wilt. Darkness is also needed for biological processes. The regularity of the change of day and night is reflected in flowering.

Spectacular plant lighting

Additional lamps for indoor plants have been used since decorative purpose. The light source helps highlight the beauty of the plant and enliven the interior.

Changing the location of the light and the angle of incidence of the rays can present the plant differently.

Looks great large species with a tree-like stem, when the lamp is placed below or slightly to the side. For thin-stemmed plants with loose leaves, back and side lighting is suitable.

Simultaneous double-sided illumination of indoor plants adds mystery; the interweaving of light and shadow, combined with the play of color, enhances the graphic nature of the contour and leaf mosaic.

Watch also the video

To each experienced florist We know the huge role that properly selected lighting for indoor plants plays. Along with watering and soil, light is an indispensable component on which successful growth directly depends. It is no secret that in the natural environment, some plants thrive in shaded areas, while others cannot develop without direct exposure to sunlight. At home, the situation looks similar. Let's talk in detail about how to properly make artificial lighting for indoor plants.

Decorative lighting and lighting for plant growth

A lamp for growing indoor plants is a great way to extend daylight hours. After all, many indoor flowers are of tropical origin, which means they experience a daily lack of solar energy, especially in winter. For effective plant growth, the daylight hours should be about 15 hours. Otherwise, they weaken, stop blooming and are susceptible to various diseases.

When planning the future illumination of indoor flowers, it is important not to miss the aesthetic component. The phytolight should become part of the interior, a unique decorative element. There are a huge number of lamps on sale with wall mount of different shapes, for any energy-saving lamp: CFL or LED. Depending on the size of the home flower garden, lighting can be made from several spot lights aimed directly at each green pet, or from tubular fluorescent lamps with a reflector. Using your own imagination, you can make an original LED phytolight yourself.

The most important component of growth is the light spectrum

In order to understand how inhomogeneous light is from different electrical sources and the sun, you need to look at their spectral composition. The spectral characteristic is the dependence of the radiation intensity on the wavelength. The solar radiation curve is continuous throughout the visible range with a decrease in the UV and IR regions. The spectrum of artificial light sources in most cases is represented by individual pulses of different amplitudes, which as a result gives the light a certain hue.

During the experiments, it was found that for successful development, plants do not use the full spectrum, but only its individual parts. The following wavelengths are considered the most vital:

640–660 nm – velvety red color, necessary for all adult plants for reproductive development, as well as for strengthening the root system;
595–610 nm – orange color for flowering and fruit ripening;
440–445 nm – purple for vegetative development;
380–400 nm – near UV range to regulate the rate of growth and formation of proteins;
280–315 nm – mid-UV range to increase frost resistance.

Lighting with only the listed rays is not suitable for all plants. Each representative of the flora is unique in its “wave” preferences. This means that it is impossible to fully replace the sun's energy using lamps. But artificial lighting of plants in the morning and evening hours can significantly improve their life.

Signs of lack of light

There are a number of signs by which it is easy to identify a lack of light. You just need to take a close look at your flower and compare it with the standard. For example, find a similar view on the Internet. A clear lack of illumination manifests itself as follows. The plant slows down its growth. The new leaves are smaller and the stem becomes thinner. The lower leaves turn yellow. The flower either stops blooming completely, or the number of buds formed is less than the statistical average. It is assumed that watering, humidity and air temperature are normal.

How much light do you need?

It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. How can a person live in different parts the globe and indoor flower can grow on a windowsill facing north, south, west or east. Throughout its life, the plant will strive to adapt to current conditions: stretch upward due to lack of light or, conversely, expose the next blossoming bud to the sun’s rays.

By observing the appearance of the stems and leaves, the size and number of flowers, you can determine the adequacy of the lighting level. At the same time, do not forget about what stage of development the indoor flower is at: growing season, flowering, seed ripening. At each stage, it takes from the sun the light of the wavelength that it needs in this moment. Therefore, when organizing additional lighting, it is important to take into account the qualitative component of the light flux.

Long-term exposure to bright light from the sun and lamps with an illumination level of more than 15 thousand lux is favored by those indoor flowers that grow in the open air in their natural habitat. These are many people's favorite crassula, geranium, kalanchoe, and begonia. Artificial lighting for plants of this type in the evening will benefit them.

Representatives of the flora that feel comfortable in illumination of 10–15 thousand lux include spathiphyllum, clivia, saintpaulia, tradescantia and dracaena. The leaves of these types of indoor flowers do not like hot sunlight, but also do not tolerate early twilight. Therefore, the ideal place for them would be a window sill with access to the west, where in the evening their leaves will receive the necessary energy from the setting sun.

So called shade-loving plants can bloom and develop away from window opening, being content with illumination of up to 10 thousand lux. However, this does not mean that they will die if they are placed in a brighter place. They just need less direct sunlight. These include some types of ficus and dracaena, philodendron, as well as tropical vines.

Supplementary lighting for plants and artificial lighting sources

In most cases, indoor plants need additional lighting. Flowers, which at first glance have bright green succulent leaves and bloom regularly, will look even better if they are exposed to a phytolamp. If someone thinks otherwise, then he has an excellent chance to be convinced of the error of his thinking and collect. To extend daylight hours, various sources of artificial light are used. Let's look at each of them and figure out which light is best for plants.

Incandescent lamps

Illuminating plants with incandescent lamps is the least effective for several reasons. The emission spectrum of conventional light bulbs with a spiral is strongly red-shifted, which does not contribute to photosynthesis in any way. Low efficiency and, as a consequence, enormous heat generation drive their energy and light efficiency to zero. In addition, incandescent lamps have the shortest service life compared to other artificial light sources.

Fluorescent lamps

Tubular fluorescent or, as they are most often called, energy-saving fluorescent lamps of the T8 full spectrum type (T = 5300–6500°K) are considered the best option for illuminating indoor plants for many years. They have earned many positive reviews due to the presence of a selective spectrum, efficiency and low heat transfer combined with reasonable cost.

Companies specializing in the production of fluorescent lamps offer plant growers an improved option - a phytolamp with a selective emission spectrum. They work predominantly in the blue and red range, as can be seen from the characteristic glow. But the cost of such lamps for illuminating plants is an order of magnitude higher than their conventional counterparts.

A sodium lamp is the most efficient light source. In terms of luminous efficiency and working life, these lamps are comparable to LEDs for plants. But they are not suitable for home use due to their excessively high brightness (more than 15 thousand lux). But in many greenhouses and conservatories, growing plants under artificial lighting is based precisely on gas-discharge lamps. Due to the fact that they emit more red light, they are installed in combination with 6500K fluorescent lamps.

LED light sources

All LED phytolights are divided into three groups:

bicolor;
with multispectrum;
with full spectrum.

Bicolor or two-color lamps are based on blue (440–450 nm) and red (640–660 nm) LEDs. Their light is considered to be the most optimal for organizing illumination of any plants during the growing season. This working spectrum favors the process of photosynthesis, which leads to accelerated growth of green mass. That is why summer residents prefer blue-red LED lamps when growing seedlings vegetable crops on the windowsill.

LED lamps with a multispectrum have a wider application due to the expansion of the red range into the region of infrared and yellow light. They are in demand for illuminating adult plants, stimulating flowering and fruit ripening. In apartment conditions, it is better to use LED multispectrum for flowers with a dense crown.

A phytolight with a full spectrum of radiation can be used to illuminate flowers in an apartment, regardless of the type and location. This is a kind of universal artificial light source that emits over a wide range with maximums in the red and blue zones. LED lamp full spectrum is a tandem of energy efficiency and light energy reminiscent of the action of solar rays.

Today's creation favorable conditions for an extensive transition to phytoLEDs is not happening for two reasons:

high cost of high-quality lamps for plants;
a large number of counterfeits based on conventional LEDs.

What light is best for growth?

Of course, the ideal light source is solar energy. In apartments with windows facing southeast and southwest, you can grow any flowers, placing them in different parts of the room. But don’t be upset for those who only have a north-facing view from their window. Luminescent and LED bulbs to illuminate plants, they compensate for the lack of sun rays.

Daylight lamps for plants are a budget option, time-tested. They are suitable for those who are trying to create normal conditions for a flower with little investment. LED phytolamps for those who strive to speed up events and achieve best results in a short time, despite the price of several thousand rubles.

Before purchasing another “leafy pet,” you should find out how light-loving it is. Perhaps the allocated space in the room will not be able to provide him with full development.
An inexpensive option for illuminating light-loving plants can be made from an 18 W fluorescent lamp and a 25 W incandescent lamp.
The prevailing radiation in the yellow region of the visible spectrum inhibits the growth of stems. Illuminating dracaena (and other tree-like plants) with warm light will give it a compact shape.
If a plant with variegated foliage loses its original color and becomes monochromatic, then it clearly does not have enough light. An LED phytolamp will help restore the flower to its former attractiveness.
Light from red and blue LEDs accelerates eye fatigue. In this regard, visual work in the area of their action should be excluded.

Summing up

We hope that the material read helped the reader to acquire basic knowledge of organizing lighting for flowers in the house and on the balcony. Once again I would like to emphasize the cost-effectiveness and high efficiency of LED lamps for growing plants, a mass transition to which is just around the corner. Let every gardener who has the opportunity to purchase an LED phyto-lamp today evaluate its power and leave his review for other readers in the comments below.

How to determine sufficient lighting level?

The amount of luminous flux and illumination is measured by special devices in the units of “lumens” (Lm) and “luxes” (Lx), this is something similar to the power of a light bulb, measured in watts. That is, the light source (lamp brightness) is measured in “lumens”, and the intensity of the illuminated surface (in our case, plants) in “lux”.

The more watts, the more lumens and the more intense the lamp shines. Most people confuse these two values and cannot figure it out when purchasing a product.

There are standards for one type or another, but practically no one owns or purchases this device. There is a way out, the plant itself will tell you whether it needs natural daylight, or should you install artificial light?

Required amount of light:

1000-3000 lux - shade-tolerant plants, usually with a pronounced state of dormancy in winter.
Up to 5000 Lux - enough natural light. Feature - the pot is placed on the windowsill to obtain greater light intensity.
5000-1000 and above - indoor flowers require additional artificial lighting.

Exists automatic timer with a light indicator, capable of automatically turning on the light with the required intensity and also turning it off under certain lighting conditions (manually adjusted). This will significantly save you on energy costs and eliminate additional worries.

All plants can be divided into groups based on their appearance and natural habitat.

Variegated species are always demanding on the intensity of sunlight and tolerate direct sunlight well.

Monochromatic species with wide leaf blades are less demanding and can grow in semi-shade. The darker the leaf color, the less light it will need for successful growth. The shoots are noticeably longer and thicker from light-loving plants.

Insufficient lighting will immediately affect appearance. The leaves turn pale, change color, and become dull. Variegated species immediately change color, the shoots stretch out, bend, and new leaves appear small. Sometimes the flower partially or completely sheds its foliage; the lower tier turns yellow with satisfactory watering.

In all plants, growth noticeably slows down, sometimes stopping altogether.

The distance between summer and winter nodes differs significantly.

Before purchasing, you always need to know whether the plant prefers sun or tolerates partial shade, whether you can provide enough light at home, based on your specific region.

In our encyclopedia of houseplants, on every page there is a brief description of with the column - lighting. By selecting any plant in alphabetical order, you will always and quickly find the information you need.

The need for lighting in winter

For the middle and southern strip of the former SND, some plants can grow without installing artificial fluorescent lamps under certain conditions.

Placement relative to poles. Sometimes in winter it is enough to move the pot to the south side.
Flowering and dormant period. The pronounced dormant period is from November to March. At this time, the flower does not need intense light, since growth slows down and the natural period of the day is sufficient. And, conversely, indoor pets that bloom in winter begin the growing season and active growth, the installation of lamps is mandatory in most cases. For example, an orchid growing on a windowsill in a warm winter climate with an east-south exposure will bloom on its own.
Transitional species. For example, Saintpaulia does not require mandatory lighting, provided that the flowering intensity is average.
Most variegated species need an increase in the portion of light, including ficus benjamina, aglaonema, and arrowroot.

Choosing lamps for plant lighting

There are two types of lamps: incandescent and gas-discharge (fluorescent).

We can immediately say that the second type is more economical in terms of energy consumption, which is very important for large rooms throughout the night.

Incandescent lamps operate from a regular network without additional equipment; gas-discharge lamps require a device to turn on. Among the second group, there are modern fluorescent lamps that allow you to use current directly from the network, but the price is several times higher than the same lamps. Let's look at it in more detail.

What is spectrum and how important is it?

Spectrum - the ability to emit a certain range of light waves. Unlike the human eye, plants do not absorb all rays, but only with a certain frequency of waves, blue and red.

Orange-red light is used to germinate seeds and serves as a catalyst for shoot growth.

Blue-violet promotes leaf development.

Photosynthesis requires a range with red waves. Under the influence, chlorophyll is produced, which promotes the metabolism of green mass.

Absence of blue color- leads to elongation of shoots and scarcity of leaves.

By choosing lamps with a certain spectrum, you can significantly speed up the growth and flowering of your pets.

Sometimes several types of lamps are combined together to create a full spectrum.

Incandescent lamps

This type has a tungsten spiral inside, placed in a vacuum and when current flows through it, it glows. These are ordinary lamps that everyone has in their home.

Such lamps are divided into several types: halogen and neodymium.

Halogen - inside, along with the piercing spiral, there is gas to increase service life and brightness.
Neodymium - the surface of the bulb is made of special glass capable of retaining part of the spectrum. Yellow and green light is absorbed, thereby increasing brightness. The glass contains neodymium. But in fact, the number of lumens (light output) has not increased.

There are a number of disadvantages that make incandescent lamps not suitable as additional lighting for plants.

Incomplete spectrum, lack of blue and other colors.
Compared to the power consumption, the light output is low, that is, the efficiency is very low (65 Lm/100 W).
Due to strong heating, do not place it near flowers, otherwise burns will occur.
Uneven lighting compared to linear gas-discharge lamps; you will need several pieces, which means additional power.
The service life is not long.

In floriculture, splitting lamps are used for heating mini greenhouses and greenhouses, or together with fluorescent lamps, in the spectrum of which there is very little red color. They serve as a complement to the entire spectrum.

Fluorescent lamps

Lamps of this type may differ in shape, power, spectrum.

Criterias of choice :

Efficiency is the amount of light output per power consumed.
Full spectrum is extremely important for plants. Determined by the color rendering index Ra. The fullness of the spectrum significantly affects the growth of the flower. For plants, Ra must be at least 80 units.
Flow stability.
Lamp reliability and long term services.

The shape of the lamp is also important. For several pots at the same time, linear lamps are suitable. For small area Spiral or arcuate shapes are used.

Lamps with three-band phosphor ( inner part walls are covered with 3 layers) have the highest light output and optimal spectrum.

A conventional fluorescent lamp has a high efficiency (60 Lm/W) and does not heat up, which makes it possible to install directly above the plant.

Usually the lamp is sold complete with a trigger mechanism; in the future, when replacing, only the combustible element is purchased.

There are two types of trigger mechanism: electromagnetic (throttle) and electronic.

The second one is more reliable and works stably, the flickering of the lamp is not visible. The kit includes brightness adjustment.

The light source is placed at a height of 30-50 cm, strictly above the plants.

Fluorescent lamps intended for flowers

There are specially designed lamps with the maximum transmitted spectrum for illuminating indoor plants. But the price can be tens of times higher than usual. The flask is coated with a special coating. Such lamps are produced by OSRAM-Sylvania, Philips, GE.

The benefits are much higher and will pay off over time.

Lamps with built-in balance

There are modern small lamps with a built-in balance.

The price is much cheaper, and in terms of quality and spectrum produced, they are not inferior to righteous foreign manufacturers.

They are produced with a standard base and are suitable for a regular household network, but the spectrum, unlike tubular fluorescent ones, is slightly different; the red and green colors are partially absent.

For several pots, light should be installed at a distance of 30 cm.

There are also modern compact fluorescent lamps, one or two tubular with a plural arrangement, which are distinguished by high luminous efficiency and power compared to their small dimensions, as well as an excellent spectrum.

Now LED lamps have appeared on the market. This is the most perfect option in terms of energy savings, light output (4-6 times higher than fluorescent), durability and heating (LEDs do not heat up). There are LED lamps with different emission spectrums. One drawback - they are still very expensive.

Alternative lamps for plant lighting

As a replacement for fluorescent lamps, an alternative is gas discharge lamps. There are three types: mercury, high pressure sodium and metal halide.

They are often used to illuminate a large number of plants; the minimum power is 300 watts.

Gas discharge lamps have the highest light output at small sizes and are able to cover a large area.
Will dwell in detail on each of the types.

Metal halide. The most suitable of this line with an acceptable spectrum and high light output. The resource is several times higher than the above mentioned lamps.

They are produced by foreign manufacturers Philips (CDM), OSRAM (HCI), but the price is much higher than their competitors.

The domestic product is produced under the DRI brand. The lamp requires a special socket.

Sodium high pressure. Excellent light output per 1 watt, superior to red in the spectrum, promoting the formation of flowers and the development of the root system.

The lamps have a reflector, which further increases the illumination. From domestic manufacturers: “Lighting Engineering”.

Resource up to 20,000 hours. Used for greenhouses and winter gardens with a power of 300, 500 watts and above.

Disadvantages: There is no blue color in the spectrum; it must be additionally alternated with other types.

Mercury - the main advantage, a large amount of blue color. The oldest and most inefficient gas discharge lamps. Low light transmission. Produced by foreign manufacturers, OSRAM Floraset.

An important drawback: when broken, mercury vapor enters the air.

This is an outdated option for illuminating plants.

Perhaps this is all you need to know about lamps, their design, operating range of the spectrum, for self-made artificial lighting for your plants.

Be sure to properly alternate day and night for successful growth and flowering of your pets.

It is very important to choose the right light bulbs for growing indoor, greenhouse and aquarium plants. If you make a mistake in your choice, further consequences can be disappointing: seedlings (or algae) may simply not have enough light, which can stop their growth, or more serious problems - too bright lighting and heat generation will burn the leaves, which will lead to the death of the plant world. To avoid various kinds of troubles, you need to know which lamps for plants are best to choose, buy and use in the future. Next, we will provide you with a comparison of all the most popular types: from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs.

Review of existing light bulbs

To make the information easier to perceive, we will simultaneously list everything existing types lamps that are best suited for lighting and growing plants, and let’s immediately talk about how rational it is to use each option.

So, today, to illuminate the plant world in the house, you can choose and use such light sources as:

. The cheapest and not recommended option for many reasons: they have a short service life, low light output (up to 17 Lm/W) and significant heat generation. As a result, seedlings or indoor flowers in a pot will not receive required amount light, as a result of which this will negatively affect the growth rate and, accordingly, the correctness of cultivation. In addition, a bulb that is too powerful can burn the leaves if placed near the plant. Bottom line - this option should under no circumstances be used at home, because... It is best to choose more modern and efficient types of lamps, which we will discuss below.
Fluorescent (energy saving) lamps. This option is much more expedient to choose and use for illuminating vegetation in the house, greenhouse and directly in the aquarium. Energy-saving light sources have many advantages, namely: high luminous efficiency, low heat generation and cost-effectiveness, which makes them good option lighting indoor and aquarium plants. In addition, there are special fluorescent phytolamps that are intended only for growing seedlings and flowers.
LED light bulbs. LEDs are the youngest type of light bulbs, which in a short period of time have gained high interest in various fields of application. LED lights are better for plants because of what they consume minimal amount electricity, practically do not emit heat and, moreover, can have a different spectrum of light emission, which allows you to choose suitable LED bulbs for your own type of plants in the house.
Gas-charged (sodium, mercury, metal halide). On this option lighting products need to be discussed in more detail, because Not all gas-charging lamps are suitable for growing plants. Of all the options listed, mercury lamps are the worst for plant growth in the home, greenhouse and aquarium. This is due to the fact that their luminous flux is almost 2 times less than sodium and metal halide light sources. In addition, the light spectrum of mercury products is not entirely suitable for the development and further growth of seedlings, flowers, and algae. Concerning sodium lamps– , they shine brightly yellow-orange, which is very similar to natural sunlight. Feedback from experts - it is better to choose and use mercury lamps for growing flower plants. Well, the last option - metal halide lamps are the most expensive, but at the same time the most suitable lighting sources for those representatives of the “green world” who prefer vegetative growth rather than flowering.

So we told you which lamps are suitable for lighting and growing indoor plants. We draw your attention to the fact that for the home the most optimal options In terms of price and efficiency, there will be CFL fluorescent lamps, which have a light output of 80 to 100 Lm/W. If you can spend a little more, it is better to choose LED grow lights, which are still superior to the sodium bulbs previously used in greenhouses and greenhouses!

You can learn more about which light bulbs are best suited for growing seedlings (for example, tomatoes) or flowers in the video examples:

How to properly organize lighting?

You have become familiar with the types of lamps for growing plants, and you probably already know which light source option to choose for your own conditions. Now we will briefly tell you how best to organize lighting so as not to harm the plant life in the house.

The first thing to consider is the height from the lights to the leaves. The minimum distance should be 15 cm if the plant is light-loving and 55 cm if it is shade-tolerant. In addition, the light should fall on flower pots or seedlings (or aquarium flora) strictly at a right angle. Otherwise, the plants will reach for the light and take on an unattractive shape.

Secondly, each specific species of flora requires its own specific light spectrum. Some flowers need the blue spectrum, some need the red spectrum. The first thing you should do is ask florists or read on the Internet about the requirements for growing your favorite plant, and then choose the appropriate lamps.

Third, if for some reason you have not found a light bulb with suitable light output and spectrum characteristics, you can organize combined lighting, for example, with fluorescent lamps simultaneously with phytolamps, etc.

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Lamps for plants are an opportunity to compensate for the lack of light, which is especially important in the autumn-winter period. After all, even if you place the plants on the south side of the house (which is not always possible), the duration of natural daylight, especially in the northern regions, will be completely insufficient for the normal development of flowers or seedlings. For the full development of some plants, the duration of daylight hours must be at least 15 hours, otherwise the flowers begin to hurt - flowering stops, growth slows down, leaves wither and turn yellow, which can lead to their complete death. Phytolamps, an artificial substitute for the sun, prolong daylight hours and create optimal conditions for raising pets.

In industrial conditions, phytolamps often completely replace natural light - by adjusting the lighting mode (as well as adjusting climatic conditions), you can control the process of plant development and maturation as precisely as possible.

Light: how important is it for plants?

Light is an important component of plant life, because a plant (more precisely, its dry mass) consists of 45% carbon obtained from the air. At the same time, the process of carbon assimilation - photosynthesis, occurs only with the participation of light; the intensity of photosynthesis is influenced by many external factors, but the main one is still the intensity of light.

It is primarily young plants and shoots that suffer from a lack of light - their leaf blades become pale, desaturated, and their size becomes smaller. Their stem and internodes elongate, and the plant itself bends/stretches towards the light source. In addition, there are other signs (Fig. 1):

plant growth slows down
the formation of new buds stops, old flowers gradually die off, with a large deficiency of light, flowering may stop completely

variegated species lose their decorative coloring and become monotonous green
the lower leaves dry out and fall off

However, saying “light” is not entirely correct - flora perceives spectral components differently:

red (wavelength from 600 to 720 nm) and orange (from 595 to 620 nm) are the most important and necessary radiation ranges for a plant; they supply the energy that is necessary for photosynthesis. In addition, they affect the speed of plant development, for example, an excess of orange and red rays allows you to delay the transition to flowering, which is important if, for example, you force bulbs to a certain date
violet and blue (range 380-490 nm) - also directly involved in photosynthesis. They are needed, first of all, for the formation of protein, and also affect plant growth. Plants that naturally grow under short day conditions, with home growing bloom faster precisely under the influence of the violet-blue part of the spectrum
ultraviolet rays (spectrum 315-380 nm) do not allow plants to “stretch”, and are so necessary for the synthesis of certain vitamins. Other rays in this range (wavelength 280-315 nm) help increase the cold resistance of plants
green (490-565 nm) and yellow (565-595 nm) waves are not as important for plant development

That is why, when organizing additional lighting or artificial lighting of plants, it is necessary to take into account their needs only in a certain part of the spectrum.

Advice! In order not to disturb the “biological clock” of the plant, it is better to turn on artificial lighting at 7-8 o’clock in the morning, and turn it off, after maintaining the required duration of daylight, at 20-22 o’clock.

Lamps for plants: which ones to choose Where plants are located with insufficient or no natural light, you need to provide them with additional light from artificial sources

Incandescent lamps

Today it is an absolutely unacceptable option for illuminating plants. Firstly, their spectrum completely lacks blue spectrum waves, which are very important for the process of photosynthesis. Secondly, these lamps get very hot, so if placed close to plants, they can cause thermal burns on the leaf blades. Thirdly, lamps of this type have a very low (only about 5%) efficiency. And although the lamp itself is quite cheap, if used for a long time this will cause high electricity costs.