The greenhouse method of growing plants requires additional lighting during the period when the daylight becomes short and does not provide complete photosynthesis. For the effectiveness of applied agricultural technologies, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of existing variations of electric lamps and make their competent installation. The predominant models, methods of illuminating covering structures depending on their specifics, as well as home-made electrical installations will be discussed later.

The value of light for plants

The main conditions for the development of any vegetation are heat, light and water. Due to these biological characteristics, vegetative processes are not possible with short winter days. The fact is that natural or artificial light gives the stems energy for growth.Thus, whole chains of organic reactions arise from the simplest molecules. When photons hit the foliage surface, the biochemical interaction of its components is triggered, resulting in an increase in the root system and above-ground biomass of the culture, i.e. photosynthesis.

Did you know? The color of plant biomass is due to the fact that during the growth process they reflect green light and absorb the rays of other colors for photosynthesis. If you place a growing stalk under a green lamp, it will fade.

The effects of light deficiency on plants can be:

• thinning and stretching of cuttings;
• fragility and brittleness;
• leaf deformation;
• growth inhibition;
• yellowing of basal layers of biomass.

Due to this, the florist or gardener who has acquired a greenhouse should be equipped with artificial lighting in advance. Indeed, without it, the laying of buds and fruits is impossible. It is important to focus on the light type of crops grown.

They are:

1. Short daylight hours. These are plants that came to our latitudes from the tropics and subtropics. For the formation of flower stalks, it is important that the duration of the night lasts at least 12 hours. This type includes: cucumbers, beans, eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, melons, tomatoes, basil, pumpkin, sesame, etc.
2. Long daylight hours. This included representatives of the flora, characteristic of northern and temperate latitudes. They can fully develop only with daily illumination lasting at least 13-14 hours - otherwise an intensive biomass build-up without flowering and fruiting will be observed. We are talking about celery, rutabaga, beets, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, onions, radishes and radishes, lettuce, spinach, dill, parsley, parsnips, etc.
3. Neutral They are distinguished by active budding and ovary formation without a pronounced dependence of the length of the day and night. This group includes: the majority of varietal and hybrid crops zoned for middle latitudes.

Did you know? A centennial lamp in one of the fire departments of California has been continuously burning since 1901 and is considered the most durable in the world.

Greenhouse Lighting Requirements

The need for lighting in each culture is different and may vary depending on external factors affecting the process of its vegetation. To correctly determine how much to illuminate the greenhouse, experts advise to be guided by the main principle: all plants that are cultivated for the sake of flowers and fruits require much more light than those that are designed to produce edible greens.

The intensity of artificial illumination is also affected by the seasonal characteristics of greenhouses, as well as the photoperiod, which is characteristic of all plants, without exception. It is noticed that flower and vegetable crops develop better under blue and red lamps. But at the same time, they cannot completely replace sunlight, since with such an experiment you can get a plentiful, but inedible crop.Stable violet light is recommended for decorative flowering plants. In such conditions, the saturation of their petals becomes brighter, and the culture develops resistance to cold. Orange rays contribute to the intensive growth of crops and seedlings, but in excess can lead to the death of plant cells, so it is advisable to limit such light in time.

Yellow lamps are generally not recommended for highlighting greenhouses, as they contribute to the deformation of cuttings and leaves. Seedlings grown under such light will be characterized by thin and fragile stems, underdevelopment.

Did you know? Thanks to metabolic reactions, people are bioluminescent. But this glow is a thousand times fainter than what is accessible to the naked eye.

For the proper installation of artificial lighting in a greenhouse, consider the following rules:

1. Alternate the color of the lamps for the lighting of the beds. If this is not done, the same color of the rays (especially when it comes to infrared or ultraviolet) can reduce the quantity and quality of the expected crop.
2. It is advisable to place the light source at a distance of half a meter from the upper foliage. If at the same time the plant does not grow well, experiment by determining the desired level for the lamp.

Types and characteristics of lamps for clarification in a greenhouse

When choosing a lamp for illuminating a greenhouse, it is important to consider its material, power, the amount of radiated energy and the light spectrum. Only then can you make accurate calculations of the right amount of light and its sources. Only trusted manufacturers should be trusted, whose products comply with Gosstandart and are provided with warranty service.

Preferred options are made of corrosion-resistant metal, since under the shelter the humidity level must meet the requirements of vegetation. Although experts advise additional protection for all fixtures.

Fluorescent

They are advantageous by the variability of vertical and horizontal installation, as well as the economical consumption of electricity. Because of this, they are also called energy-saving. Very suitable for growing seedlings and flowers. When choosing, you need to consider that:

• It is recommended to use a cold white glow for the background, and not pointwise;
• warm white rays are more valuable and will cost more (they contain red photons useful for plants);
• the combination of warm and cold light will save on energy consumption and at the same time provide the plants with the necessary lighting.

The disadvantage of luminescent products is the dependence of the brightness and the number of generated rays on voltage. With a deficiency, the lamp may not turn on at all.

Important! When installing artificial light in a greenhouse, make sure that its sources do not obscure the sun, because plants cannot develop without it. In this regard, it is recommended to periodically wash glass and film fragments of the structure.

Gas discharge

This type of fixtures is designed specifically for greenhouse use. It is profitable with a decent imitation of sunlight, but loses due to the lack of a blue spectrum of radiation.

• Advantageous characteristics of such lamps are:
• high light output (especially for models equipped with mirror elements);
• low power consumption;
• the spectral predominance of orange and red flowers, which stimulates the budding and fruiting of plants;
• durability (one lamp can continuously work for about 20 thousand hours);
• additional heating of the room, which allows saving on its heating;
• satisfactory efficiency (equal to 39%);
• affordability.

The lack of discharge lamps, many call their tendency to overheat.

LED

The peculiarity of lighting a greenhouse with LED lamps is their environmental friendliness, safety, efficiency regarding energy consumption (the most winning option among all existing lamps), as well as the possibility of choosing blue, red or combined emission spectra. The owner of such an installation has the ability to adjust the intensity and spectrum of radiation.By using LED lamps, 40% of the energy consumed can be saved. Such lamps give a lot of bright diffused light even at low voltage. They are designed for 15–20 years with a 15-hour daily operation even in conditions of high dampness and a sharp change in temperature.

LED strips and spotlights do not burn plants even when accidentally touched, because they are characterized by low heat transfer. Among the shortcomings of LED lamps, many call their high cost and fitness only for a certain type of socles.

Important! Transparent glass and film greenhouses need to be lit less in comparison with opaque.

Incandescent lamp

This is not the best choice for highlighting flowers and garden crops, especially when it comes to polycarbonate greenhouses. The fact is that such lamps are characterized only by a red spectrum of luminescence, which is not suitable for constant use. Experts advise briefly turning on incandescent lamps only for driving greenery. The advantages of incandescent lamps are only their low cost.

• And among the shortcomings can be called:
• lack of a blue spectrum of a luminescence (infrared, bright orange and red prevail);
• risks of burns on foliage, as well as deformation, thinning of stems and suspension of vegetation in case of prolonged use;
• tendency to excessive heat, which is unsafe for cultivated plants;
• high energy costs.

Important! To determine the comfort level of plants under the lamp, just put a hand above the tops of the cuttings. If you are hot, you need to reduce the intensity of heating.

Sodium lamps

They are favorably distinguished by high economy, since at a power of 400 W they are able to provide high heat and light output. Their warm spectra contribute to the growth of seedlings. However, the prevailing yellow-red rays lack a blue glow, without which full growth of any vegetation is impossible.

Mercury lamps

Such lamps are characterized by powerful ultraviolet radiation, which is very important when the seedlings are stretched or outgrown.

• The advantages of this variety of lamps can be considered:
• high light output;
• low power consumption;
• ease of installation.

• The disadvantages are called by users:
• toxicity of mercury, which complicates the disposal of the used electrical appliance;
• tendency to overheat.

Metal halide lamps

These models are considered the most adapted for heating greenhouse plants. They are characterized by an ideal spectrum and a satisfactory ratio of the amount of radiation to the cost of power.

• Among their shortcomings note:
• fragility (the more often you turn on the lamp, the faster its service life will be reduced);
• high cost (cost much more than other bulbs);
• the spectrum of the emitted light is affected by electricity voltage (even its slight differences are noticeable);
• insecurity (there is a high probability of explosion at high voltage).

Features of lighting greenhouses

The subtleties of installing artificial lighting for plants largely depend on the material of the covering structures, season and time of day. The slightest violations of agricultural, as well as biological norms will adversely affect the number of inflorescences and ovaries. The recommendations below will help to avoid this.

Important! Cables connected in the trunk, it is desirable to hang inside the greenhouse through the air or on a wooden crossbar. Be sure to check the integrity of the insulation layer, as its violation in high humidity conditions can cause a short circuit and fire.

Polycarbonate Greenhouse Lighting

To create maximum comfort for plants, the gardener needs:

1. When installing a polycarbonate structure, consider the possibilities of maximizing the use of sunlight, orienting it to the southeast.
2. Every six months, in autumn and spring, thoroughly rinse the external and internal surfaces of the greenhouse with disinfectant soap solutions. These events will allow the natural light to freely enter the foliage of seedlings. Indeed, every month the amount of solar ultraviolet radiation in the room decreases by 15–20%.
3. Plan the planting of vegetation so that opaque structural elements do not cast a shadow. It is desirable to paint them with white paint, which will improve the scattering of light. Also in places where more sun falls, reflectors will not be amiss (even home-made options from polycarbonate or plywood pasted with foil are possible).

Industrial greenhouse lighting

Artificial light sources are simply indispensable in the industrial production of flowering or fruiting plants. After all, it is they that make it possible to use greenhouse farms year-round, increasing the yield of crops grown. Such large-scale designs may have infrared lighting systems and additional blue backlighting. The main mechanisms in them are installations for heating, irrigation, curtains and ventilation.

The distribution and supply network consists of cables, the laying of which provides for special trays, recessed into the material of the structure. The control of additional lamps, which are assigned the function of short-term illumination at a certain time, is carried out in automatic mode.

The quantity and layout of the necessary light sources is determined based on the design parameters of the greenhouse (span width, length, height of fastening of the trays), as well as on the specific characteristics of plants. The level of electric lighting in industrial structures can correspond to 6-24 thousand lux. It depends on the culture light.

It is characteristic that 95% of modern greenhouse farms prefer to use sodium lamps, as well as their mirror variations with a power of 600 to 1000 watts. In addition, in such structures, lamps are required in the central aisles and around the perimeter of the complex for night lighting.

Winter greenhouse lighting

Given the short daylight hours in the cold season, owners of functioning greenhouses should provide plants with 12-hour lighting. At the same time, a natural light source cannot be ruled out. The operating time of additional light sources is calculated depending on the characteristics of the cultivated seedlings.

For example:

1. Solanaceous, pumpkin crops, cucumbers and bell peppers can develop in short daylight hours. If they are highlighted daily for 12 hours a day, the ripening period of the crop will accelerate by 2 weeks.
2. Greens, carrots, beets, onions, and tomato varieties zoned for the northern regions can bear fruit only with illumination for 13-14 hours a day.

Greenhouse lighting at night

Do not allow round-the-clock operation of greenhouse lamps in the winter. As much as possible they should be included no more than 16 hours. This limitation is due to the biological characteristics of plants. For convenience, it is advisable to equip the room with an automatic on and off system.

How to make artificial lighting for a greenhouse with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

Home-made electrification of the greenhouse is a very risky business, as the result of mistakes can be an electric shock or a circuit wiring. Moreover, it should work for a long time in conditions of high dampness. Therefore, to carry out the necessary calculations and prepare circuits, it is advisable to invite a qualified electrician.

If, however, you dare to do such a responsible job, proceed according to the instructions below:

1. Before wiring, determine the number of fixtures needed (it is calculated based on the norm of 3 thousand lux per 1 m² of area) and draw a plan for their placement. Also, at the preparatory stage, you need to select wires of a certain power, fuses and heating devices (preferably microwave).
2. Turn on the power to the room. This can be done by pulling the cable over the greenhouse supports through the air or by hiding it in the waterproof grooves running along the frame rails. Their approximate depth should correspond to 4-5 cm. In case you plan to deepen the wiring into the underground trenches, calculate their height at the level of 80 cm and avoid intersections with drainage channels. Be sure to cover the cable with tiles from above, protecting it from damage when plowing the soil.
3. Route the cable to the shield, from which make the wiring to the outlets and switches.
4. If the frame of the greenhouse design is made of wooden battens and beams, then for fixing sources of artificial light, it is enough to screw the fastening hooks for the fixtures into them. In metal frame rods, you will have to drill special holes for fixing the lamps.
5. Connect the required number of lamps.

With the greenhouse method of growing plants, even when they are in a passive state of stagnation, additional highlighting is extremely important. It is equipped not only in large industrial greenhouse complexes, but also on window sills. A wide range of electric lamps can satisfy the needs of even the most demanding gardeners and gardeners.