2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Today, many people are engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and spicy herbs in the apartment. For those wishing to join such an activity, it is important to know that in the autumn-winter period, a short daylight hours are established and the organization of artificial lighting is required. Any lamps are used for illumination, today we will talk about LED technologies for the garden on the windowsill
Benefits of LED lighting
One of the important points is economy. In any case, the LED luminaire has the highest efficiency (96%) and significantly reduces energy costs. Comparing with fluorescent lighting 3 times less, with incandescent lamps - 10 times. Does not require additional maintenance costs. There is no heating during operation, so there is no need to take care of the cooling equipment.
LEDs do not contain hazardous substances, including mercury, and are harmless to others. They do not break, since glass is not used in the design. Not susceptible to voltage surges. There is no risk of fire or explosion even when exposed to water or end-of-life, which is often the case with sodium lamps. The service life with continuous burning reaches 100 thousand hours (10 years or 20 with additional illumination).
Versatility for cultivation is considered a positive point. Used with any method: hydroponics, open soil, aeroponics. It does not have a negative effect on plants even with direct contact, since the heating temperature ranges from 30-40 degrees. The biggest plus is the ability to apply different colors, because the red-blue spectrum is very important for plants. And also the ability to create conditions for maintaining a good microclimate is noted.
The benefits of LED lighting for plants
The use of LEDs promotes natural photosynthesis. This artificial sun helps the production of carbohydrates, gives energy, normalizes the processes of vegetation and nutrition. The 400-730 lm LED wave normalizes the absorption of chlorophyll A and B, the most important sources of plant energy. Such illumination accelerates metabolic processes in the aboveground and root systems. In the process of exposure, the production of phytohormones is stimulated, protective functions are increased, and the development of pathogenic organisms is suppressed.
Supplementing the garden on the windowsill on short daylight hours eliminates the stretching of sprouts. The leaves take on a healthy appearance and bright color. The most important point is the color (red and blue). Scientific research confirms that this is the spectrum that plants need. Red enhances the abundance of flowering and increases the time of fruiting. Blue stimulates growth and promotes biomass build-up. Using the color range of lamps, you can achieve regulation of life: maturation and vegetation.
How to choose?
When choosing an LED lamp, you should take into account the size of the area intended for the backlight. Placement, desired slope, desired spectrum. Stationary luminaires should be able to change the distance above the plants, since position adjustment will be required during the growth process. It is important to select the power of the light wave to create a uniform coverage and improve the quality of illumination.
When planning a purchase, arrange the plants for vegetation, create a compact placement. This will help you correlate the technical characteristics of the luminaire with the size of your "garden" and choose the right model. For small sites, powerful panels are not needed, but compact lamps or tapes are required, which will provide the necessary light supply.
How to calculate the wattage of an LED strip, lamp, panel
According to the amount of luminous flux in one lux, a light source of one lumen appears - this is enough for one square meter. For example, the desired area for illumination is 0.45 square meters: this requires 2500 Lx, which corresponds to 2500 * 0.45 = 1125 Lm. It is necessary to take into account the distance of the source. If the lamp is suspended at a height of 30 cm, the flow loss is 30%. Based on this, an increase in the luminous flux is required. In order for the quality of illumination to remain unchanged, you need to recalculate: 1125 Lm * 1, 5 = 1687, 5 Lm.
If we consider an LED strip with a cutting ratio of 3 diodes per 5 cm, then a “vegetable garden” of 0.9 cm will require 0.75 meters of tape. The flux of one LED is 21 lm. A piece of tape of 75 cm has 42 sv / diodes. The flow of the panel is also calculated and correlated with the area of the window sill.
Recommended:
Fertilizing The Vegetable Garden With Coffee
We are all used to seeing coffee on our tables, because it invariably invigorates us and charges us with an excellent mood. And why not let this wonderful drink into the summer cottage too? After all, coffee and coffee grounds are excellent fertilizers! Do not rush to throw away unnecessary coffee grounds - you can always use it. And the plants will certainly be thanked for such a useful natural feeding with excellent harvests
Marigolds Are Our Pretty Helpers In The Garden And Vegetable Garden
How to combine business with pleasure - those owners of personal plots who grow marigolds can accurately answer this question. These perky bright flowers delight the eye and bring tangible benefits to gardeners, protecting various crops from diseases and pests with their presence. Let's take a closer look at these wonderful plants
Spring Work In The Garden And Vegetable Garden
With the onset of spring, an active time begins for gardeners and truck farmers. The appearance of the summer cottage and the future harvest of vegetables, berries, fruits and herbs depend on the timeliness and quality of the work carried out. A plan drawn up in advance will help to orient summer residents in prospective matters, which will contribute to the completion of all work on time. But first you need to figure out which procedures are required to be performed in the spring
Vitamins From The Forest, Garden And Vegetable Garden
In everyday life, we rarely think about the important role vitamins play for the health of our body. But then autumn came, and someone could already feel a breakdown. And in winter, with a lack of vitamins, a person becomes a convenient target for viruses. So let's get one step ahead of unpleasant colds and recharge ourselves with vitamin energy. You don't have to run to the pharmacy to do this. Everything you need can be collected in the garden and vegetable garden
Plants That Protect The Vegetable Garden And Garden
People have long known about plants with insecticidal properties and are actively using them. Today the conversation will focus on the most effective recipes for a garden and a vegetable garden from plants available to everyone