How to Grow a Plant With Grow Lights
A plant grown indoors must use an artificial source to replace the sunlight it needs. There are three traditional lighting systems and one taking advantage of new technology. Fluorescent lights are the most used lighting system. Metal halide grow lights and HPS grow lights are high-intensity grow lights that are very similar to fluorescents but use different chemical compounds to produce the lights. LED, or light-emitting diodes, uses a completely different type of system than the others.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Place the plant into a right-sized container with the proper blend of potting soil.
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2
Connect the lighting system to a 24-hour timer. Some plants thrive better under full sun, which allows them to do well with a longer period of light. Others prefer less sun, which means that the number of hours should be reduced. It may take some experimentation to find the correct number of hours for your individual plant.
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3
Start a young plant with a blue-spectrum metal halide tube. This is best for immature plants. When the plant is ready for reproduction, dormancy or root and tuber development, switch it over to a high pressure sodium tube with a reddish-orange spectrum. LED lights are available for both colors.
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4
Combine one special plant-growing tube to two regular tubes for the best balance for the color spectrum and cost savings. According to David Trinklein, University of Missouri horticulturist, the best overall grow light if you only have one is the standard fluorescent tube.
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5
Set the tube at the proper recommended distance for that particular manufacturer. Fluorescents usually need to be quite close to the plant to be effective. It is best to watch the plant and determine at what light distance it does best.
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1
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