The Best Indoor Lighting for Treelings
An estimated 10 to 15 million households in the United States grow plants indoors under grow lights. Although light appears white to the human eye it actually includes a number of different wavelengths, or colors. Plants require light from both the red and blue end of the spectrum to sustain normal and healthy growth and development. All seedlings, including those of trees, or "treelings," use light to create nutrients during the process of photosynthesis. The nutrients allow the plant to develop new leaves and stems and contribute to a strong root system. Many indoor gardeners use artificial lights to supplement sunshine that pours in a window, while some gardeners use indoor lights to provide for all the plant's lighting needs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Professional Grow Lights
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Nurseries and commercial garden centers carry lighting fixtures and equipment designed specifically for growing plants indoors. Many of these devices resemble small carts and include wheels for easy portability. The lower shelf or shelves contain space for small or young plants, and a removable lighting fixture hangs above the plants.
Use fluorescent lights for most seedlings or young plants with low light requirements. T5 fluorescent bulbs and the combination of high pressure, sodium and metal halide, high-intensity discharge lights provide enough light for sun-loving seedlings. Metal halide lights provide light from the blue end of the spectrum and encourage leafy growth, while high-pressure sodium bulbs give plants light from the red end of the spectrum.
Bargain Lighting
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Incandescent light bulbs provide light from the red end of the spectrum, while cool white bulbs provide light from the blue wavelengths. Indoor gardeners can combine both bulbs to provide a young tree with the light it needs. Reflectors bounce light from the original source back onto the plant. Gardeners on a budget can use a sheet of white poster board or objects covered with aluminum foil to create a reflective surface.
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Distance and Time
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Position fluorescent bulbs as close as 4 inches from the seedling. Incandescent bulbs give off more heat, so positioning these bulbs too close to a plant can cause the leaves to burn. Place Incandescent bulbs at least 1 foot away from all plant parts to prevent injury. Plants require different amounts of light. On average, many plants require 10 to 12 hours of light each day. Flowering or fruit-producing plants and seedlings may require up to 16 hours of artificial light daily.
Design
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Dr. Leonard Perry with the University of Vermont recommends using a lighting fixture with three or four fluorescent tube lights. Place a reflector on the opposite side of the plant from the light to ensure the seedling receives light on all sides. If a seedling leans towards one direction as it develops, this is a sign that it is not receiving light evenly.
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References
- Photo Credit seedling image by Wojciech Gajda from Fotolia.com
