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Our indoor garden resource page is packed with useful information
about how you can be successful growing plants under artificial lights.
The advent of the fluorescent light bulb has made indoor gardening
more common and more efficient — a hobby that anyone can enjoy.
Indoor gardening has many appealing uses:
• Getting a head start on the season. Gardeners in any part
of the country can get seeds started and seedlings ready for the
garden while it's still cold outside. This is quite useful for those
who live in regions with short outdoor growing seasons.
• Growing a kitchen garden with fresh herbs all year long.
• Gardening all year long. It’s perfect for the gardener who refuses
to give up the hobby during the wintertime.
• Propagating new plants from cuttings.
• Extending bloom times dramatically on many flowering plants.
• Enjoying gardening in general. Those whose lifestyle or location make
outdoor gardening difficult or impossible can still enjoy the hobby.
Gardening outdoors leaves you at the mercy of the elements. Indoors,
you are in charge. You can't blame the weather now. Are you ready
to take the challenge?
How
Plants need two types of light waves for optimal growth and flowering — red
waves for inducing blooms and blue waves for overall growth. These
waves are supplied naturally by sunlight. (Remember science class
with ROY G BIV and the prism?) The task at hand for the indoor gardener
is to replicate sunshine indoors. You can actually do this pretty
easily with "grow light" bulbs. These fluorescent bulbs
are specifically designed to provide the correct light waves for
plants.
If you use more than one light fixture, have a maximum of 6" of
space between the fixtures. Therefore, a 30" wide table would
be perfect for two 12" wide light fixtures. The table should
be sturdy enough to stand the weight of damp soil, seed trays, flower
pots, etc.
How Much
Indoor gardeners have made a science of growing prize-winning specimens
under lights. The experts know the exact amount of light to apply
for the precise length of time for the specific plants they are growing.
Matching the correct amount of lumens (the amount of light emitted
by a light source) and foot-candles (the amount of light actually
striking a surface) to your plant is the key. The farther away from
the light, the less foot-candles.
For now, we'll leave that to the experts. Here are some basic guidelines:
• Hang the fixtures 6" - 12" above the plants (12" being
the maximum). You can hang the lights as close as 4", just make sure they
do not touch the plants.
• Adjust the light fixture as dictated by plant growth (use the s-hook
and chain mentioned above). Raise the lights as the plants grow. An alternate
method is to raise and lower the plants themselves using a brick or block underneath
the container.
• Make sure the lights are installed properly. The proximity to water
makes safety a major consideration. Use a surge suppressor or power strip with
the fixture.
• Make sure you buy a timer rated with sufficient wattage capability to
match the lights.
• Keep a watchful eye on your plants. If leaves begin to turn brown, increase
the distance between the light and the plant. If the plants start to look spindly,
move them closer to the light.
In spite of all of this talk about light, remember that plants also
need a period of dark to rest.
How Long
Flowering plants usually need 16-18 hours of light per 24-hour day.
Foliage plants and seedlings getting ready for transplanting outdoors
need 12-14 hours a day. A household timer is perfect for monitoring
the amount of light. Make sure your timer is rated to handle the
wattage of the light fixture(s).
For best results, the amount of light you provide needs to match
the day length requirements of the plant. The term applies to each
individual plant variety's specific light requirement. The proper
amount of light (whether natural sunlight or artificial grow lights)
is critical in order for the plant to grow and induce dormancy, but
especially important for flowering and blooming. The three types
are:
• Short day - requiring short days and long nights. Less than
12 hours of light a day.
• Long day - requiring long days and short nights. 12-16 hours of light
a day.
• Day neutral - will bloom under either scenario.
Seed Starting
Your table and light setup can be used for seed starting. After
germination, the light should be practically touching seedlings.
Be sure to move as the seedlings grow.
If you plan on using your light table for starting seeds, remember
that not all seeds need light to germinate. Some, like pansies, require
dark. Do your homework.
Also Remember
• Plants that are grown under lights are experiencing the
best growing conditions. You may need to increase watering and fertilizing
to help them keep up. Keep an eye on the plants — some respond
quite well to artificial light and may grow rapidly. Don't let them
touch the light source.
• Air circulation is important to keep plants free of disease.
• Since artificial lights produce very little heat, you will
need to make sure that the growing area is in the proper temperature
range for the plant(s) you are growing. In general, Tropicals will
need 70°-80° F daytime. Hardier plants will need a 65°-75° F
range and about 5°-10° cooler at night. Invest in a good
thermometer to monitor the temperature. |
