Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Lighting for plants
Yesterday I talked a little about the light spectrum for houseplants. If you’re trying to get a houseplant to flower, ideally you’ll give it the full spectrum of light.
While you can achieve that with a combination of warm/soft bulbs and the cool/white bulbs you may consider LED lights.
According to a 2016 study, NASA scientists, found that LED lights provide the best source of lighting for plants cultivated indoors. Better for plants, better for the environment.
Further NASA research on the effects of different light spectra on plants found that red and blue lights offer the best support for photosynthesis, which is the process used by plants to transform light into the energy needed for growth and flowering.
Green Light was once thought not to be necessary for plants, but recent studies have discovered this wavelength penetrates through thick top canopies to support the leaves in the lower canopy. While not necessary in your home, it’s good to know!
A quick search and you’ll discover a LOT of grow lights. I’m not advocating any one in particular but check this information out on the light spectrum, keeping in mind that sunlight gives the FULL spectrum of colors (and it’s white) : growlightinfo.com
I will also note that, if you’re goal is to start seeds indoors, then shop lights, those generally ugly lights hanging in your garage, are all you need. They are cool, fluorescent, and cheap! Check the ends of your fluorescent shop light tubes. If they’re turning gray to black, then it’s most likely time to replace them. They’re losing their intensity.
Also note that I’m not suggesting you start sowing seeds indoors yet. If you start this early, you’ll get leggy plants that will likely be weak. That or they will start to take over your home and that’s a whole other story!