Growing lamps are specially-designed electric lamps which are used to promote the growth of all plants grown in water, known as hydroponics. Hydroponically-grown plants therefore need no soil, but they do need carbon dioxide, mineral nutrients and sunlight in order to grow and flourish. These growing lamps emit an electromagnetic spectrum similar to the light emitted by the sun, which encourages photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is crucial for the process whereby all plants convert the energy from sunlight into chemical energy which they then use to form sugars. The use of growing lamps, therefore, allows plants to be grown indoors without any natural light source. Hydroponic gardening is a great hobby which can produce large quantities of certain fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and indoor house plants.
It needs little space, very little in the way of equipment, is cost-effective and does not need a huge amount of maintenance. As hydroponic gardening is an indoor activity, the most important piece of equipment needed is the light source, which comes from growing lamps. Listed below are the various types and their uses.
Electric HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps create light by way of an electric arc running between two tungsten electrodes contained in either a fused alumina or fused quartz tube, which also contains metal salts and gas. Once the arc has heated up, the metal salts evaporate to create plasma and an intense blue light is created. This lighting system uses very little energy. HID lamps are most commonly used in the cultivation of seedlings and young plants; and all house plants and green leafy vegetables.
MH (metal halide) lamps are also part of the HID family and emit a blue light. These lamps are beneficial to plants in their vegetative stage, as they encourage the growth of thick stems and large leaves to promote flowering and healthy fruit. HPS (high pressure sodium) lamps, also a variation of HID lamps, create a red orange light which plants use during the reproductive process. They create more lumens (the measure of light as seen by the human eye) - between 97 and 150 per watt - than MH lamps and are mostly used in the cultivation of fruits and flowering plants.
Once your seedlings have been planted they should get the equivalent amount of light as they would naturally get from the sun. This equates to approximately twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness. During the peak growing season, they will need about sixteen hours of light and only eight hours of darkness. You will need a timer to switch the lamps on and off.
Check that all your plants get some light and if they are not, move the lamp closer. A reflector on your lamp will spread the light further. Also test to see if the lamp is too close to your plants by putting your hand on the top of the plant. If it is too hot for your hand, it will be too hot for your plants.
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Are you looking to find the perfect Growing Lamps for your plants? Hydroponic Growth is the company that can help you find the perfect lamps. For more information on this online company please visit the website at http://www.hydroponicgrowth.co.uk/epages/BT3647.sf
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