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Sunlight is not as simple to replace as a person might think. Windows let sunlight in but block much of what plants need from it. So when addressing the question of how do grow lights work three key elements to discuss are light spectrums, heat and time frames.
How do grow lights work in a household setting? If a room can be dedicated to growing seedlings and plants grow lights work very well. But, in most homes only a certain area is made available for a grow light and the plants they benefit. While this limits what you grow it can still be a rewarding endeavor.
Natural sunlight provides a complete spectrum of colors. Windows deflect a lot of the sunlight and the range of color. Plants need a lot of light to grow well and two particular spectrums of light are a necessity. To use an ordinary household incandescent bulb will not get the desired results. Plants need two spectrums of color to grow well. Incandescent bulbs radiate light in the red and yellow spectrums but it is the blue and red light spectrums that are what plants thrive on. Blue spectrum light promotes foliage growth in a plant. Red spectrum light gives the plants what they need to flower and fruit well.
Most grow lights are made up of a combination of the red and blue spectrum bulbs in a panel. There are some bulbs that combine both spectrums in a single bulb.
How do grow lights work differently?
Fluorescent and metal halide grow lights are the two kinds of grow lights to look for when planning your indoor garden. Fluorescent lighting tubes can be combined in a shop light type fixture and suspended over plants until they grow up to about 24 inches. Using fluorescent grow lights to start seedlings or grow small non-fruit or flowering plants is good. Fluorescent lights run cool enough to be able to hang the lights 4 to 6 inches above the foliage without stressing or burning the leaves.
Metal halide grow lights are most often combined with high pressure sodium lights for growing fruit bearing and flowering greenery. These lights are more intense, hotter, and cost more than fluorescent lighting solutions. Positioning is different in that if these light panels are closer than 12 inches the heat will damage the plants.
How Do Grow Lights Work With Timers?
Eighteen hours of light per day is not unusual for a flowering plant. Four or five fewer hours are required by foliage plants. In nature the skies lighted gradually and darken in increments at night. When growing plants indoors the light needs of the plants are what determine how long you will want your grow lights on. If you want to learn how do grow lights work with timers refer to the instructions that come with the timer. It is equally important for plants to have a period of darkness. Timers are the best way to ensure the proper balance. The topic of how grow lights do work is much deeper than this article so continue to research and learn!
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about gardening equipment and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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