It is great when you can plant your harvest outdoors. However, as the weather begins to change you may find it necessary to plant your harvest indoors. This is a simple task when you consider any type of indoor grow lights as your light source. With so many options on the market it is necessary to understand what specifications will fit your needs.
To ensure your plants will grow and flower in a proper cycle, you must also understand the spectrum of light necessary for each phase of the plants growth cycle. If you are only concerned with seedlings, root crops, and leafy green vegetables, then you need only consider the higher spectrum lights. However, if you are more interested in growing flowers or fruiting plants, then you will require a full-spectrum bulb. Indoor lighting is not as tricky as it may seem initially, that is once you understand what the numbers on the bulb mean. If you find yourself asking what is the difference between a 2700k versus a 6500k bulb, then read on to better understand how to supply the proper lighting for your plants to grow even in the harshest outdoor conditions.
First and foremost, there are warm lights and cool lights. A cool light is best for the growth of indoor plants. When you combine the warm and cool spectrum of light you can watch your plants flower, which will lead to fruit production. However, if all you simply need is to encourage vegetative leafy growth, then you will only need a blue light. To simplify the matter; the cooler you need the light, the higher the number on the bulb should be.
As long as you choose the proper artificial lighting, there is a great chance your plants will make it through the winter. However, it is necessary to ensure they are kept at moderate temperatures. This will help your plants successfully create food for themselves through the photosynthesis process. However, if you have supplied inefficient lighting your plants will not grow to their fullest potential. Instead, you will find you have grown long and spindly plants that will leave much desired.
It is necessary to choose which type of lighting will work best for your indoor growing plans. Currently on the market there are three main options which consist of fluorescent, LED, and HID grow lights. With an LED light you will spend less on your electric bill, and they are supposed to last about 5 times longer than a fluorescent bulb. If you only need to supplement the light that comes through the window, then you should consider a fluorescent bulb. However, if you have a larger indoor grow plan, then HID bulbs are better to suit your needs.
It is necessary for you to understand the required watts per square foot to provide your plants with optimal lighting. To figure out the watts per square foot simply multiply the growing square footage with the watts you plan to provide. Now just divide by the number of watts your lights will supply. Once you have figured out the watts you will need it is time to build a rack for your lights. It is also very wise to consider incorporating a timer to ensure your lights turn on and off at the same time each day. This will allow you to alter the lights in accordance with your plants needs.
It is important to watch your plants carefully. This will help ensure the lights you have chosen are a suitable substitute for the sun. You do not want to scorch the leaves, nor do you want to place the lights so high your plants do not receive their source of energy. A great rule of thumb is to allow at least 6 hours of darkness per day for your plants to stay healthy.
