How to Light Your Hydroponic Garden

Plants require light, some require only a little other require significantly more. Plants use this light to produce nutrients through photosynthesizes. In order to keep the biochemical reactions going the plants require warmth and they often control processes through the amount of light they get. Some processes are sped up others are shut down.

During the process of photosynthesis, the plants take in carbon dioxide and water and turn these materials into glucose and oxygen. The oxygen is expelled as a waste product of the plant while the glucose is used as food for the plant, its own internal source of energy. The color and the intensity of light also play a role in the processes and the effectiveness of those processes.

However, few hydroponics gardens are actually left out in the sun so it is necessary to set up a lighting scheme in order to provide your plant with the light it needs to properly grow and synthesize. White is made of a number of different wavelengths. The green or yellow color of the leaves means that these wavelengths are reflected back and the rest of the wavelengths are actually absorbed by the plant. Depending on the growth stage of the plant, different wavelengths are utilized better than others are. Red is used during growth phases while blue is used for flowering or fruiting.

For those plants that are left near an open window or those plants that are grown outdoors for the most part regulate the wavelengths that they absorb. This is because the entire spectrum is abundant. Those plants that live indoors however have to make do with whatever is available to them. This is why it is important to ensure that the plants in your hydroponic garden are provided with the light they need both in intensity and in wavelength.

Indoor lighting is generally less intense than lighting that is natural. This means that it provides less overall energy for the plant. The plants need to be supplemented with natural light if they are being grown indoors. The other option is to use special lighting that is generally referred to as growth lights. These are necessary to provide the plants with the energy and warmth that they need in order to properly grow and process nutrients and create energy.

Other than growth lights, there are other lights which can be used for plants. They have various wavelengths and they have a variety of prices. Some of these lighting types are better than others when it comes to growing plants. The necessary mixture will change depending on the climate of the area.

Incandescent lighting provides a great deal of heat however; they do not produce well on the blue range. They do however, produce well on the red end of the spectrum. Fluorescent lighting tends to produce a green spectrum of light; they may or may not depending on the coating and mercury produce a white spectrum. They are one of the cheaper lighting sources.

In order to get the best of both worlds it is a good idea to mix both incandescent lighting and fluorescent lighting. For example, using a 100-watt fluorescent and a 30-watt incandescent light can provide a good mix of the wavelengths and help to replace natural lighting. Other options include metal halide and sodium lamps. These are two of the best for use with hydroponic gardens. Sodium lamps handle the red range while the metal halide handles the blue range. Unfortunately, it will be necessary to have separate housings since they are not interchangeable.

The newer LED lighting can also produce a wide spectrum. They can also be adjusted to match the wavelength you are looking for, they do not however have the intensity and they are expensive.

Use a light meter to tell the intensity of the lighting and ensure that you know what intensity your plants need. For example, medium light plants need about the equivalent of 1000-foot candles while others may need 2000. Put the meter about a foot away from the plant in order to ensure that you are getting an accurate reading. The figure also changes based on the type of lighting used.

Plants need approximately 8-10 hours per day of light. However, if you are not using natural light and are only making use of artificial lighting somewhere between 12-14 hours may be needed and it can be as much as 16-18 hours depending on the type of plant and the combination.

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