In the dead of winter there is nothing more refreshing
to a gardener than walking into a greenhouse full of thriving plants.
This is a lifestyle to be envied and treasured-enjoying the scent of winter
Jasmine or roses, picking tasty organic tomatoes and fresh salad greens
for dinner, or just caring for plants as they mature and bloom. Growing
plants out of season, or out of your climate zone, is rewarding for many
greenhouse owners. However, proper supplemental lighting is a key factor
for successful growing in winter.
Plant Grow Lights fall into two categories: (1) Lights for propagation
and plants that will not grow more than 15", and (2) lights for growing
and maintaining mature plants over 15" tall.
Fluorescent fixtures with wide or full spectrum bulbs work well
for propagating and low growing plants. These fixtures provide enough
light energy when close to the plants, put out very little heat, and they
are economical to run. Fluorescent lights are "low intensity"
and need to be within 4-6" of the plants to be most effective. Look
for bulbs that have enhanced color spectrums to fully support the photosynthesis
process, or "full-spectrum" bulbs, which closely mimics real
daylight, resulting in vibrant colors of plants and flowers.
For the germination of seeds and for rooting cuttings, a light period
of 16 hours produces satisfactory results. Prior to transplanting newly
germinated seedlings and rooted cuttings a longer light period of up to
20 hours may be used with good results.
It is very important to purchase fluorescent fixtures with good ballasts.
The better the ballast, the longer the bulbs last. Inexpensive shop fixtures
have lower grade ballasts that will degrade bulbs quickly when operated
for 12-16 hours daily.
Fluorescent fixtures can hang from the roof rafters in the greenhouse,
or there are freestanding fixtures that can be set on a bench. Many of
the bench top models have easily adjustable reflectors so you can raise
or lower the lights to the optimum distance from the tops of the plants.
A freestanding light cart that has 3 or more fixtures will maximize the
area for starting plants.
HID (High Intensity Discharge) Lights are recommended for mature
plants that are over 15" tall. The "high intensity" light
energy is effective much farther away than fluorescent lighting. These
are the same powerful lights used by professional greenhouse growers.
HID lights are highly energy efficient. (It would take twenty 40 watt,
48 inch fluorescent lights to put out as much light as one 400 watt Metal
Halide lamp.) With HID lights you can grow any plant, anywhere, anytime
HID lights come in two different types. MH (Metal Halide) provides a full
light spectrum. It is the most effective light for indoor use where there
is limited sunlight, or use MH to extend the day length in a greenhouse.
HPS (High Pressure Sodium) has extra output in the yellow, orange and
red spectrum. This increases flower quality, size and fruiting. It is
the best choice for use in a greenhouse to supplement natural lighting.
Recently, fixtures have become available that allow either bulb to be
used, or both bulbs can be used at the same time. These fixtures provide
the best of both worlds.
However, in standard fixtures it is important that you never mix different
lamps with your ballast. An HPS bulb should only be used in HPS ballasts,
and a different watt bulb should not be put into a ballast that is not
rated for that size. The bulb life could be reduced or it could explode.
These fixtures have a high amount of heat output. During the winter, this
will help heat the greenhouse, but during the summer extra ventilation
may be required. The generated heat requires that the fixtures be placed
further away from the plants.
A good rule of thumb is a 250-watt fixture should be 2-3 feet away from
the plants and will have a primary growing area of about 3 feet by 3 feet.
There is a secondary growing area around the perimeter of another 18 inches.
400-watt fixtures should be 4-5 feet from the tops of the plants. They
have a primary growing area of 4 feet by 4 feet with a secondary area
of about 18 inches. A 600-watt light should be 5- 6 feet away and will
provide a primary growing area of 6 feet by 6 feet. These fixtures have
a secondary growing area of about 24 inches around the outside.
A Light Track System can be installed in your greenhouse to move
the HID light back and forth over a bench. This greatly increases the
growing area. The high intensity light fills the plants' light receptors
as it passes overhead. Be the time the plant has processed the light,
the fixture has returned, completing the cycle. The plants respond as
if they were in constant sunshine.
Using a heavy-duty, grounded timer will ensure that your plants are automatically
receiving the optimal amount of HID light. Long day plants produce fruits
and flowers when they receive 6-8 hours of darkness and 16-18 hours of
light. A few examples are Gloxinia, Coleus and Bromeliad.
Day Neutral plants are the most commonly grown in greenhouses. They have
also shown improved yields and performance with a longer 16-18 hour "on"
cycle. These plants include Eggplants, Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Roses,
Zinnias, Marigolds and Chilies. Day neutral Strawberries also are included
in this list.
Work Lights- The work light is usually a fluorescent fixture mounted
up at the peak of the greenhouse. This allows you to enjoy your greenhouse
even if it's dark outside. Work lighting is often over-looked, but running
out to check on your plants with a flashlight can get pretty tiresome!
It is recommended that you use a waterproof fixture for work lighting,
since the higher humidity in a greenhouse can degrade the terminals on
the bulbs and cause rust in open fixtures. Shop fixtures are inexpensive,
but have higher maintenance and lower reliability.
In conclusion, your lighting choices should be based on what kind of plants
you are growing, and how much supplemental lighting your plants need during
the different seasons.