Grow lights can count as indirect light, depending on how they’re used. Indirect light is basically any light source that isn’t generating a direct beam of light, such as the sun. If grow lights, such as fluorescent and LED lights, are situated in such a way that they are not shining directly on the plants, they can count as indirect light.
While it’s ideal for the light to come from the side, even overhead light can be indirect as long as it’s not too close. Heat radiation from the lights still reaches the plants and this can promote growth even when the light isn’t shining directly on them.
However, it’s important to ensure that the grow lights are not too close and that they don’t get too hot as this can potentially harm the plants and/or inhibit growth.
How do you mimic bright indirect light with grow lights?
Mimicking bright indirect light with grow lights involves setting up and adjusting the lights to produce a similar effect as natural indirect light. To generate this effect, multiple lights are often used in the set-up and should be set up with the goal of evenly and efficiently distributing bright, indirect light throughout the space.
The strategy and intensity of the light used will vary depending on the type of plants being grown, but some general guidelines should be followed.
The first step of setting up bright indirect light is to select the lights that will be used. For most plants, a combination of two or three fluorescent lights or two or three LED lights will provide enough light.
The distance between the lights and the plants should be adjusted depending on the type of plant and the intensity of the desired light. Generally for fluorescent lights, the lights should be a few inches away from the plants, while for LED lights, a further distance is often required to allow for greater brightness.
For optimal light intensity, the lights should be placed an equal distance from each other and the plants. Depending on the size of the space, however, it may be impossible to place the lights from the same distance from the plants.
If this is the case, consider angling the lights slightly outward so that the intensity of the light is more even throughout the space.
Finally, it is important to periodically adjust and relocate the lights. As plants grow and the potential for root stretching increases, the lights may need to be moved closer to the plants to create a higher intensity of light.
The lights should also be adjusted to ensure they are still evenly distributed and providing bright indirect light throughout the space. Of course, when adjusting or relocating the lights make sure to take safety precautions and use caution.
What’s the difference between a grow light and regular light?
Grow lights are specifically designed to provide the spectrum of light that is optimal for photosynthesis, the process plants use to convert light energy from the sun (or a light source) into the food they need to grow.
Regular lights, on the other hand, are not designed with this in mind and therefore may not provide the spectrum that plants need. In addition, regular lights typically do not provide the intensity of light needed for photosynthesis.
Grow lights also have the advantage of being able to provide a much more concentrated light over a smaller space, which provides more energy for plants to use. Regular lights often disperse their light over a much larger space, which can make it difficult for plants to get the light they need to photosynthesize.
Finally, certain types of grow lights (such as LED lights) are much more energy-efficient than regular lights, making them the ideal choice for growing plants indoors.
Should I run my grow lights at night?
No, it is generally not recommended that you run your grow lights at night. This is because your plants won’t be receiving the amount of light they need to photosynthesize and grow in an optimal manner.
As such, it is best to keep your lights turned off at night and to turn them on for 12–18 hours during the day. Additionally, running your lights for too long can lead to over-heating issues, which can be damaging to your plants.
If you decide to run your lights at night, be sure to keep a close eye on your plants and be prepared to adjust the lighting hours if necessary.
Can you use a grow light too much?
Yes, you can use a grow light too much. Too much light can cause the plants to become stressed and may even lead to wilting. A general rule of thumb is to give plants a rest in between light cycles and only provide them with light for 10-14 hours a day.
Additionally, having too strong of a light can also lead to plants becoming sunburned or bleached. You should also be aware of the power of the light output, as various lights have different levels of intensity and can impact the needs of your plants.
If the light is too powerful, you should consider adding reflectors or altering the distance between the plants and the grow light to reduce the intensity. Finally, you should also consider your grow light’s color temperature, as different temperatures can provide different types of light that are appropriate for different stages of a plant’s growth.
Too much of an intense color temperature can decrease the quality of certain plants.
Are purple or white grow lights better?
When considering which color of grow lights are better, there are a few things to consider. Color and intensity of the light will affect how plants respond, with the perfect light balance being key for optimum growth.
Generally speaking, purple and white grow lights both provide excellent lighting for plant growth — it really depends on your specific goals. White lights emit a cool light and are common in retail lighting, while purple lights emit a warmer and often more intense light.
For optimal plant growth, most experts recommend a combination of white and purple grow lights. White lights focus primarily on leaf and stem growth while giving plants a boost of energy emission, while purple lights are better for flowering and can help the plant grow bigger and faster.
For example, some studies have shown that combining purple and white lights helped veggies grow faster and with higher yields.
Overall, the best option when it comes to grow lights comes down to personal preference and what you are trying to achieve. Both white and purple grow lights are suitable options for growing plants, but combining the two can yield even better results.
To ensure optimal growth and yields, consider using a combination of both purple and white grow lights.
How many hours a day should a grow light be on?
The amount of time a grow light should be on depends on what type of plant you plan to grow and the stage of growth that the plant is in. Generally speaking, most plants need about 14-16 hours of light per day for optimal growth.
For seedlings and young plants, the ideal light duration is 18-24 hours per day. As the plants mature, you can reduce the amount of time the light is on to 16-18 hours. During the flowering stage, the light duration can be further reduced to 12-14 hours.
It’s also important to allow plants to have some darkness; plants need darkness just as much as they need light. If possible, avoid turning the light on and off frequently; keeping the light at a consistent and steady duration will help plants to grow stronger and healthier.
Is a grow light the same as a tanning light?
No, a grow light is not the same as a tanning light. Grow lights are specifically made to replicate the sunlight spectrum and provide intense, full-spectrum light to help indoor plants photosynthesize and grow.
Typically, they are used in greenhouses and used in place of natural sunlight. Tanning lights typically provide a large amount of UVA and/or UVB radiation, with much lower levels of visible light. This is used to darken a person’s skin color for cosmetic purposes, and is why it is typically found in tanning booths.
Tanning lights usually only emit UV radiation, and might include some red or infrared light. Grow lights, on the other hand, are designed to produce a variety of wavelengths in the visible light spectrum, as well as some infrared radiation, giving plants the full-spectrum light they need to grow.
Can artificial light replace sunlight for plants?
No, artificial light cannot replace sunlight for plants in the same way sunlight does. Plants require a certain type of light known as photosynthesis which sunlight provides in abundance. This cannot be achieved through artificial light that imitates the Sun’s rays.
Artificial light can however supplement sunlight to ensure plants are receiving the energy they need to grow and thrive. Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) wavelengths must be closely matched to that of the Sun, with colors in the red and blue spectrum.
When artificial light is used to supplement natural sunlight, the plants will still benefit greatly from the sunlight. The intensity of sunlight, which gradually goes down as the day progresses, allows for plants to not be over heating or burned, something that is more common with artificial lighting.
Artificial lighting can be beneficial for indoor plants, but ultimately natural sunlight should be the priority for any type of plant.
Do grow lights give off UV?
Yes, grow lights do give off UV radiation. Depending on the type of grow light, the amount of UV radiation it gives off can vary; some give off more UV radiation than others. Certain types of grow lights, such as metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights, produce UV output that can be harmful to both plants and people, which is why they should be used with caution.
Other grow lights, such as LED and fluorescent lights, produce less UV emissions and are considered safer. Still, even the safest types of grow lights should be used with proper protective gear and placed an appropriate distance away from people and plants to ensure safety.
How many lux of light do plants need?
Plants need various amounts of light for photosynthesis, depending on the species. Some plants can do well with as little as 100-150 lux of light, such as shade-loving Begonia and Chrysanthemum. Other plants can require up to 2000-3000 lux, such as African violets, according to the University of Illinois Extension.
An average lux of light for most house plants is 500-700 lux. However, some plants such as orchids need higher light levels of 1000-2000 lux for healthy growth. Generally, plants grown outdoors will require more light than those grown indoors.
Higher lux of light also improves the quality of flowering plants and vegetables. Additionally, more light may be necessary if the plant is further away from the light source. The most important takeaway is to check the light requirements of the particular species of plant you are growing before selecting a spot where the plant will thrive.
How many Lux is medium indirect light?
Medium indirect light typically falls somewhere between 300-500 lux. Depending on the specific situation or environment, the amount of lux for medium indirect light may vary slightly. For example, if you are in a room with a few windows, you may experience around 500 lux of light coming from the natural sunlight from outside.
If you are in a room with just a few lamps, then you may experience only around 300 lux of light. In order to ensure the light is just right for an indoor space, you can use lux meters or dimmers to control the amount of light you are creating.
How bright is 50 foot-candles?
A foot-candle is a unit of illumination equal to the amount of light that is cast on a surface from a single candle at a distance of one foot. Fifty foot-candles is a very bright level of illumination, often used to light a workspace or when doing detailed work.
It is equivalent to approximately 500 lux and is almost as bright as a typical overcast day. For comparison, a brightly lit office typically ranges between 50 to 100 foot-candles, while a full moon averages around 0.
5 foot-candles and a sunny day around 10,000. In general, 50 foot-candles is a very bright level of illumination and should be used carefully.
How many foot-candles are in a 100 watt bulb?
The number of foot-candles in a 100 watt bulb depends on the distance between the bulb and the object receiving the light. Assuming the bulb is suspended 8 feet above the object and is completely uncovered, the calculation should be as follows:
The bulb emits light with a luminous flux of 1,500 lumens. The lux can be calculated by dividing the luminous flux by the area illuminated, which makes the lux of the 100W bulb equal to 187.5 lux or 18.
75 foot-candles. However, the luminous flux will drop if the distance increases. A rule of thumb is that every time the distance between the light source and the object receiving the light doubles, the light reaching that object reduces to one-fourth its original amount.
Therefore, if the bulb is suspended 16 feet above the object, its lux will drop to 4.68 foot-candles, and if it’s suspended 24 feet high, then it will drop to 1.17 foot-candles.
What is the minimum lighting required by OSHA?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide a workplace that is free of recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. When it comes to lighting, OSHA requires employers to provide “sufficient intensity and uniformity of illumination” while avoiding excessive glare and brightness.
The specific minimum light intensity requirements generally depend on the type of work activity being performed and the kind of hazard present in the area. Generally, for general office environments, the minimum foot-candle level is between 20 and 50 foot-candles.
For more hazardous workplaces, including industrial or chemical work, the minimum light intensity can be as much as 2 foot-candles.
Additionally, OSHA requires that employers provide lighting that is even and without glare or bright reflections. Glare is a particular concern in areas with computer monitor screens. To avoid glare, employers should make sure that they install task lights—such as desk lamps—where feasible.
Finally, employers should provide appropriate eye protection to workers when bright lighting is necessary. Additionally, OSHA requires that employers must properly shield any lamps with broken or cracked enclosures or covers.
What does 10 foot-candles mean?
10 foot-candles is a measure of light intensity. It is the amount of light that is produced by a source one foot away, measured in lumens per square foot (lm/ft2). The higher the value, the brighter the light is.
10 foot-candles is equivalent to 108 lux. It is the typical light level recommended for most areas, such as living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Higher levels of light may be used for tasks that require more visibility such as reading, cooking, or using a computer.
However, bright lights may be distracting or uncomfortable in some environments, so it is important to consider the purpose of the area when evaluating the appropriate light level.