Neon lights to plant succulents |

November 7

Neon lights to plant succulents

of Stranepiante
http://stranepiante.blogspot.com/

These first cold days make me think of winter, it saddens me to think of some periods of stasis growth, but throwing a look at my pseudogerminatoio meeting once the joy! is true of the neon light can not be compared to the least sunlight, but with respect to indoor plantings does a great job.

[Get ready for a poem, the first part is theory, if you hurry you read the last paragraphs ...]

Well you at sowing between October and April is the light to start and continue to grow properly, after sweating so much for finding the seeds, preparing compost and containers unless we want or we can sow outdoors we provide food for our seedlings with their favorite food, the Light ... the real problem that must solve an experienced grower accustomed to sow outdoors is where and how much light is used? Although light alone is enough to germinate and grow the plants, in certain cases: low temperature, aesthetic problems, mothers / wives, etc. is preferable to construct a closed germinator, which blends with the home, however this is not the topic of this article, which is long enough and confined to the choice of lights for sowing!

What light is used for sowing?

We must now distinguish between light cold and warm light, the cold is brighter and has a spectrum more pronounced on the blue, the warm is less bright and has a longer range on the red / orange. The hot or cold light is defined by the hue or color temperature, this is measured in ° K (degrees Kelvin).

In addition, the lamps can be considered cold or hot as well as for the colors to the actual heat output: historically the lights are cool neon and LED lights are the hot filament or filament bulbs, but now for many years are on the market capable of providing neon light with warm tones, which do not release heat as incandescent lamps.

For the sowing must be used exclusively neon or LED lights for more expensive then given that the common emit fluorescent light that is not fully used by the plants will also Neon specific.

I state that the bases in the aquarium trade have helped me in this, see the different behavior of aquarium plants used by neon is interesting, the question "lights for sowing" is not treated, retailers and nurseries behind you laugh: "Why waste the current when I sow the summer without spending a dollar? ".

For a production on a large scale to provide artificial light becomes expensive, even if necessary in certain cases, but in order to take some seeding in the house the expense is that more sustainable, in my case the load on the bill is almost zero since the chandelier of my room equipped with halogen lights and consumes about 100w from sowing in the room when I did not hardly turn on.

Returning to the type of light needed for sowing, it must be intense, to avoid their loss must be close to containers for sowing is impossible with incandescent bulbs, because they produce much heat, so we chose to use the neon.

The neon lights are of different types both in form and emitted light. The main forms are the pipe and compact (commonly called energy saving bulbs). The neon tubes until a few years ago were the only option because the bulbs are compact entered the market only in recent years (these are the things that make you realize that you're getting older ), And only recently are beginning to find compact specifications for plant growth, but still with some difficulty.

The energy saving light bulbs are simply bent neon tubes, the great innovation of energy-saving bulbs is that just screw into a socket, do not require links and other tools to work like it does for neon tubes.

To light a neon tube requires a ballast and a starter, as a base for starter and wires for connections, or an electronic ballast, which reduces fuel consumption, increases performance, but cost much more. Attacks ponds, or ceiling portaneon usually make connections easier than it safer. The traditional reactors require a starter, which must be appropriate (same w) and neon to the reactor.

To light a light bulb energy saving bulb is sufficient because the electronic ballast is inserted into the white base is always present between the lamp and the thread.

At this point we analyze the differences between the compact and neon tubes:

For a yield of around 30w

Neon tube
-Initial cost: For a white neon 10-15 euro 20-30 euro for a neon Gro
-Cost Management: Cost of replacing the lamp, and occasional replacement of the reactor and / or starter
-Easy to assemble: Easy for those who have already done in 10 minutes is all ready, the first module must be installed carefully and only if you are able to do so.
-Heat output: High, but limited to the reactor (if conventional), even the ends of the tube are heated, but not excessively. The pro is that the links are doing for me to decide where to place the reactor, and can exploit it for example to produce heat in the sowing
Light-Features: The big pro is that of the neon tubes being used for decades in aquariums are available in dozens of variations of spectra of light emitted, and will therefore be possible to combine different tubes to get the type of light desired.
-Availability: In all the electrical stores are the white or super white, in the more lamps are also provided for specific plants, aquarium stores are spoiled for choice.

Compact lamp
-Initial cost: white light 5-30 euros 10-35 euros Gro model
Cost-Management: The compact lamp should be replaced entirely so the cost is equal to the first purchase
-Ease of Installation: Very easy just like any bulb screwed
-Heat output: Modest, limited to the white body as the electronic ballast is located inside, the counter is that it can not be separated from the bulb, so where the light will also be addressed to the heat.
-Light Features: Unfortunately, these lamps are marketed relatively recently, and only a few houses have started to produce them with specific spectra, most of the time is not possible to know the spectrum of a compact.
-Availability: The ones in white unknown spectrum can be found in any supermarket, electronics store or local market.
The problems start when searching for those specific plants, which are currently available only in some aquarium shop, they are easily available online, but often at prohibitive prices also weighed down by the expedition.

So I choose?

Neon tube if I'm going to build a stable germinator and medium-sized, compact, if I want to try, or if the area to be illuminated is small-medium.

I talked to ghosts, white lights and lights dedicated to plants ... what a mess!

The spectrum is an analysis of the light emitted by a lamp, which allows to appreciate visually via a graph, of which wavelength is the light emitted by a lamp. For the visible light spectrum includes the spectrum of light that the human eye can not see; the rainbow can be seen as the spectrum of sunlight within the atmosphere, that for a series of reflections and refractions is split into its its component colors. The visible spectrum is about 400 to 700 nanometers, the electromagnetic spectrum is much wider at the extremes of what are seen as ultraviolet and infrared, which are generally not visible to the human eye.

The white lights although apparently all the same to the human eye are different at the level of the spectrum and therefore some are better than others when used for the growth of plants. Most of the white neon common emit a broad spectrum of light, with priority in the wavelength of blue.

The lights are lights dedicated to plants less bright to the human eye, they emit a rosy light, with wavelengths that "like" plants, ie the spectrum is less rich, and is concentrated in the wavelength of the red.

Therefore, rather than the amount of light, it is important to the quality, the wavelength of the light that we provide, probably the sowing grow well under 4 neon from 30 wa white light with a spectrum homogeneous, but would grow equally well under a neon for plants + one white, so why spend more?.

So that must have the light spectrum for optimal growth of the plants?

The spectrum must have the most of the light in the wavelength of the orange / red and a part in the blue, the other wavelengths are less useful, in particular the green, but must still be present in minor extent; must give priority to the red / orange and blue because chlorophyll absorbs light of these wavelengths. If you remember at least the basics of physics, you will remember that the eye sees colors reflected from the object observed, if you look at a white object that appears white because all the light is reflected, if we look at a black object, this This is because all light is absorbed, a simple test that you can do it in the sun, leaving a white vase and a black vase, to the touch after a while the black pot will be much hotter than the white one, precisely because it has absorbed the radiation bright. A green object absorbs all light except the wavelength of the green, the same is true for plants.

To obtain an optimum spectrum in indoor cultivation we added the spectra offered by different types of lights, then put a white light and a light for specific plants, the light produced by the two lamps will have a broad spectrum with peaks on the blue and sull'arancio / red is important that the spectrum is broad and not only blue and red, because in addition to the chlorophyll are no other pigments that absorb other wavelengths.

This does not mean that in neon pink or neon white under the plants would not grow, both lamps have a spectrum more or less complete, but it is good to make the most of, combining them, that way you will save in electricity and you are sure to provide a quality of optimal light for the plants. To understand two white or two neon pink neon gives the worst results of a matching neon pink + white neon, but the consumption of electricity is the same.

With regard to the neon white I said that not everyone has the same spectrum, we must choose those with a very bright color temperature as possible tending to 10000 ° K in aquarium shops are easily found even if sometimes they are more expensive than those sold electricians are well supplied. It is not so important the choice of white neon, having to choose between a white neon from 3 euros (electrician) and or 10 (aquarium) choose (usually I choose!) The cheapest, it's important to have a broad spectrum.

If desired there is only one neon, called True Light, would be more appropriate because with most spectrum similar to sunlight, it is a neon professional, not normally used for recreational purposes because of the very high cost, is used to get an overview of the optimal color in enclosed areas. It has a color temperature of 5500 ° K would be an insult to poverty use for growing plants, but the result would be good. Probably because it would reduce consumption would take a single lamp ... but I do not think it's worth it, because even with two neon double the illuminated surface.

The problem is that the tubes should be as close as possible to sowing, but this really is not a problem for the pipes, because it turned warm, but not so much, they are normally positioned at about 20 cm from the plants, also 5-10 cm are fine, the important thing is they do not touch the plants. In a closed germinator is preferable to protect the connections of neon with suitable connections sold in aquarium shops at 10-15 euros. This can become a problem if neon is used in a germinator a compact closed. If you had the patience to read everything before I wrote that having the compact electronic ballast bulb close to radiate heat in addition to light, ended in a germinator this would increase significantly the temperature (and we should take further measures to control it) and humidity , which in turn would dangerously to interact with the electronic ballast.

The distance from the sowing of the lamps is also important in the horizontal and vertical addition, I noticed that seedlings located more than 5 cm from the tube tend to lean towards the light, even if you do not spin.

Normally I calculated that each neon tube lights effectively about 12 cm perpendicular to the tube, then under two neon plantings are placed two abreast, max 3 or 4 if you use a reflector, then the area available in 2 neon 100 cm is about 100 × 24 cm. Hypothetically, possessing containers of 10 cm per side, two neon enough for 20 sowings.

I used to rotate and / or reverse the containers whenever bath plantings.

On compact lamps used for sowing succulents unfortunately I have little to say, because usually they are accompanied by the spectrum generated in a few cases can be found on the website of the manufacturer more information. In addition to those specific plants to light pink are not yet widespread, I found only three types, do not exclude that there is other: Envirolite, which are the most popular, similar to previous Sonlight (of these two the minimum size is 125w, and cost between 40 to 70 euros, probably are not exploited to the maximum for sowing), and other cheaper Hasse, perhaps better suited, the price is about € 10-30 and there are 15 and 30w . I only mention the fact that I have seen in the markets compact light bulbs euro rose to 2-3, but having no idea of their spectrum, how to measure it, I venture to advise.

Personally I have used the compact only for short periods, for emergencies, or to increase the light on some plantings. I recently mounted on a tank: 2 rose from 30 white w 5 (2 x 30w 11w and 3) aquatic plants have obviously liked it, but the main reason is that they now receive 150w of light against the 60w offered by two tubes Neon, I had to increase because iw as a result of the compact conformation of the bent tube, two 30 W compact cover an area less than two neon tubes, but illuminate more intensely. Then to make the most compact reflector is essential, but it's also good to use for the tubes. An arrangement of the compact using lamps 15w can be configured in width or length (in the diagrams in the Red areas that receive optimum illumination, in the structure of a hypothetical gray frame).

The rose will be placed more centrally, best not to extremes.

So I think the compact has the advantage of being easy to handle, also having to choose more than 2-3 neon lamp tube, you can choose lamps with different characteristics (spectrum is that of w), positioning them where we prefer, but at same time the cost of management and the initial cost will be greater.

Mini germinator: another advantage of energy saving lights is that it is indeed compact, utilizing only two (one pink and one white) you can get a mini-germinator, for those who are beginners and want to try to sow, but not persuaded to continue to do so ...

What lights use on indoor sowing?

This article would have been limited to the next concept: To optimize the lights on a need to stagger sowing is a light pink to white, to illuminate an area of approximately 100 × 25 cm 2 are sufficient fluorescent tube 30 watt each , but it is related to the size to the length of the tube (there are also shorter, from 15w x 50cm, are sufficient for an area of 50x 25 cm), with the compact we can handle spaces as we want to create a germinator eg square, but the total watts should be slightly greater for the same illuminated surface.

On my seeding I:

- [1 Gro-lux Daylight Cool + 1]: for germination and early.

- [1 + 1 POLILUX Gro lux Daylight 40 + 1]: for the next period of growth.

The Grolux offer the most of the light pink, blue and adds the Cool Daylight complete spectrum, even if the orange is little, but the red is very.

The Polylux and Daylight are from 4000 and 5000 ° K have fairly homogeneous spectrum for all wavelengths, but the blue is more accentuated, and the red less (as is provided by Gro-Lux).

Time of start and stop are controlled by a timer that gives 14 hours of light per day, the minimum is 12 hours if, for example in the morning seeding the area receives light from a window. You can force the growth into the lights on 18 hours, but the cost in the bill does not justify the benefits.

Substitution: neon lights lose power with every passing month, the most fanatical aquaristic replace them every 5-6 months, but I think 8 months a year for sowing should be fine. To limit the variations in brightness is best to replace a lamp at a time, and not all the bulbs in bulk; lamps eliminated are still good and can last more than two years before shut down permanently, so they are usable for other purposes, or you can leave But on adding new plantings.

Looking for the color temperature of Grolux Sylvania (which I found) I found that the Sylvania Aquastar is a 10000 ° K, which simulates the spectrum of tropical light, in practice a Gro-lux, but with more blue, it might be interesting for evidence even though the differences may be little appreciated.

Wishing you could spend hours and hours analyzing the various spectra of the tubes on the market, and probably better than you would find associations that use, but since I was fine, has for some years that I go on like this, the plants grow healthy and colored with no signs of eziolatura I have seen that there are two types of Osram lamps that may be of interest, and the Fluora Biolux, perhaps combined because both the red is not very pronounced (it is definitely more pronounced than in others), but I yet proven, it is also just exit the SKYWHITE, could be a good substitute of Cool Daylight in the first pair, since the amount of red is similar, but the SKYWHITE has more blue.

Under these lights have been successful propagation by cuttings as well as sowing, for shorter periods (several months) have illuminated plants a few years, which showed active growth even in winter with no signs of eziolatura, but I never tried to leave for a whole year, so do not know if it would occur later.

I used the same location for germination and early growth of common chiles and tropical, with success, I think it's suitable for any type of plant.

Warning! Any kind of connection do for a germinator closed or open, always remember that you are playing with electricity, Faulty connections can lead to the best of the burn tube that is no longer usable, or even its explosion. Where there are plants, there is water and this is known not get along with electricity, so be sure to always leave absolutely no bare wires, or conduits to protect with special attacks all connections, and with sleeves and / or attacks Seal all connections that will be inside a germinator which inevitably creates a certain amount of moisture! If you have even the slightest doubt that you have done something wrong, do not attack the pin, recheck your connections and ask for advice if an electrician! I do not feel responsible for any damage or injury resulting from the application of the observations which I have presented. Do not mess with electricity and is easy to miss!

Good job!

Source: http://stranepiante.blogspot.com/