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| SECTION 4 - THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| LIGHTING | ||
| FLUORESCENT LIGHTING In a small area ordinary fluorescent strip lighting is recommended for the propagation stage of growth up = until planting into the system.  Fluorescent tubes produce very little heat so they can be placed just 2 — 4 ems from the top of the seedling/cutting. This will use the light the most efficiently, which will keep the seedlings/cuttings short and encourage them to become more bushy. The object is to keep the plants as compact as possible, with short internodal lengths, and to stop them becoming too stretched. As there is such a small gap in between the fluorescent tube and the top of the seedlings/cuttings the light will need raising as they grow in height to avoid burning the tops.  By using a chain or pulley you can raise the lights, alternatively the lights can be fixed and the seedlings/cuttings can be lowered as they grow.In this initial stage of growth only low levels of lighting are required, which will be provided by fluorescent tubes. In the first week, whilst in the propagator and before the roots have formed, seedlings/cuttings will perform best with lighting levels of around 100 watts per square meter. So to light a small propagator just one or two short fluorescent tubes would be sufficient.  To increase the lighting levels several lights can be mounted together. With several lights you can switch them on as the demand for light increases.As lighting levels at this initial stage need to be low (to avoid stress) fluorescent tubes are ideal. Problems can be encountered if using High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting due to the heat and intensity of the light. It is important that fresh seedlings/cuttings are not exposed to high levels of light. Once the roots have formed and developed the seedlings/cuttings will then require slightly more light. At this stage around 200 watts per square meter are needed. Once planted into a hydroponic system plants require around 300 watts per square meter for optimum growth and yield. The right type of fluorescent tube will also produce a blue/white light which plants prefer in the propagation and vegetative stages of growth. Fluorescent lighting can usually be purchased with thin (26 mm) or wide (39 mm) tubes. They are available in the following types, each producing a different colour of light.
For larger areas (1/2 meter square plus) more powerful fluorescent lighting can be purchased. Specialist propagation lighting usually uses 55w compact high output tubes which produce around 5,000 lumens of light. As with ordinary fluorescent lighting, these produce very little heat and are economical to run. HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (H.LD.) LIGHTING HID lighting is only recommended for propagation purposes if you have a large area to cover as HID lighting is a lot more powerful (and expensive) than ordinary lighting. In a small area this can he too intense and the heat generated by the lamps can cause problems. A complete HID lighting system will comprise of the following.:  Ballast — This is a heavy box which is plugged into the mains. This contains a capacitor, transformer and possibly an igniter (otherwise situated in the reflector hood or lamp)Reflector hood — From the ballast runs a cable to the reflector hood which contains the bulb holder. Lamp — Different types of lamp produce different colours of light. For propagation the metal halide lamps are the most effective as they produce the blue/white light, but sodium lamps can also be used. The above units can be purchased separately or as complete systems, usually available in 250, 400, 600 and 1,000 watts. HID lamps produce a lot of heat so the bulb should be 60 ems above mother plants and 90 cms above seedlings/cuttings. If the propagator is in a part of your grow-room then it should be in a shaded area or covered with a white cloth. When purchasing lighting equipment (along with other electrical components for the grow-room) it is important to make sure that they are grounded. Electricity and water do not mix! It is also important with larger lights to make sure they have been produced for horticultural purposes, as some HID lighting is not designed for use in hot and humid environments. | ||
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