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Anybody out there use grow-lamps?
My findings are similar to Pat's, although I believe the stockier
plants would be a results of more efficient plant energy use but the law of inverse square vs heat generation may be at play. Right now the lower cost LED light bars/boxes are nothing but old first generations 1 w LEDs being marketed in different ways. There is limited phototrophic use in these low powered lights. There are a few 3-5w light bars in different combos out there that are adequate for growing, again still retrofitting and a greater cost. The high output LEDs are 5w ea and about =/a $ per w cost, especially the CREE lights. A bit spendy for seedlings unless your energy cost is really high. Also more research is being done to determine the true wave length (nm) combos of proper phototrophic response for various plants and actually cut through the marketing hype. So, for now anyway, its "go big ($$$) or go home" for LEDs. For just seedlings, unless costs drop soon, I recommend you use fluorescent in the length you need (2 /4/8 ft). 34 w tubes are ok, HO 54w are definitely better. Bright whites (5000k) are not necessary (nor are "grow" lights") but will not harm your efforts. CFLs are a good option if you get decent size(/=60ish w {200-300 w equivalents}). You do not need to know the law of inverse square, just that the closer the light the more energy it receives and each foot back quarters the light output, not halves it. Adjust the lights to where you get 68-72*f on the soil surface later, the plant top and check often so you don't burn them up being too close nor stretch em by being too far away, stem stretch will weaken them in later growth. Lastly, try to find the optimum photoperiod of your plants ( day long 12 hours, day neutral =12, day short 12) and match it but do give em a rest. If growing past seedlings, do consider HIDs... your return on investment is less, for the near term anyway. |
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