Proper lighting is the key to the health of any seedling. In winter and early spring there is not enough sunlight, so gardeners resort to special devices, including homemade ones, to create better conditions for sprouts.
Proper organization of the place
It is advisable to place boxes with seedlings on window sills facing south, since this is where young plants will receive the most sunlight. To increase the light intensity, windows should be thoroughly washed on both sides. This simple trick will increase the amount of light by about 15%.
Using a special lamp
To illuminate seedlings, 3 types of lamps are often used:
- Luminescent. This lamp will perfectly compensate for the lack of sunlight. You can purchase a device with a white glow, but models that produce violet-red light are considered more effective, since it stimulates the proper development of plants and accelerates their growth.
- Energy saving. An affordable item, sold in any hardware department. Since the intensity of such a lamp is low, it is better to purchase 2-3 pieces at once to prevent the sprouts from stretching.
- Induction. One of the best options for illuminating seedlings. The lamp has powerful red-blue radiation, which has a beneficial effect on plant health. The disadvantage of the device is its high price.
These lamps should be turned on at approximately 6 am and turned off at 8 pm.The correct location of the lamp is directly above the box with seedlings at a height of 0.2 m.
Stands
It is possible to provide young plants with more sunlight using stands. Stacks of books, overturned crates or boxes, blocks of foam or some similar material will need to be placed on the windowsill, and then seating containers will be placed on them.
Shelving
If there are a lot of seedlings, then you can try to build a rack with several shelves for it. This design is installed on a windowsill, and young plants, being close to the sun, develop much better.
Paper screen
White paper is an excellent light reflector, and gardeners have long used it to illuminate young shoots. You will need to take a sheet of thick paper and secure it so that the seedlings are in the space between the window glass and the paper screen.
Use of shiny materials
Materials with a shiny surface, such as baking foil or foil penofol, can also provide the seedlings with the right amount of light. You just need to fix a piece of such material on the wall of the container with the shoots so that it is between the window and the reflective screen.
Application of a mirror
The mirror will easily reflect sunlight and direct it directly to the young shoots. To do this, you will need to install it behind containers with plants at an angle of 45°.
Useful tips
- If possible, separate pots with shoots should be placed further away from each other to avoid mutual shading of the plants.
- It is better to place all objects with a shiny surface when the sun's rays fall on the plants at an angle, otherwise there is a risk of burning the plants. After sunset, it is better to remove such screens so that the light from the lanterns does not disorient the plants.
- Almost all of these methods combine well with each other. For example, gardeners often combine a stand with a phytolamp or a rack with a reflective screen.
It is easy to provide seedlings with the right amount of light. You just need to spend a little effort, and excellent results will be just around the corner!
