Questions tagged [light]

Illumination, required for photosynthesis. Use this tag for all questions about the required light levels for your plants. For questions specifically about artificial lights use the [led] or [grow-lamp] tags. For questions directly about the Sun and its effects in different conditions on plants use the [sunlight] tag.

Virtually all plants require light to power the chemical reaction known as photosynthesis, to produce sugars and cellulose (exceptions include some rare orchids such as Hexalectris which are at best partially photosynthetic).

Different plants have adapted to require different amounts of light. For example, trees that grow at high latitudes are generally adapted for poor light conditions, and low latitude desert plants are adapted for high light conditions.

There can be artificial light sources like lights or beside the natural source of light: .

Use this tag for all questions about the required light levels for your plants. Use it with tag(s) specific to the plants in the question.

128 questions
7
votes
1 answer

Which of These Bonsais Are The Most Appropriate For My Climate?

I want to buy a bonsai tree. The options are Ficus, Ligustrum, Carmona, and Sageretia. Reading the instructions on those links, I was convinced that I should get either Carmona or Sageretia considering the wet, not warm or sunny climate of Ireland.…
Neeku
  • 826
  • 2
  • 7
  • 20
6
votes
2 answers

Comparison of efficiency of different light colors / spectrums

I am building an led light for my indoor hydroponic / aeroponic / foggaponic hybrid herb garden. I am currently using a 100W warm white LED module. It works fine but I am also building another RGB light and that got me thinking that since plants do…
DominicM
  • 273
  • 2
  • 9
6
votes
1 answer

What is the best light spectrum for growing chili peppers?

Natural light is best for plants during all growth phases, but I'll be growing indoors, It's a good idea to have a basic understanding of the light spectrum and how it affects plant growth, in order to choose the best lighting for my indoor…
N3R0
  • 313
  • 2
  • 9
6
votes
1 answer

Is High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting better overall than Compact Fluoresent Lighting (CFL)?

For hydroponic horticulture are Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights still the staple/better choice for growing indoors or do Compact Fluoresent lights (CFL) offer enough light output/spectrum to give the HID lights a run for…
WienerDog
  • 2,204
  • 1
  • 20
  • 34
6
votes
2 answers

T5 AgroLED, Hortilux PowerVEG FS + UV, UV and Mold

I am growing microgreens and wheatgrass and sometimes run into trouble with mold. I have read that mold can be controlled by using LED lights but I cannot seem to find anything more specific. I assuming that the mold control comes from the UV. Now…
user16528
  • 61
  • 1
6
votes
1 answer

Help determine lighting requirements for wintering small plants indoors

I live in zone8. I have a few plants I've been experimenting with. I broke a few stems off a friends tropical flowering plant they got at Home Depot, and have been propagating them successfully, but they'll have to come in for the winter. I also…
Dalton
  • 5,092
  • 1
  • 21
  • 37
6
votes
1 answer

Is total darkness acceptable for tomatoes to recover from transplant shock?

After re-potting tomato seedlings from plugs to larger pots (that they'll live in for about a month before they go out in the garden) it is recommended to let the plants recover from transplanting by not exposing them to bright light. The weather…
OrganicLawnDIY
  • 8,487
  • 1
  • 25
  • 48
6
votes
1 answer

Am I meeting the light requirements for indoor dwarf citrus trees?

I've recently purchased 3 dwarf citrus trees that we plan to keep indoors for ~9 months of the year. We are in zone 6 so we can only reliably move the trees to the porch for June, July and August with time moving in and out in the spring and fall…
Anubis
  • 1,043
  • 6
  • 16
6
votes
3 answers

What fluorescent bulb is best for my tomato seedlings?

It has been suggested that my seedlings may not be getting enough light. What are the best types of fluorescent lights to get? I have a single bulb, and looking to get another light or two to add to the lighting. I'm not sure where my wife…
6
votes
1 answer

Can strawberries be grown year-round indoors?

Are there particular varieties that are best suited for indoor growing? Will the plant die after producing fruit after x amount of harvests? Are particular lighting schedules required to produce fruit? Temperatures will be regulated as well.
Enigma
  • 1,993
  • 5
  • 21
  • 40
5
votes
0 answers

My shady and rather cool garden is always behind those nearby. Could starting seedlings under grow lights help?

I grow veg in southern England, starting from seed in a south-east-facing windowsill. I already use a heated propagator for my seeds as my house isn't very warm in early spring. The garden has mature oak trees and a hedgerow along the south east…
Chris H
  • 1,162
  • 1
  • 7
  • 15
5
votes
2 answers

What kind of grow lights do I need for a butternut squash?

I just potted a butternut squash seedling. The way my patio is situated, it doesn't always get a lot of sunlight - and I think butternut squash requires ~6 hours of it. I was going to go ahead and get a grow light - I've been meaning to get one…
user21298
5
votes
2 answers

Is this night lamp setup helpful or harmful for seedlings?

If I keep the regular (so called warm white) night lamp during nights above my Echinacea angustifola and Rudbeckia hirta seedlings (like pictured in the photos), would it be helpful or harmful for seedlings? The lamp is 3W, and doesn't produce any…
VividD
  • 5,810
  • 3
  • 21
  • 63
5
votes
2 answers

Do olives need darkness? How much?

I understand (1, 2) that whether and how much time a plant needs to be in the dark depend on the type of plant. What's the answer for the olive? The reason I ask is that my city shines lights up on the branches and leaves of an olive tree on my…
msh210
  • 242
  • 2
  • 9
5
votes
1 answer

Difference in supplementary lighting between greens and strawberries?

I read that for greens like salad you can provide supplementary light hours (during night time) in order to increase the growing speed. Some species even tolerate continuous lighting. Is the same possible for strawberries? I'm not sure as the daily…
1 2
3
8 9