We all know plants need light to grow.\u00a0 They use the sunlight to create food for themselves, releasing oxygen as a by-product, thereby giving us what we need to breathe.\u00a0 Without enough light plants become weak and\u00a0spindly.\u00a0In addition, without proper light\u00a0plants\u00a0stop flowering or\u00a0fruiting; they may\u00a0even give up\u00a0altogether\u00a0and die.\u00a0 So whether we are trying to grow plants we already have or start seedlings indoors (Mid to end-February is a perfect time to start tomatoes, peppers, etc.) then we need to “get the light right.”<\/p>\n
How do we get that “just right” light?\u00a0Experts are recommending LED lights.\u00a0 They’re a bit more expensive in the beginning, but they last longer and are far more energy efficient.\u00a0 They also produce less heat than a lot of other lights.\u00a0Why does that matter?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because\u00a0too much heat can kill a plant.<\/p>\n
Now one of the first things we need to know is the light requirements of whatever it is we’re trying to grow.\u00a0 Citrus, succulents, cactus, a lot of annual flowers (like marigolds, geraniums,etc) and lots of veggies (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, cukes, etc.) need LOTS of sun.\u00a0 Other plants may need a bit less\u00a0light\u00a0so you\u00a0also need to make sure that you can adjust the “distance” your light is from the plants.<\/p>\n
We also need timers for our grow-lights because all plants need a period of around eight hours of darkness.\u00a0 A timer means that if you are late getting home from work or fall asleep watching TV, the light will still go off at the correct time..<\/p>\n
There are other kinds of lights out there, like fluorescent–but they don’t last nearly as long as LED lights and some can generate more heat which can damage foliage.<\/p>\n
Whatever lights you choose, have fun with them.\u00a0 Start your own seeds with them and be able to pick your own favorite varieties or use them to “give a boost” to other plants–like orchids or citrus.<\/p>\n
My orchids bloom more because I have grow lights. Whether starting seeds, growing orchids, or giving a boost to other plants, grow lights are a valuable addition to your gardening success!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"