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LEDs To grow good seedlings, in addition to high-quality soil and timely watering, sufficient light is required. The lack of lighting will lead to the fact that the plants will start to hurt, growth and fruiting will be delayed. Well, of course, you need a place to put all the seedlings. To solve the problem with the placement and lighting will help special racks. Ready-made racks for seedlings can be purchased at the store. And for those who want to show their imagination and creativity, you can make a rack for seedlings with your own hands, which will be combined with a home interior. You can put it not only on the windowsill, but also in the presence of lighting in any convenient place. Before the onset of cold weather to make a balcony or a veranda.
Selection of material for a rack
What can be used to make a rack for seedlings?
To begin with, we will determine the material that we will use in manufacturing. It can be either wood, iron, or plastic. It all depends on the material possibilities and engineering design wishes. If you prefer a tree, then it is better to choose hardwoods that will absorb moisture poorly. If metal, then stainless steel is better. It will protect the structure from corrosion. Plywood, plastic or plexiglas can be used as shelves. Here the advantage is given to plexiglass and plastic. Such materials will last a long time without losing their appearance. Plywood shelves will have to be covered with polyethylene so that they do not deteriorate under the influence of moisture.
Basic requirements for a rack for seedlings
Whatever the design does not have a rack for growing seedlings, it must meet the requirements:
- have strength, reliability;
- to be resistant to moisture;
- with the expectation of repeated use;
- to provide comfortable conditions for plants;
- quick access( watering, inspection, loosening);
- have an aesthetic look.
The number of shelves can vary from 3 to 6.The shelf length must be such that standard fluorescent lamps can be installed. Shelf width should not be more than 60 cm with a shelf height of 40 - 50 cm.
Making the shelving on the sill
Initially, having calculated the height of the rack( in our case there will be 4) and its parameters, proceed to construction. For simplicity and convenience, we take ready-made furniture panels in the size of the window sill, 1200 mm long by 200 mm. For side racks we install furniture panels 1500 by 200 mm long. We fix using comformat. The height of the shelf in our case is 350 mm. If desired, for greater stability, the structure can be additionally fixed to a slope or frame. It is possible to make a rack for seedlings with illumination by attaching lighting to an already finished structure.
Why seedlings need lights?
In winter, plants especially lack natural light. As a result, photosynthesis proceeds sluggishly, and the normal development and build-up of biomass is slowed down. The lack of light is compensated by the installation of artificial lighting. In stores you can buy lamps of various designs, capacities. But how many lamps and what power is suitable for growing plants? To begin with, we will determine which lamps are suitable for lighting.
Choosing the right lamp for seedlings
Suitable for lighting devices for seedlings:
- Incandescent Bulbs( 17 Lm / W) is a simple, affordable, but not the most effective way to make lighting. Light give little, much warm.
- Fluorescent lamps( 70 - 100 Lm / W) type LBT or LB fluorescent light with low power. Provide cold light. Have a low proportion of red light.
- LED( 80 - 110 Lm / W) - durable, economical lamps. With them it is easy to choose the necessary range, intensity.
- Methalogen sodium lamps( up to 100 Lm / W) - simple to use, economical, effective, but they lack the proportion of blue spectrum.
- Domestic sodium discharge lamps( 200 lumens per watt) emit a yellow-orange glow that does not cause eye irritation. Requires additional installation of the regulating device.
- Mercury .Possess the largest "cross section" in the field of daylight.
- Fitolamps - economical, eco-friendly, efficient, compact and durable. Most popular for lighting seedlings. Even the proximity of such lighting will not cause leaf burns.
- Other : halogen( 25 Lm / W), linear( 47 - 93 Lm / W), xenon discharge lamps( 100 Lm / W), neodymium.
When choosing a lamp with chokes, consider the strong heating of the choke and the shelves above it. To reduce the heating gap between the shelf and the lamp make 4 - 6 cm. If you use a lamp with electronic ballast, then there will be no problems with heating.
Recommendations for the organization of lighting
Despite the selected type of illumination, try to place the seedlings on the southern window. For greater effect, you can install additional reflective screens on the sides and back of the seedlings. The intensity of illumination is chosen individually for each plant. Depending on the requirements of the plant, the intensity can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the distance from the lamps to the plant.
. Summing up the results of
. Having selected the necessary material, having calculated the parameters of the shelves, you can easily make a shelving for seedlings with your own hands. Do not forget about the need for additional lighting of plants.
Having decided on the choice of a lamp( phytolamps, fluorescent, sodium are considered optimal), you can make a rack for seedlings with backlighting.
