8/26/11

What Are CFL Grow Lights Used For

By Minnie Lowery


CFL grow lights are larger, higher output compact florescent bulbs. The growth application of this technology capitalizes on the CFL's ability to target specific wave lengths and high output per watt. CFLs use florescent bulbs with high quality reflective technology in a single housing to produce more light with much less energy that conventional incandescent bulbs.

Plants that are grown indoors need periods of light and dark that mimic their native habitats. Moreover, they need the specific part of the sun's spectrum that they are used to for corresponding periods in their development. The luminous efficacy and the color temperature are also considerations for the proper lighting. For example, initial green growth requires bluer light. Flowering, on the other hand requires redder light.

Plants detect light cycles by means of a protein based photoreceptor. While some plants, like cucumbers, don't require a period of light or dark to flower, most plants fall into one of two categories. Long day type plants flower before the longest day of the year. Short day plants flower after the longest day of the year.

Though named for the day, it is actually the period of darkness that determines when a particular plant will flower. The circadian rhythms of the plant in combination with their photoreceptor proteins, induce a plant to flower at the specified time. For indoor horticulture to be successful, these aspects must be carefully considered.

CFLs come in a range of frequencies. They can be bought as full spectrum light or as light that lean toward the blue or red parts of the white light spectrum. This gives florescent light an advantage over other lighting solutions because of its flexibility.

CFLs can also last much longer than incandescent bulbs. The don't wast a lot of energy through heat. Since the don't produce a lot of heat, they can be put closer to the plants where they have a greater amount of effective luminosity. In all, they are an attractive alternative for use in growing your plants indoors. Read more about: cfl grow lights




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