Best Lighting for microgreens

Microgreens are typically grown in fully enclosed and vertically stacked series. Light is one of the most important requirements in microgreens farming. Without getting enough light, microgreens are going to look pale and weak. Normally, lighting your microgreen farm can be achieved in two ways; the sunlight or artificial lightings. However, each technique has are pros and cons which I will be explaining in this article.

The growing season in the northern climate is only six months so you’ve got just a chance at getting it right. Since most vegetables mature in 3 months, starting earlier or later will leave your seedlings and harvest prey to frost.

Luckily, microgreens are easy to grow indoors. You can control the environment to the minutia and have fresh vegetables year-round while taking as little as four square foot of space. Being able to grow microgreens indoors is a luxury way of gardening.

How much light do microgreens need?

Plants are just like human being, excess nutrient or anything is totally against our mode of survival. So, plants also need some time away from light because high intensity or long exposure can curse the foliage to curl up. Also, there is variation in terms of light needed for a microgreen plant. Sunflower is a popular example here as it requires more light to blossom than other plants.

For example, in the case of shaded sunlight, at least 6-10 hours daily is enough for a plant. Also, indoor growing light such as t8 fluorescent can be on for around 12-18 hours.

Various lighting available for Microgreens

Sunlight

Sunlight is by far the easiest and cheapest way to grow your microgreens. Precisely so resilient because its free and defines a full spectrum grow light. But it’s perfect for outdoor growers, all you need is just get an outdoor greenhouse, and it’s done!

Cons

• The Cons of this form of lightening is that weather is unpredictable in some areas. Although there are forecast but sincerely, they are all by chance and not 100 percent sure that there will still be a sunny, cloudy or windy tomorrow. Relying on sunlight for microgreen business is risky and if you are interested in avoiding this risk, you must invest in indoor lighting

Incandescent light bulb/Halogen lamp/Tungsten

The incandescent light bulb is the common bulb that has a thin wire filament inside. The filament will be heated up by electric current and glow.

Pro

•   Incandescent light has a wider light spectrum and less expensive.

Cons

•   It emits energy via infrared and ultraviolet and thus makes it less efficient when it comes to indoor growing.

•   It generates more heats than light needed and requires more electricity to operate, so it’s not a very cost-effective option compared to both the LED and CFL.

• Although it is way cheaper but most incandescent light bulbs do not last longer than 3 months (1,200 – 2,000 hours).

Fluorescent tube/Compact Fluorescent Light (CFLs)

Fluorescent light uses electric current to excite the mercury vapor and to produce short-wave ultraviolet light. The light photons are then colliding to the phosphor coating to produce visible light.The fluorescent tube is a common choice for many microgreens’ growers.

Pros

• In comparison to incandescent light, fluorescent light is much more efficient, lower cost, lower heat produced, better light intensity and longer lifespan (9,000-20,000 hours).

•   Likewise, fluorescent light will emit low infrared and ultraviolet light as well.

Cons

•   And these lights can cause the color pigments (of painting, textile, printing and more) to degrade, eye strain & fatigue, and exacerbate the symptom of photosensitive individuals.

•   Another issue with CFLs is mercury. If the tube is broken somehow, the mercury is toxic to humans and the environment.

Light-emitting Diode (LED)

Basically, LED uses leads as the semiconductor for electric current to pass through, which is then releases photons in the form of light.LED light is a newer technology with better intensity compared to fluorescent light.

Pros

•   Low-watt higher efficiency

•   Cheap and generate very little heat

•   Longer lifespan

•   Best lighting Investment; the initial price is higher, but it can pay themselves off in a long run.

Cons

•   LED lifespan can drop drastically at higher temperature, this is due to their sensitivity to heat. So, if you’re planning to use them for microgreens, be sure to keep the surrounding temperature in check.

•   Unlike the others, LED light is having a relatively shorter and narrower spectrum due to its designs. This resulted into lesser use of LED in microgreens farming since microgreens generally required a wider color spectrum to flourish.

• A typical LED light will have the following wavelength and each range of wavelength will serve its own purposes:

•   Far-red – Improve the yield (blooming and fruiting).

•   Red & Blue – To promote fast growth of the plant.

•   Green – Enhance the chlorophyll production.

•   Yellow – Observed a slower growth.

•   Blue & Violet – Enhance color, taste, and aroma.

•   Ultraviolet – Slow down the growth and damaging the plant.

LED grow light

Pros

•   Most of the LED grow lights in the market today are similar to this one. By combining many small LEDs in one, it produces a wider wavelength suitable for microgreens.

Cons

•   However, few microgreens growers seeing good results with LED grow light. One reason is because of the LED grow lights are usually higher in the red light. Experts are suggesting to use more blue light for microgreens.

•   Also, LED grow lights system can be quite costly to implement.

Fluorescent or LED? T5, T8 or T12, which for microgreens?

The T5 (0.625″), T8 (1″), and T12 (1.5″) are referring to tubular diameter of the light tube.The smaller the size, the better the efficiency (lumens per watt). For small-scale microgreen farming, T8 and T5 fluorescent are both suitable to use. T12 is a less favorable option. It’s because T12 uses the older (and problematic) magnetic ballast in oppose to the newer electronic ballast in T8 and T5. Also, T12 consumes more electricity as well.

Benefits of using Indoor Grow Lights

There are quite a few benefits to having your own grow light system:

• When you have grow lights, you can grow any plant variety you want.

Having a grow light gives you several options on varieties of vegetables you want to plant in your microgreens farm. Since you possess a better chance of photosynthesis each plant now have access to its required light to bloom and row better.

•   Grow lights allow you to easily grow healthy seedlings indoors.

Grow light system gives your seedlings required amount of light indoors even when the weather outside is not favorable. Grow lights makes your seedlings more energy efficient and healthy.

•   You can grow your own microgreens.

Microgreen garnishes and add highly concentrated nutrition and flavor to your meal. Also, microgreen is now a cool lucrative business when you invest more on your microgreen farm. Row light in your microgreen farm improves your harvest and nutrient of your plant.

Best Special Grow Lights you need to Know

45W Brite Labs LED Grow Lights

It has 90 Red, 36 Blue, 6 White, 6 Infrared, and 6 Ultraviolet LED light chips. This combination allows plants to grow, no matter in which stage they are. The blue light will help encourage vegetative growth, and if you combine it with red light, plants would flower. The red and blue lights are the most effective in photosynthesis as well.

The LED Grow Light also has white, infrared and UV light, producing a balance of cool and warm light that flawlessly replicates the natural solar spectrum.

Give indoor plants the benefits that outdoor plants enjoy using the innovative LED Grow Light. Not only will plants thrive, but your electricity bill remains manageable. It’s easy to install, as it comes with hanging kits that let you hang the Grow Light over your plants.

•   Shell Material: ABS with Coating

•   Lifespan: >50000 hours

•   Working Temperature: -20℃-50℃

•   Effective Power: 45W

•   Coverage Area: Max 3x3 ft at 2ft height

•   Suggested Distance: 1-2 ft (For seeding, the ideal distance is 8-10 inches)

•   Suggested Work Time: 10-12 hours per day

Oppolite T5 2FT 4-Lamp Grow Light

Dual On/Off switches allows you to control the fixture via 4 banks of lighting, Louvers make the ballast and light tubes cool and much safer. 10' grounded power cord. Rated wattage: 432.Can be hung horizontally or vertically.

•   Size:23.25" L x 14" W x 2-3/8" H

•   White powder coated on steel housing

•   Specular aluminium

•   Can be hung horizontally or vertically.

•   18/3C SJTW 105℃ 300V Power Cord, 120V 5-15P Plug , L=10F

•   120voltage high power factor electronic ballast

Louvers make the ballast and light tubes cool and much safer

Monios-L T5 LED Grow Light

This grow light are suitable for planting plants in any indoor application. 2900K color temperature makes your eyes feel comfortable. It works extremely well for your plant grow tents, plant grow shelves, seedling cultivation, succulents, hydroponic rooms, greenhouses, etc.

•   It has a High PAR Value

•   Full Spectrum LED Grow Lighting

•   Excellent Heat Dissipation

•   Normal Service Life of 45,000+ Rated Hours

Roleadro LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants

The spectrum is important for plant growth. These plants grow led light bars provide plants with light with a professional blue/red spectral ratio.

Blue Light: 460-465mm, promotes the synthesis of plant chlorophyll,carotenoids, chlorophyll A&B, promotes photosynthesis and leaf growth.

Red Light: 620-740nm plays an important role in the synthesis of chlorophyll A&B to promote plant roots growth and help plants grow taller and thicker, which is most suitable for plant flowering and fruits. Increase yield.

Premium Grow lights

MAXSISUN LED Grow Lights

The PB Series is an excellent commercial grade full-cycle horticulture lighting solution. With the power to scale from vegetative growth to higher light intensities in flowering, it is designed for indoor growers to seek higher yields and top-shelf quality.

Light spectrum is tailored to optimize plant growth in indoor/greenhouse environments from seeds to harvest. (germination, clones or cuttings, mothers, vegetative, and flowering applications).

It’s ideal for a 5 x 5ft vegetative area or a 4 x 4ft flowering area.

MARS HYDRO LED Grow Light with 2070pcs Samsung LM301B Osram Diodes

MAXIMIZE YIELDS & CROP QUALITY: FC4800 led grow light with 2070pcs Samsung LM301B & Osram 660nm Diodes, boast the incredible efficiency 2.9 µmol/J, max 2.5g yield per wattage with 30% higher Average PPFD,achieve 50% higher yield & quality compared with the old lights! Only consumes 480W for 5x5ftVeg footprint,4x4ft for flower footprint.

Amazon Choice- Mars Hydro SP3000 LED Grow Lights

Grow light with Samsung lights & Mean Well driver & dimmable box, only consumes 300w, with high efficiency to save more energy and achieve greater yield. It's optimized for a 2x5 ft veg coverage , or 2x4 ft flowering coverage

Conclusion

Generally, T5 is great. It produces more light and consumes lesser electricity compared to others. But the initial cost is higher while not really producing significant differences in microgreens. Likewise, for LED lights. T5 lights is recommended because it last longer and use less energy.