Small tubes and fixtures are ideal for growing small edibles, micro greens, and herbs. T5 lamp fixtures are relatively small and can be mounted in small spaces such as countertops and under kitchen cabinets. A fluorescent fixture that holds four to eight tubes can hold a combination of narrow-spectrum tubes with different color spectrums these fixtures often offer multiple on and off switches to turn on the lamp or light spectrum you need for a specific phase of growth, such as leafy growth or fruit growth.
Narrow-spectrum fluorescents can be used to trigger specific plant growth and development phases. In the process of photosynthesis, plants use different spectrums or light wavelengths-these are particles of light–to produce the energy needed to produce the food plants use to grow.įull-spectrum fluorescent lamps provide a better balance of light across the entire PAR light spectrum than standard fluorescent lamps.īesides full-spectrum fluorescent lamps there are also narrow-spectrum fluorescents that provide specific spectrums of light-such as upper red, blue, pink, and green.
The range of light is known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR).
To be clear, a standard T12 fluorescent tube will replicate natural light and can be used for growing plants, but a full-spectrum fluorescent lamp offers more.īriefly, natural light can be split into different wavelengths of color: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red light. A full-spectrum fluorescent lamp offers more of the light waves plants use to grow. There are fluorescent lamps for ambient room lighting and there are others designed for plant growth. Full-Spectrum Fluorescent Lampsįull-spectrum fluorescent lamps at a step up from fluorescent lamps. HO tubes can be used only in ballasts designed to hold HO T5 tubes. T5s can be labeled HO for high output or VHO for very high output. T5 tubes-the most efficient fluorescent lamps-can be used only in ballasts designed to hold T5 tubes. A 48-inch T12 bulb is most often used in an office and as a shop light.įluorescent tubes are available in full-spectrum light modes that are intended to replicate natural light. A T5 is more efficient than a T8 which is more efficient than a T12. The smaller the diameter of the tube, the more efficient the lamp. T5 tubes are about the diameter of a dime (15mm) a T8 is about the diameter of a nickel (25mm). The T designates the diameter of the tube. Fluorescents are commonly labeled T5, T8, or T12. A fluorescent lamp will provide about 20,000 hours of light, about three years of light if it is on for 16 hours a day every day of the year.įluorescent tubes have two dimensions: diameter and length. They are more effective and energy-efficient than incandescent lamps. These are the standard shop light or office lights.įluorescent lamps provide two to three times more total light than incandescent lamps using the same amount of electricity while producing less heat. An electric current in the gas charges the mercury vapor which produces short-wave ultraviolet light which in turn causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp to glow. This is not a good choice for growing edible plants.Ī fluorescent lamp, or fluorescent tube, is a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. They can “cook” a plant if not used properly. Only about 10 percent of their energy is used for light, the rest is used for heat.
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