Are phytolamps needed if they say that ordinary ones are enough
I was confused by the supporters of conventional fluorescent and LED lamps, they say, the seedlings grow remarkably with them, and phytolamps are just a waste of money. This was stated by reputable people, incl. Ivan Russian.
Everyone has the same argument: seedlings grow well! Is it better under phytolamps or not? The people who really want to know are farmers. They use only lamps with the characteristics necessary for their purposes and conditions. If they have a white lamp under the ceiling, then this is also a phytolamp with specified spectra.
It is clear that science works for them. And what is better for a simple gardener? Or will it all work out?
And here's the truth
Everything fell into place when I saw the video of Valery Medvedev, filmed back in 2014. (all links at the end). He showed a huge difference between tomatoes with additional lighting with fluorescent lamps and a phytolamp Bicolor. Bicolor won!
But maybe ordinary LED lamps are not worse than phytolamps?
Another blogger delivered a clear experience. I love these!
- I sowed different crops on the same day, each in two identical containers.
- She had a shelving unit in a dark corner (this is important).
- On the left, she connected a conventional 6500 K LED lamp, and on the right, a bicolor LED.
- Showed the difference.
Plants grew both there and there, but the difference was striking. Bicolor turned out to be an incomparably better solution.
Objective, understandable to anyone, comparisons on the Internet, one, two, and missed.
I also found a good article, where a summer resident compared an ordinary 6500 K LED lamp and a phytolamp in the early stages of growth of nightshade seedlings. The phytolamp won. Talking photos! Also at the end of the link.
My experience with phytolamps Bicolor only made me happy. The lamps serve well, even the first one has not burned out so far, ready for the fourth season. The solution seemed to be perfect. And the question remained.
Why do farmers need white light
Farmers use both bicolor and a lot of things, but they differentiate between tasks, we have everything on the same windowsill. So what is the challenge facing the white light in farmers' greenhouses?
In white light, besides red and blue, there are other colors, incl. green. Plants green are mostly ignored, but not always. It needs a little green to start flowering and fruiting. All colors are needed. Without access to other light sources, the bicolor will not give early flowering, respectively, and fruiting.
The February and March window sills of the gardener are distinguished by the fact that the sunlight gets to the plants, so the Bicolor supplementary lighting is enough. It is on the windowsill.
Farmers have different realities, often completely artificial lighting. Then there is no way without white light, that is, the full spectrum, close to the sun!
What I mean is: different goals need different solutions! Yes, yes, both in design and in the set of LEDs. I borrowed something from the farmers. I will share in the next article.
Promised links:
Valery Medvedev's video on the comparison of fluorescent lamps with an LED phytolamp here
An article on comparing phytolamp with a simple LED here
And a video of comparing different cultures under a simple LED and under a phytolamp here
Who cares, I bought all my phytolamps here
What phytolamps do you have? What did you think of it?
I would be grateful for your subscription and communication :)