This article shares some personal experiences and tips on choosing and using grow lights for succulents. Let's delve into the introduction by our editor.
Grow lights are a lifesaver for succulent enthusiasts who lack sufficient lighting in their growing environment. I decided to write down my experiences, which are filled with blood and tears. Using grow lights can be cumbersome, time-consuming, expensive, and may not yield the best results. Grow lights are not a shortcut; they are a compromise between endless passion and limited conditions. Instead of relying on them, it's better to consider finding a more sunlit environment.
Disclaimer: I am a liberal arts student with no knowledge of optics or botany. The content of this article is purely driven by curiosity, search engines, and personal experience, and is aimed at the Crassulaceae family (mainly the E, G, and P genera). If there are any mistakes, please do not hesitate to correct them by professionals. Here's the conclusion for those in a hurry, the explanation will follow.
1) Grow lights can only be used for temporary supplemental lighting and cannot fully replace sunlight.
2) Grow lights are suitable for situations with insufficient natural lighting for short periods (no more than 2 months every half year), such as wintering, summering, or the plum rain season. If your growing environment lacks sufficient natural direct sunlight all year round (such as indoor spaces facing east, west, or north), you are not suitable for growing most Crassulaceae plants; please find another hobby.
3) The common red and blue LED grow lights have a similar effect to scattered light and are almost ineffective for the growth and preventing etiolation of mature succulents, but they won't kill the plants.
4) If you want to maintain normal photosynthesis in succulents, use the Photosynthesis Star (model) by the Xiwanian (brand), which requires 24w or more, and costs about 100 yuan per tube on a certain platform. Cheaper alternatives include the Xiwanian or Philips 865 tri-color bulbs, 24w or more, with the former costing tens and the latter a few, available in LT5 T8. A 24w light should be suspended at a height of 50cm, while higher wattage can be placed further away, with the maximum coverage area being a circle with the tube length as the diameter. Use the light for 8-12 hours during the day and not at night. The tube lifespan is 12 months.
5) If you want your succulents to be healthy, sturdy, not etiolate, and colored, you also need a UVB light in addition to the photosynthesis light. Use the Zoomed (brand) UVB10.0, priced at 200-300 yuan. Do not use other brands. The suspension height is 50cm, the bulb needs a special spotlight cover, and the coverage area is roughly 50cm square. Use the light for 2-5 hours a day, starting with half an hour each day and gradually increasing the exposure time. Prolonged exposure from the start may cause burns. The bulb lifespan is 12 months.
6) Using these two tubes with a timer socket will be very convenient.
7) For most people who need grow lights, you need fans or exhaust fans even more. The probability of your succulents dying from diseases and pests due to poor air circulation is higher than from lack of light.
Please reread the first and second paragraphs above. For succulents, natural direct sunlight is always the best and irreplaceable. If you can't give her the best, it's better to let her go.
The above is a detailed guide on choosing and using grow lights for succulents. If it helps you, remember to visit our website often!