Many aspects will determine your success when investing in commercial greenhouse farming. Your primary objective is to mimic the natural elements essential for optimal plant growth as much as possible. One of the critical features needed for thriving plants is light. This fundamental aspect controls your plants’ morphology, reproduction, and orientation.
Natural sunlight is the cheapest lighting source available, but unfortunately, it might be insufficient for commercial greenhouse farming. There are different artificial lighting options your commercial greenhouse construction company will recommend to boost your plants’ quality and production. The following are the best:
HID Lamps
High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps have the highest efficiency for conversion of electricity to supplemental lighting for your greenhouse. There are two categories of HID lamps, namely metal halide (MH) and high-pressure sodium. HPS lamps are rich in red wavelengths, which promote flowering and growth in day neutral and long-day plants. MH lamps have a more balanced light spectrum compared to HPS lamps and are rich in blue wavelengths.
Fluorescent Lamps
These produce a short wave light when the electric current causes the lamp’s phosphor coating to glow. Fluorescent lamps emit less light compared to HIDs and are hence generally used for rooting cuttings, early to mid-stage vegetative plant phases, and seed starting. Though relatively cheap, they have a short lifespan.
LED Lamps
These are the latest lighting option for commercial greenhouses. LED lamps are energy-efficient, easy to use, have cool temperatures, and come in a broad color spectra range. They are, however, not very strong to support the flowering phase of plant growth and are expensive.
These artificial lighting types are measured in watts, color temperatures, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and nanometers. There is no “perfect” solution for artificial lighting in your greenhouse. The ideal choice from the above will be based on your plants’ requirements and phase of growth.