Commencing hydroponic indoor gardening will require some good planning. Choosing the appropriate grow light is an important factor to consider in indoor gardening. Using T8 fluorescent lights when it comes to growing with hydroponics is a great option as it will provide optimal lighting for your plants’ growth.
Choosing the right lighting source for your indoor garden will determine how well your plant flourishes and yield a good harvest. Be it flowers, vegetables, etc, you should know the right type of grow light for your various plants.
We will be discussing growing with T8 fluorescent lights and see how they affect the growth of your plants. So, read on to find out.
Grow Light For Indoor Plants
Grow lights are bulbs used to replicate and provide the light from sunlight to your plant. They are used in indoor gardens and are essential at every stage of your plant’s life cycle.
There are various grow lights that can be purchased. Some are costly while some are of moderate price. Choosing the right type of grow light that will offer your plant optimal support and result in greater yield is important. You wouldn’t want to end up choosing the wrong type of grow light.
Therefore, let’s take a look at how growing with T8 fluorescent grow lights will be and how they affect the growth of your plants.
Growing With T8 Fluorescent Grow Lights
T8 fluorescent lights have been in existence for a long and they have been used in an indoor hydroponics garden.
Generally, fluorescent lights are more affordable unlike some other grow lights such as LED. The heat they emit is minimal thus will not burn your plants. They will also supply your plants with good light intensity for their development.
T8 grow light is made of tubular style with a 1-inch diameter. They are energy efficient and they are mainly used for seedlings, veggies, cuttings or cloning, and flowering. T8 grow light can also be easily interchanged with older types of fluorescent light.
They are also one of the best lights used in the vertical farming system. T8 grow lights are known to be pretty durable with a longer lifespan.
Growing Vegetables With T8 Fluorescent Lights
Growing vegetables indoors with T8 fluorescent lights will offer your veggies lots of benefits.
Simply ensure you position your fixtures at the appropriate distance to your plants so they can receive optimal light intensity. Also, make sure you leave the T8 to grow light long enough for your plants to receive adequate light for growth.
Seedlings
T8 light can as well be used on germinating seeds or growing seedlings. Just ensure you place your grow light in the right position as young seedlings will require less light intensity. It is when they begin to grow well and strong the light fixtures can be increased.
However, for seedlings that love sun or light, you should have their grow light at least 1 foot above the plants. T8 bulb of 48 inches should be left on for around 22 to 28 hours daily.
Some Recommended T8 Grow Lights Bulbs
Below are some recommended T8 fluorescent lights you can go for:
1. Monios-L T8 LED Grow Light 2FT, 144W(6×24W) High Output Plant Grow Light Strip
The Monions-L T8 LED grow light features two rows with a high-quality full-spectrum LED. The heat emitted is not too much and it’s safe for plants. It’s also very bright and easy to install.
Also, this T8 grow light is great for all plant stages. It is capable of connecting up to 6 grow lights at once. Ensure you keep the 4 to 39 inches between your plants and grow light.
2. LED Grow Light Strip, 4ft T8 Grow Light Fixture
This T8 LED grow light will offer your plants a full light spectrum. It features removable reflectors and the light angles can be conveniently adjusted.
It is very durable, easy to install, and has a low maintenance cost. They are very flexible and can be easily fixed or hanged in most places in your house.
Also, you can link them with 6 other grow lights and they are a great choice for home gardening and commercial gardening.
3. Barrina Grow Light, 96W(4 x 24W, 600W Equivalent), 2ft T8, Super Bright, Full Spectrum Sunlight Plant Light
The Barrina T8 grow light is another full-spectrum light ideal for your indoor plants. They are easy to set up and are made of reflectors which helps enhance the light output.
Can I use T8 bulbs to grow plants?
The short answer is yes. The T8 bulb produces a brighter light than the HPS bulbs used in your current setup, and it’s usually about half as much power (so less heat) as an HPS. It does not produce quite as much UV as an HPS bulb, so you may want to consider whether that’s enough for your plants.
T8 bulbs are good for replacing fluorescent lamps or CFLs in existing lighting systems, but not for replacing the HPS bulbs.
Can fluorescent lights be used as grow lights?
The answer is that it should be ok, but you have to use high quality bulbs.
I would also advise to make sure that his light fixture has enough space for the plant to grow and has adequate ventilation. There is no doubt that the fluorescent lights will give off some heat, so he should keep the lights a good distance from the plants and not have the plants too close to the fixture. There is always the danger of the bulb burning out in the fixtures if the plant is too close.
here are many types of fluorescent lamps available. Some are designed specifically for growing plants and some are general purpose. There are three main types of fluorescent lights that you can use to grow plants: High-pressure sodium (HPS), medium-pressure sodium (MPS) and low-pressure sodium (LPS). There are also fluorescent tubes that you can purchase for the same purpose.
How far should fluorescent lights be from plants?
The distance between the plant and the light should be as short as possible, but not longer than 3-4 feet. If the lights are too far away, they can appear to “grow” upwards instead of downwards. This is called “vertical growth.” The reason for this is that as a plant grows, it pushes out new cells in the top of the stem.
These cells then send their own roots towards the light source. When the cell’s roots reach the light source, the cell stops growing. Because the light source is so close to the plant, the new roots grow upwards rather than downwards. This is a normal part of a plant’s growth cycle.
Will tomatoes grow under fluorescent lights?
Yes, they will. But it is important to keep the lights low and in a position where the plant can’t get shade from any overhead source. Here’s what I would recommend. Place the lights directly over the plants. Make sure you have adequate ventilation if you are using them indoors. The heat that they produce will be enough to warm the air around the plants, but you need to make sure the temperature doesn’t rise too high.
If the air gets too hot, you may want to move the plants to a cooler area, such as a basement or garage.
Conclusion
Can I use T8 bulbs to grow plants?
The short answer is yes. The T8 bulb produces a brighter light than the HPS bulbs used in your current setup, and it’s usually about half as much power (so less heat) as an HPS. It does not produce quite as much UV as an HPS bulb, so you may want to consider whether that’s enough for your plants.
T8 bulbs are good for replacing fluorescent lamps or CFLs in existing lighting systems, but not for replacing the HPS bulbs.
Can fluorescent lights be used as grow lights?
The answer is that it should be ok, but you have to use high quality bulbs.
I would also advise to make sure that his light fixture has enough space for the plant to grow and has adequate ventilation. There is no doubt that the fluorescent lights will give off some heat, so he should keep the lights a good distance from the plants and not have the plants too close to the fixture. There is always the danger of the bulb burning out in the fixtures if the plant is too close.
here are many types of fluorescent lamps available. Some are designed specifically for growing plants and some are general purpose. There are three main types of fluorescent lights that you can use to grow plants: High-pressure sodium (HPS), medium-pressure sodium (MPS) and low-pressure sodium (LPS). There are also fluorescent tubes that you can purchase for the same purpose.
How far should fluorescent lights be from plants?
The distance between the plant and the light should be as short as possible, but not longer than 3-4 feet. If the lights are too far away, they can appear to “grow” upwards instead of downwards. This is called “vertical growth.” The reason for this is that as a plant grows, it pushes out new cells in the top of the stem.
These cells then send their own roots towards the light source. When the cell’s roots reach the light source, the cell stops growing. Because the light source is so close to the plant, the new roots grow upwards rather than downwards. This is a normal part of a plant’s growth cycle.
Will tomatoes grow under fluorescent lights?
Yes, they will. But it is important to keep the lights low and in a position where the plant can’t get shade from any overhead source. Here’s what I would recommend. Place the lights directly over the plants. Make sure you have adequate ventilation if you are using them indoors. The heat that they produce will be enough to warm the air around the plants, but you need to make sure the temperature doesn’t rise too high.
If the air gets too hot, you may want to move the plants to a cooler area, such as a basement or garage.
These grow lights t8 can be linked with 12 other lights with connecting cords. Their light is very bright and great for indoor gardens.
Eunice is an enthusiastic gardener with a passion for growing beautiful flowers. She loves nothing more than spending time in her garden, tending to her plants and enjoying the outdoors. Eunice has been gardening for over 15 years and has developed a unique style of landscaping that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. She is especially fond of growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors. Eunice takes great pride in her garden and often shares the fruits of her labor with friends and family. In her spare time, she enjoys reading gardening magazines and attending local horticulture events. Eunice is passionate about her hobby and is always eager to share her knowledge and experience with others.
