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how close should t5 lights be to plants

by Pearline Hills Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

When it comes to hanging your T5 grow lights, you'll want to hang them around 12 to 18 inches above your plants. Unlike HIDs that you'd need to hang 18 to 20 inches above plants, and LEDs that need 20 to 24 inches of space above plants, T5s don't have the same intensity as other lights.

Full Answer

How far above plant canopies can you put T5 lights?

Although T5 lights are famous for emitting very little heat, this doesn’t mean you can put the bulbs an inch above plant canopies, as this distance will still damage the plants.

What is the best height for a T5 grow light?

The best height for a T5 grow light is about 6-8 in. above the plants, but you should increase that gap to 12 in. if your plants don’t like heat or they are in the seedling growth stage.

How far apart should fluorescent light bulbs be placed from plants?

If the temperature is under control they can be kept as close as an inch or two away. For optimal results, for vegetative growth choose fluorescent light bulbs that are labeled either as "Cool White" or "Cool" colored (also labeled as "6500k" colored).

How far should LED grow lights be from indoor plants?

When it comes to the LED lights with 600-800 watts intensity, the best distance would be from 60 to 100 centimetres when in the vegetative state, and from 45 to 86 centimetres when blooming. The majority of indoor plants requires this intensity, so there’s a big chance that this is going to be the most common distance.

How close should T5 light be to seedlings?

The best height for a T5 grow light is about 6-8 in. above the plants, but you should increase that gap to 12 in. if your plants don't like heat or they are in the seedling growth stage.

Can I flower with T5 lights?

Yes, you can use a T5 fluorescent light to flower a pot plant. The benefits of using this type of lighting is the lack of heat that they generate. Because they're not super-warm, you can place your plant tops within just a few inches of the light.

Are T5 lights good for growing vegetables?

A The great thing about T5 grow lights is that you can grow anything you can grow with HPS and LED grow lights, from clones to veggies, herbs to fruit trees. And like LED and HPS grow lights, all you have to do is find the right lumen output and color spectrum for the growth you want out of your grow room.

How far should I have my LED lights be from plants?

between 12-24 inches awayIn the vegetative stage, LED grow lights should be between 12-24 inches away from the top of the canopy. During this stage, more light is needed for photosynthesis, so the light source should be located closer to the plants. As the plants progress through the flowering stage, their demand for intense light decreases.

Is T5 full spectrum?

High-Output, Full-Spectrum Replacement T5 Bulbs for SunLite® Gardens. When it's time to replace the light bulbs in your SunLite Garden, these fluorescent bulbs are the perfect choice.

Do T5 lights use a lot of electricity?

Energy. A four-lamp bay using high output T5 lamps uses 220 watts of power including the power used for the ballast; a six-lamp T5 bay uses approximately 342 watts of electricity. Four-lamp T5 bays use about 6,840 kilowatts (kW) of electricity per hour, with six lamp bays consuming about 10,260 kW per hour.

Is T5 or T8 better for plants?

T5 or T8 Grow Lights: Which Is Better? T8 grow lamps are preferred by many indoor gardeners because they provide more overall lumens, have a longer life, and are more efficient than standard fluorescent bulbs.

Are T5 LED lights good for plants?

Are T5 Lights Good For Growing? Of the fluorescent lighting options, T5s are my favorite for growing seedlings and small plants. They produce significant light that's good for vegetative growth, and they don't generate much heat. They're also a more affordable option than most LED alternatives.

Can you veg under T5?

For the vegging stage of growth, you'll want to use a T5 fluorescent grow light with a 6400k spectrum of light- that's going to give you a white/blueish spectrum. When it's time to flower you're going to go with a 2700k bulb to give you a yellowish/white spectrum of light that stimulates flower growth.

Can LED grow lights burn plants?

Light, even intense light, probably won't burn your plants. If a plant is getting too much light, it can challenge your crops and be counterproductive, but it won't actually cause burning.

How do you know if a light is too close to a plant?

Plants exhibit several signs when they're getting too much light. The most apparent sign is leaf burning. This typically causes the yellowing of leaves at the top of the plant but the veins stay green, and the leaves take on a yellow or brown, burnt look.

How do you know if your plant is getting too much light?

Symptoms of too much light on plantsDroopy leaves. One of the chief signs your plant is getting too much light is drooping leaves. ... Brown patches. Plants may develop brown patches throughout their leaves that indicate it is getting too much light. ... Faded look. ... Hot plant surface. ... Crispy leaves. ... Dried out soil.

How far away from the top of a cannabis plant should fluorescent lights be?

The great thing about fluorescent grow lights is that they don't get very hot, and they can usually be kept 1-4 inches from the tops of the plants at all times without having to worry about burning your cannabis leaves or buds.

What type of light do you use for T5?

T5 Grow Lights & Other Fluorescent Tubes. A few years ago, growers usually only used fluorescent tube lighting as a supplemental light for cannabis plants, or for young seedlings and clones only.

What type of grow light do I need for cannabis?

There are many different levels of fluorescent grow lights including the T5, the T8 and the T12. I strongly suggest sticking with the T5 style of fluorescent grow lights for cannabis because they give off the most amount of light for the size, and are specifically designed to be able to support taller plants up to 24 inches.

Why are fluorescent lights so close to plants?

The biggest problem with fluorescent tubing is that the light that they give off is only useful for about a foot or so. That's why they're kept so close to your plants. T5 grow lights should be kept as close as possible without burning your plants.

How tall can a marijuana plant grow?

With the new high output lights such as the T5, fluorescent lights can be used until the plants are about 24 inches tall, which is just enough to grow a very short plant through to the flowering stage when you control your marijuana plant's growth through the vegetative stage.

Can you use a screen under a T5?

Example of a ScrOG (Screen of Green) Grow Under a T5. Using a screen can be an effective way to create a flat, table-top shape to take the best advantage of T5 grow lights. However, you can use either type of lights during either stage and still get good results. People also use "Daylight" (5000K) bulbs with success.

Why are my T5 plants leggy?

A common nightmare with seedlings is ‘leggy-ness’ which leads to weak, elongated stems. Leggy-ness is often the result of too much heat and not enough light, a circumstance that can happen all too easily with plants placed in a windowsill or other indoor location. One of the reasons T5 grow lights are becoming increasingly popular is because they emit only a little heat and can therefore be placed just a few centimeters above your seedlings. This close proximity eliminates leggy plants. Seedlings that are bathed with blue light from a short distance will have shorter internodal lengths, resulting in stronger plants that can focus their energy on healthy vegetative growth and root development.

What is the wavelength of light that plants use?

The specific wavelength range that plants use is commonly referred to as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). All light emitted in the PAR wavelength range is absorbed by specific cells in plants called photopigments. These cells absorb this usable light and use it for photosynthesis and sugar production. The two most common photopigments in plants are Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B, both of which absorb light with the highest efficiency in the blue (in particular 439nm and 469nm) and red (in particular 642nm and 667nm) wavelengths.

Do T5 grow lights spread light?

Just like giving one plant the right nutrition and depriving another will result in a difference in growth, giving one plant an abundance of light and not another will do the same. One thing that T5 grow lights are brilliant at is providing an even spread of light.

How high should I hang a T5 light?

Hang the T5 grow lights fixtures on chains 6 to 12 inches above the top of the plants, making them adjustable and allowing the light to be raised as the plant grows. Use reflectors and mirrors above and beside lights to reflect light back on the plant.

How long should I light a light bulb?

Light the bulbs for 14 to 16 hours daily , recommends the University of Vermont Extension. Using a timer allows you to turn the lights on and off at the same time each day.

How to warm up a plant with a light?

Turn on the light and allow it to warm up. Place your hand under the light at the top of the plants and test the amount of heat given off . If your hand is hot, raise the lights by lifting the chain and test again.

How to catch drips from plants?

Keep in mind that lights should be far away from water. Hot bulbs shatter on contact with water. Place the plants on the trays, grouping them by height and light needs. Place plants with high light needs directly beneath the center of the fixture.

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