Can fluorescent lights support full plant life cycles?

Numerous gardeners have the thought floating around in their heads of whether or not fluorescent lights will really grow plants from seed to harvest. The answer is more nuanced, depending on the type of plant and its growth stage. Fluorescent lights work very well during certain parts of the growth cycle. Still, this type of light also has its limitations. I have recorded complete growth cycles for some crops in my indoor gardening experiment, and knowing the light limits helped avoid disappointment.

Fluorescent systems are incredibly effective with leafy greens and herbs. Lettuce typically takes 4-6 weeks from seed to harvest when conditions are optimized. Basil has great flavor and essential oil content. Kale matures with a nutrient content comparable to that of crops grown outdoors. My vertical farm will provide continuous harvests throughout all seasons.

Plant species that produce fruit go through severe challenges when they are flowering. For example, tomato plants produce 50% fewer fruits if subjected to fluorescent-only lighting. Additionally, pepper plants produce smaller pods with thinner walls. This is primarily due to the limited red spectrum penetration to set off the necessary hormones. In my personal experimental situations, I achieved the most optimal results when I used supplemental LED lighting during the fruiting stage of growth.

Try implementing tactical methods for evaluation. Start seedlings under fluorescent lights for a strong plant foundation. Let them transition to a vegetative state under 6500K bulbs. If you want supplemental lighting, bring it out during the flowering phase. Personally, I use a combination of fluorescent bulbs and LEDs when growing tomatoes. I think things can be done better if the advantages and disadvantages of each technology can be combined to benefit each technology.

Nowadays, full-spectrum T5 light bulbs are engineered for maximum efficiency. These bulbs incorporate the blue and red wavelengths for the photosynthetic process in one convenient tube. They will give fuller flower production than conventional fluorescent bulbs. My coleus plants exhibit dependable flowering capabilities when grown under T5 bulbs. Still, the yield will not be as substantial when using HID or LED systems. Expect yields to match what your plant can counter based on its requirements.

Read the full article: Fluorescent Grow Lights: Expert Guide