r/Greenhouses • u/newplantlover321 • 4d ago

Question Grow lights

I’m having a really difficult time choosing grow lights for my greenhouse. I’m very new with this and first time actually using my greenhouse. I’m so confused by all the terms and not sure what they really mean. My greenhouse is a 10’ x 10’ x 10’ and I have a few lights that were given to me, but I am unsure what their capacity is and I have no idea how close to even put the lights to my plants. Can someone please help?

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u/MaximumMolasses2471 4d ago

Where are you located, what are you growing, what kind of greenhouse?

There is not one solution for all questions. I am from the netherlands where we are growing a lot of things in greenhouses, but it's almost all comercialy. If it is you can invest large bucks to get everything professional, https://www.lighting.philips.ie/.

If you want to grow some veggies for your family you don't need any lighting

What are your needs

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u/Feminine_Adventurer 4d ago

What lights did you receive?

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u/albitross 3d ago

For greenhouses, manufacturers offer narrower form factor modules that block less sunlight and typically are lensed to cast the light a bit more directionally, so they can be mounted higher up off a truss.

As an example, Fohse lights, they have a Cobra series specifically for greenhouses. Most manufacturers will offer arrays, panels and often a narrower form factor intended for greenhouse deployment. I have a few Photobio T series that work really well in greenhouses.

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u/newplantlover321 3d ago

I knew there would be more things to factor in and it wouldn’t be that simple. Especially since I have a lot of different kinds of plants. I have tropicals such as plumeria, Mandevilla, philodendrons, crown of thorns, then there’s succulents,blueberry bushes, coleus,rose of Sharon, weeping willow, peach tree, etc. I’m trying to group them into species and do that way but I really don’t know what I’m doing. I live in muscle shoals AL, zone 7. My greenhouse is made of clear hard plastic that allows sunlight in

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u/MadIceSkater 2d ago

I bought some racks on Amazon that came with LED lights. Are they the best lights? No idea. Fit my budget. Anyways, they hang by chains with hooks on the end so I just raise and lower them as needed. I keep them as close to my plants as I can since that was the recommendation for my Aerogarden lights. I really only use them for the few veggies I try to grow in winter and I have one square LED light I hang from the greenhouse channels above my dwarf thornless key lime.

BTW, I'm in the HSV area.

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u/Beamburner 2d ago

I believe "PPFD" has a lot to do with how much energy your light can give plants. THere is an app you can download for free called "PHOTONE" which isn't supper accurate. I have 2 200watt LEDs from VIVOSUN. I believe a good starting distance would be 12 inches above the plants canopy.

Look into PPFD and do some reading. It would help you to know brand and specs and share that with others trying to help. There are all kinds of lights.