To obtain a strong, healthy seedlings of pepper, it is necessary to provide it with a 12-hour day light.
When sowing it in the early stages at home, to do this without additional illumination is impossible.
Therefore, the seedlings of pepper must dosachivat.
Why highlight seedlings pepper
A feature of this culture is a long vegetative period. Therefore, the sowing of pepper is carried out before all other plants, at a time when the light day is not long enough. Plants need to grow no less than 12-14 hours of lighting per daywhereas in the winter they can receive only 50% of the coverage.
Seedlings of pepper, which in the early stages did not have enough light, it turns out elongated, with a thin stalk, elongated interstices and insufficient foliage. This is due to the fact that in such conditions, photosynthesis slows down. Plants start to hurt and even die.
The correct lamp for pepper
Normal development of pepper sprouts takes place at an intensity of at least 20,000 lux. The natural light indicators from February to March are only 5000 luxwhich is clearly not enough plants. However, to maximize the approximation of natural lighting, not all lamps are suitable.
The process of photosynthesis of plants is influenced not only by the light itself, but namely certain spectrum of rays. The sun's rays consist of waves of different lengths and colors, and they contain all the radiation spectrum that plants need. Wherein each part of the spectrum has a different effect per plant:
- Red rays promote seed germination and stimulate flowering.
- Blue and purple affect cell formation.
- Green and yellow reflected from the leaves and the development of plants is not affected.
It is the yellow light that underlies the radiation of incandescent lamps, which some gardeners use in the old manner to highlight seedlings. This is absolutely wrong.. Besides these lamps contain many infrared rays, which means that the seedlings under them are overheated and drawn out.
The best option for dostochivaniya pepper seedlings is the use of phyto- or luminescent lamps. Nowadays, LED lamps, specially designed for lighting seedlings at home, have also appeared on the market.
Advantages and disadvantages of different types of lamps
Modern industry offers a wide selection of lamps suitable for highlighting seedlings. All of them differ in radiation spectrum and power, therefore, they must be selected, based on the specific conditions in which the pepper is grown.
Sodium lamps
Their advantage is high radiation efficiencythat stimulates photosynthesis. Such lamps give a powerful luminous flux and serve for a long time.
They give orange yellow radiationthat does not irritate the eyes, so they are recommended to be used at home.
The disadvantage of such lamps is their high price. In addition to their use Relay installation is desirable to control the intensity of the glow.
Fluorescent
Refers to fluorescent lamps and give cold light. Their radiation thin.
therefore installation of several pieces is required to provide the required number of suites. For highlighting seedlings on a window sill 1 m long. you need to install one lamp at 80 watts or two 40-50 watts.
In the spectrum of such lamps insufficient red emission spectrum. Plants their spectrum is depressing, so their application not recommended.
Phytolamps
Economic and durable option home lighting. Many of them are equipped with mirror reflectors that helps to achieve maximum effect with minimum energy consumption. Such lamps practically do not heat up, therefore completely exclude the possibility of leaf burn when applied.
Fitolamp radiation has a lilac-pink color, what favorably affects the development of plants. However, it is this feature that is unfavorable to human eyes, therefore, in indoor conditions apply phytolamps with caution.
Sodium metal halide
Work in the warm radiation spectrum and favorable for the growth of seedlings. They are economical and easy to use. Their disadvantage is minimum blue radiationwhich inhibits the growth of plant cells and prevents the stem from stretching.
Lamp power and location
The calculation of the number of light sources is an important stage in the organization of the backlight. Pepper seedlings should be illuminated with lamps at a rate of 200 W per 1m2.
Should have the backlight at a distance of 20 cm from the top of the plants. With the growth of the lamp, located above the seedlings, should be raised. Special fitolampy placed at a height of 15 cm from the top leaflets plants.
What time to turn on the backlight pepper
Backlight on time for seedlings of pepper depends on her age:
In the phase of cotyledon leaves you can leave the lights on for three days without a break. Such a technique will allow you to start a sharp growth and development of seedlings.
When the first true leaves appear the length of the light day at the pepper should be 14-16 hours a day.
February and early March more expedient turn on the lights in the morning and leave it in working condition until 7-8 pm. The inclusion of lamps in the morning and evening leads to the fact that in the daytime sprouts lack lighting. This is evidenced by their inclination towards the window.
In April the intensity of the light rays from the window in the daytime is sufficient, and the lamp can be included only in the morning and evening hours. Backlight mode at this time from 6 to 12 hours and from 16 to 19. If you do not have the ability to turn off the lamp during the day, it is advisable to use a timer.
IMPORTANT. It is impossible to illuminate the seedlings around the clock, it dramatically slows its growth, as the plants need rest.
A few tips to increase the lightness of pepper seedlings
So that the seedlings do not experience a lack of light, you can apply some techniques to increase the illumination:
- Grow pepper seedlings in separate pots, and as they grow, move them away from each other. The desire to put more plants on one window leads to that. With a large number of stretched bushes you get a minimum of fruit in the fall.
- Wash the windows. Dirty glass retains about 5% of the sun's rays, so necessary for your seedlings.
- Once warm weather sets in, take the boxes to the balcony during the day, or put them near the open window.
- Take care of proper and timely highlighting. pepper seedlings.
- Arrange the seedlings in several rows above each other. using shelves. The closer to the glass the plants are located, the more rays they will receive.
- If you do not have the ability to highlight the seedlings of pepper, sow it later, choosing early ripe varieties.
Proper organization of the light regime in the cultivation of pepper is a necessary condition for obtaining a rich harvest in the autumn.
Useful materials
Read other articles on pepper seedlings:
- Proper cultivation of seeds and whether to soak them before sowing?
- How to grow black pepper peas, chili, bitter or sweet at home?
- What are growth promoters and how to use them?
- The main reasons why the leaves are twisted at the shoots, the seedlings fall or are pulled out, and also why the shoots die?
- Terms of planting in the regions of Russia and especially the cultivation in the Urals, in Siberia and the Moscow region.
- Learn yeast based fertilizer recipes.
- Learn the rules of planting Bulgarian and hot peppers, as well as dive sweet?
- How to prepare seeds and soil before sowing? As well as the rules for watering, feeding and picking young shoots.
In conclusion, we offer you the form of how to properly highlight the seedlings of pepper:
