T5 HO fluorescent lamps produce
their maximum luminous flux at 35°C, compared
with 25°C for old T8 fluorescent lamps with
a tube diameter of 26 mm. Since the temperatures
in the luminaire are higher than the ambient temperature
of, say, 20 to 25°C, the efficiency is at
least 5% higher than for old T8 fluorescent lamps.
The small tube diameter of 16 mm also leads to
an increase in the efficiency of the luminaire.
These lamps offer even more luminous flux if they
are operated within the luminaire at their optimum
ambient temperature. Excellent for energy saving
replacement of old HID lamps where high light
output is needed.
Colours are the nlite colours
, these are detailed more on charts for Spectral
Power Distribution (SPD »).
Aquatic
Plants: Actinic Blue for Marine
Plants and PURple for Tropical & Freshwater
plants.
Land
Plants: Warning: All fluorescent
lights emit UV light, PURple emmits proportionally
the most. When using any fluorescent lighting
with early seedlings or early cuttings they would
be best be protected from copious amounts of UV.
This is easily remedied with a single sheet of
glass or perspex or plastic, between the fluorescent
light source and the plant tops, a Propagator
top is ideal. (see PS1 »)
In many circumstances a combination
of only White and Red are traditionally used,
White for all pre-flower stages and red for all
post flower stages. A favourite for all pre-flower
stages is 50% PURple and 50% Gold, a favourite
for all post flower stages is 30% PURple and 70%
Red.
PURple is known to be favoured
for growing equitorial plants, such as Orchids
and is proven to promote the production of flavoids
which can enhance the colour, odour and and flavour
of plants.
Why
do plants need UV light?
UV increases the level of essential
oils in mints & the production of resin by
trichomes of relatives, UV is used for maximum
yield and quality of these oils. UV induces color
development in flowers, essential for beautiful
red veins in green Kale or Chard.
Tasty
Sunscreen? With added UV light,
an increased level of essential oils yields a
more powerful scent and flavour. The essential
oils also aid in the absorption of UV light ,
thus a sunscreen for plants. Plants in the wild
produce their own kind of “sunscreen,” called
flavonoids. Flavonoids screen out some of the
more dangerous UVB-type radiation.
PURple is
excellent at the end of the flower cycle
UV light is needed to fully fill
the glandular trichomes of basil. Plants of Ocimum
basilicum L. were grown in the absence of UV light,
both peltate and capitate glandular trichomes
were incompletely developed in both mature and
developing leaves, the oil sacs being wrinkled
and only partially filled, there was a large decrease
in the number of broken oil sacs among the peltate
glands as the mature glands broke open, releasing
volatiles. the number of glands and the qualitative
& quantitative composition of the volatiles
were badly affected by the lack of UV light. |
