In order to grow a healthy plant in an apartment in winter, it is important to create conditions for it that are as close to natural as possible. In addition to maintaining the required temperature and humidity level, you need to provide the plant with proper lighting. Otherwise, it will be weakened and unable to adapt to outdoor life.
When it became known that plants perceive different parts of the light spectrum differently, scientists developed the so-called phyto-lamps. This device emits light, necessary and sufficient in spectrum and intensity for the plant. These are the blue and red edges of the visible light spectrum in a special ratio. Plants need about 40-20% blue light and 60-80% red. For the human eye, this is purple light. And the fact that the plants in it look black or dark gray means that they really absorb all the light, and do not reflect it.
The emergence and mass distribution of LED technology made it possible to grow full-fledged plants even in the darkest rooms. The LED phyto-lamp can be bought or made by yourself, reducing financial costs.
LED selection
LEDs are of different power - from negligible to 50-100 W and more. LEDs emit a large proportion of energy in the form of heat, which must be removed from the crystal. Therefore, you cannot make a large single crystal - it will immediately overheat and melt. Even a 1W LED needs effective heat sinks. Therefore, when purchasing LEDs, you do not need to chase excess power. It should be distributed in the lamp as in the solar spectrum: 40-20% of the power - for blue and 60-80% - for red lamps.
Power supply selection
When choosing a power supply, it should be borne in mind that low-power LEDs at a current of 300-700 mA require a voltage of 2-3 Volts per case. This means that the power supply unit must be designed for higher voltage indicators, for example, 12-14 V. In this case, it is necessary to connect the LEDs in series to the required voltage with a margin of about 10% in order to avoid overloading the crystals. So, it is better to take a dozen LEDs with a capacity of 2.4 V, and not 9 V. to the 24 V power supply.
You can also take drivers - special power supplies equipped with a current stabilizer and designed for specific types of LEDs. This device will independently select the voltage to provide the required current in the LED circuit you assembled. Using a driver will provide good protection for the luminaire in case of overvoltage. For the lamp housing, you can use a 20 x 30 cm aluminum baking sheet or a similar thick metal product for good heat dissipation.
