The first 14 days of a plant's life determine its subsequent development, including fruiting and flowering. During the juvenile period, seedlings require natural light; otherwise, a good harvest cannot be expected. Depending on the variety and species, plants require 12 to 14 hours of daylight. Gardeners who cannot provide this amount of daylight use artificial lighting.
Creating optimal conditions
Every plant requires a minimum level of light. For example, flowers require around 7,500-8,000 lux. In southern regions, achieving this level is difficult even in summer. The maximum light level reaches only 5,500 lux. In northern regions, the situation is even worse. A gardener cannot do without artificial lightingDuring the first week after planting in the ground, seeds require 12-14 hours of daylight.
Some crops require 16 hours of light. Minimum and maximum illumination levels are not always indicated on the packaging. If the seed manufacturer does not provide information, an average of 7,500-8,000 lux is used. The "cut seedling" method allows for the resuscitation of seedlings that have suffered from a lack of natural light.
Repairing damage
Carefully cut off the damaged plants above the two lower leaves. The lower portion of the plant remains intact. The affected portion is the upper portion, which is then rooted as cuttings. Before using this method, study the characteristics of the seedlings. The "cut seedling" technique is appropriate when the species being treated can be propagated by cuttings.
The second type of damage, caused by too much or too little sunlight, is not so easy to fix. If there is not enough sun, the first cluster on the bush will form four leaves higher than expected. Anyone can spot the problem early. The cluster appears sparse and weak. The longer the seedlings are exposed to this condition, the more stress they experience. Minimizing the risk of crop loss can be achieved within 72 hours. If the bushes do not receive sufficient sunlight for longer, they will need to be removed.
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Inexperienced gardeners, eager to help seedlings, often overdo it. A sudden increase in sunlight is dangerous. Sudden changes in weather, such as a hot or cold snap, pose an equally dangerous risk.
The following tips will help you prevent such a development:
- you need to follow the weather forecast;
- if cold weather approaches, the seedlings are covered;
- if heat is approaching, the seedlings are moved into the shade;
- If the seedlings are located in closed ground, then the glass greenhouse is chalked to provide soft, diffused light;
- remove the covering material in time as the air temperature increases.
The natural daylight hours for seedlings range from 12 to 15 hours. This number depends on the characteristics of the individual variety. The second rule is that each plant requires a specific level of light, measured in lux. If this level is unmet, artificial lighting is provided.