Should you turn your grow lights off at night?
You might be wondering if you can ‘hack’ the system with LED grow lights.
Theoretically, you leave them turned on 24/7 and that will make your plants grow much faster, right?
Wrong.
Just like humans need their sleep, plants also require a period of rest in darkness each day and you will do more harm than good if you do not turn grow lights off at night.
Here’s why.
Why plants need their rest
Like animals, plants have a biological clock that regulates their growth and development.
Darkness is a key signal in this circadian rhythm and helps plants distinguish between day and night.
When they are bathed in light during the day, plants primarily use photosynthesis to convert light to energy.
But at night they rely on the respiration process, converting glucose and oxygen into energy.
Like photosynthesis, the respiration process is essential for the healthy growth and development of plants.
Many plants also require periods of darkness for flowering and fruiting.
How many hours of light do plants need each day?
Most plants require roughly the same amount of rest each day as humans, away from bright grow lights.
While exact light exposure recommendations vary based on the type of plant and its growth stage, mature plants should only spend between 12 and 16 hours under grow lights each day.
Seedlings can usually be exposed to light for between 14 and 18 hours per day, supporting their initial growth and development.
This means that you should turn your grow lights off for between six and 12 hours each night.
However, given the ranges of these general guidelines are quite wide, you should research the specific needs of the plants you are growing.
How to know if your plants need more rest
Plants usually show very visible signs of stress if they are receiving too much light and not enough rest each night.
Signs to look out for include leaf burn, yellowing or paler leaves, stunted growth and wilting.
Should you notice these types of signs, you may need to turn off your grow lights for a little longer each night.
Automate your grow lights to turn off at night
Many modern grow light systems make it easy to provide plants with the perfect mix of light and darkness each day.
Timers can be connected to automate lighting schedules and ensure consistent light exposure.
Some systems can also be connected to mobile phone apps, which allow for remote control of on/off times for sunrise and sunset.
These apps also provide light dimming abilities for compatible grow lights.
Looking for an automated grow light system?
If you want to make it easy to turn grow lights off at night, we can help.
At A-Grade Hydroponics we are indoor growing experts and stock a wide range of lights and lighting systems, including automated timers with mobile phone app connectivity.
Check out our extensive online store, come visit us at our Melbourne shop or give us a call on (03) 9555 6667 to discuss the best options for you.
