Can i put my plants under artificial light 24/7 ?

Posts

• Lyn Posts: 23,190

  August 2022

  What country do you live in,  in U.K. we sow these seeds in April and plant out after last frosts.

  Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 
  
  

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• a.dielri.nseb.ur.y Posts: 2

  August 2022

  I live in Algeria, i just Want to know whats your opinion about artificial light, and do you think it's a good idea if i let them on 24/7 ?
  And Thank you for answering 

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• Dovefromabove Posts: 88,147

  August 2022

  Plants have an ‘internal rhythm’ a bit like our Circadian Rhythm, and need a period of darkness in order to grow, flower and fruit to their optimum. 

  
  

  It’s recommended that 16 hours of  full spectrum light in every 24 hour period is the perfect amount for fruiting plants like squashes and melons. 

  
  Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  August 2022

  I agree with Dove.
  Plants must have a period of darkness - minimum 6-8 hours a day in order to remain healthy.
  Less than 6 hours and they will suffer from stress and grow poorly.
  
  

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

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• WAMS Posts: 1,960

  August 2022

  I wonder about that. There are some magnificent front gardens around here and they are all under very bright street lamps all night. Even my back garden is permanently lit up by four different neighbours' security lights (as I discovered when I needed to take my puppy out for night visits- no need for a torch!). 
  
  Yet my flowers do well. Is it supposed the plants will have a shorter lifespan, then?

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• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  August 2022

  WhereAreMySecateurs said:

  I wonder about that. There are some magnificent front gardens around here and they are all under very bright street lamps all night. Even my back garden is permanently lit up by four different neighbours' security lights (as I discovered when I needed to take my puppy out for night visits- no need for a torch!). 
  
  Yet my flowers do well. Is it supposed the plants will have a shorter lifespan, then?

  
  
  The street light may look bright to you, but not to a plant.
  Yes, some street light can interfere with plant growth. 
  The power of light reduces exponentially with distance so by the time the light reaches the plants on the ground they will barely notice it and trees are big enough for it not to be a problem.
  

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

  0
• Arthur1 Posts: 542

  August 2022

  It does vary somewhat between plants. Also many plants are photoperiodic. That means they measure the dark period (night time) to determine the time of year and when to flower, when to go dormant etc. It would be sensible to give a dark period but remember that if you give the plant a short dark period you are telling the plant that it is mid summer. This is the spur that some plants such as chrysanthemums need to flower,

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• SYinUSA Posts: 243

  September 2022

  Alaska maintains a great agricultural industry even when the sun doesn't set for a month or two during the summer. In fact, Alaska has world-record-size produce in several cases. Granted, the sunlight is not full-on bright daylight all 24 hours - there are long periods of dusk. Their growing season is much shorter, but they're able to grow a lot in that time frame.

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• Dovefromabove Posts: 88,147

  September 2022

  SYinUSA said:

  …,  the sunlight is not full-on bright daylight all 24 hours - there are long periods of dusk. … 

  That is the most important point. 👍 

  
  Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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