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How to Choose a Good LED Light for Your Indoor Plants

Published on January 11, 2021

Indoor gardening is not that simple. Though LED light for indoor plants will allow you to grow different kinds of plants in any climate all year long. This growing light is specially made as an alternative to natural sunlight to offer the right color spectrum and stimulate the photosynthesis process so that your plants can flourish.

However, not every LED light is created equal. Some have more characteristics and strength than others. This is why it’s necessary to narrow down to the following details to ensure you choose a good one.

1. Choose the Kind of Light You Want

A few kinds of grow lights emit different types of light for various stages of the growing process. The cool or bright light can be perfect for your plants because it may encourage bushy growth, while the red one is good for the looming stage, as it produces a hormone, which stimulates the growth of flowers.

Orange light developed by a few grow lights normally emits heat. However, some may as well establish a spectrum of light without generating any heat.

2. Determine the Size of Grow Space

The size of the grow space will determine the number of LED units you buy. As with the rule of thumb, a good LED grow light has 32 watts per square foot for flowering medical or large plants. For instance, if your growing space is around 16 square feet, you will need to buy a 500 or 550 watt grow light.

Though low light plants, including lettuces and herbs, will need 12 or 18 watts per square foot. This may depend on the preferred light level and crop.

3. Check the Cooling System

Plants may not be able to thrive in a place with extreme heat. This destroys the environmental balance for them. Therefore, when choosing a grow light, ensure your device has the right heat sink.

The best option is to always go for LEDs, which have a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB). Such LEDs are developed pieces of technology, which devices that run at high temperatures use. They basically have fans that help to cool off the environment.

4. Go for Quality

Durability is among the things you must look at when choosing good LED lighting. Lamps made of quality materials may last for ten years or so. This is a very long time, so you may not worry about making changes to the whole setup.

To get a quality setup, you may go for the US-made lights, which abide by the industry standards and use the best production methods and components.

5. Consider Programmability Feature

LED lighting has different features, which might or not be helpful to users. The best type of grow light offers a programmability feature. It is effective since you may adjust them depending on your needs.

You may also set schedules of where your light needs to go off and on. This means you won’t have to do it manually.

Pay Attention to the Product Warranty and Return Policy

A reputable LED light manufacturer, like CaliforniaLightworks, offers a warranty and the team provides clients with guidance. Basically, grow lighting is durable equipment, and any problem you may encounter will act up after a few years.

That means a warranty covering your grow light for less than five years is not used mostly. Some models even have a special warranty covering separate pieces and parts, along with a free return policy option.

6. Evaluate Reflection

No matter what kind of bulb you choose, it may be vital to incorporate reflective devices when it comes to your design. This is because normal grow lights fan out the light they make, leading to a lower lumen reading at the bottom when compared to that at the top.

A good LED lighting will reflect the escaping light back to your crops and maximize the intensity of light they get.

7. Look at the Spectrum

When choosing your LED lighting, you may need to ensure that the light has the correct spectrum. The kind of light, which your plants get from the sun is usually full of color, though most lights that some individuals use indoors lack the correct spectrum. However, the range of colors will be based on your goals. For instance, a color range of 5k to 7k may promote vegetative growth, while 3.5k to 4.5k will support flowering and fruiting.

Regardless of your goals, growing light, which has a full spectrum, costs a lot of money. Therefore, if you cannot afford one, you may combine a warm spectrum light with cool spectrum one so as to offer your plants maximum benefits.

8. Prioritize the Yield

Whenever farmers sow seeds, they anticipate getting encouraging yields. For you to achieve this as a farmer, you will require preparation and the right light.

When getting a LED light, make sure you will guarantee a high yield. You may learn about the yield that different ones can produce by reading reviews.

9. Compare Brands

The industry is full of numerous brands, with every brand offering LED lights with a slight difference. This makes choosing a good LED light a challenging process. In case you’re stuck between choosing different lights, which have the same costs and appearance, allow brand names to be a tiebreaker.

Companies with a personality preceding themselves and long history of quality are the best. The latter are inclined to offer you quality LED light.

Concluding Remarks!

LED grow lights are made so that they can produce particular colors of lights under a strong intensity to support indoor plants’ growth. Cannabis growers have benefited from this invention. Usually, they have a significant number turned to use the lights to cultivate crops indoors. This is because they help in the production of top-shelf marijuana.

However, it doesn’t stop at that. Most gardeners also consider extending growing seasons by planting leafy vegetables, flowers, and herbs indoors with grow lights’ help. Before, gardeners used fluorescent bulbs to offer light for their plants. However, today people use LED lighting, as a recent innovation, to effectively provide light to indoor plants.

10 Tips You Can Use for Successful Indoor Gardening

Published on August 4, 2020

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Indoor gardening can look like a pretty crazy idea, especially if you just moved to the city or are looking forward to start gardening. We are used to plants being in the outdoor space. However, some can do well and thrive indoors. If you want to start indoor gardening as a hobby or full-time practices don’t fret, we got you covered. Let’s look at some of the best tips you can use to have successful indoor gardening.

1. Location

Before setting up an indoor garden, you need to determine the location. That is the place where your little garden will be located. Plants are different, and some will need more light than others. One vital factor in ensuring that they stay healthy is by ensuring that you set them up in a place where there is ample light.

If your garden does not have enough light, you can use led grow lights from californialightworks. Some plants will do better when they are placed near the window, and some will do better when put in a shady place, whichever the case, ensure that they are placed in a place where they will grow well.

2. Use proper tools

It is good to be well equipped when you start your indoor gardening journey. Some of the tools you need include a watering can, miser, a pair of scissors, a long-handled fork and a sponge which is attached to a long handle.

The watering can and miser are used for increasing humidity for the plants and also to reduce dust levels. A pair of scissors and a long-handled fork can be used to access difficult areas. You can use a sponge attached to a long handle to clean delicate glass surface areas.

3. Choose the right soil

Regular gardening soil is not recommended if you want to start indoor gardening. That is because the soil comes with weeds and all types of insects found on the farm. On the other hand, farmland soil has all the nutrients needed to enable plans to thrive. Also, the farmland soil holds the plants together. You can opt to prepare a growing premium for your crops or buy a premade one from your local garden store.

4. Organic nutrients

Plants need organic nutrients like fertilizers for them to grow well. You can also buy the fertilizer from your local garden store. Before using the fertilizers, you should read the instructions carefully to determine the number of times you should use it and how much you need to use. If you don’t want to use fertilizer, you can use homemade compost or hydroponic nutrients.

5. Use Grow Lights

Not enough natural light in your garden? No need to worry. You can use artificial lights also known as LED grow lights. Led lights can be a good option for plants which are not getting ample sunlight.

Often, you can’t choose the direction from which the sun rays reach the plants. In this case, you can use led grow lights to help provide them with the light they need for optimum growth.

6. Choose plants carefully

Certain plants are easier to grow indoors as compared to others. One of the key points when starting indoor gardening is getting those that can grow to their full potential when inside. For example, those that need pollination from insects might be difficult to grow while inside since they require pollination from an outside source.

7. Match plants with their respective environment

Plants are different, and they have their various native environments. At times it can be hard to create some of these environments in your home for them. For example, plants that live in a moist environment will tend to do better in your bathroom since the air there is as moist as the environment.

Some do well in specific temperatures, and you should keep this in mind when choosing those for your indoor garden. A plant will not do well if you place it in a place where there are colder or hotter temperatures than its native environment.

8. Humidity

Moisture is essential for plants growth. Lack of it might cause them to dry up and wither. There are plenty of ways by which you can provide moisture. First, you can try placing the plants close to each other so that they can get humidity from each other.

Another way of providing moisture is by evaporation. Here, you will need to place a tray of water next to the pot. If this does not work out, you can invest in an environment controller that changes the level of humidity as you wish.

9. Choose the right container

You might be tempted to pick a container for your plants depending on the interior of your home. However, this should not be the case. You should not only consider how the container will look within your home. You should also consider the role the container will play in the plant’s life to ensure it grows well.

For example, you might consider getting a glass container since it looks beautiful. However, it will not be ideal for a desert plant since it holds more water than it would need, and this might cause problems.

10. Use Ice cubes

A great way in which you can moderate the amount of water your plants get is by using ice cubes. By placing ice cubes in the container, you control the amount of water it get. Putting ice cubes in the container will allow the soil to absorb water in a steadier manner.

Indoor gardening can seem intimidating, but it does not need to be. With the right tips in mind, you can have a successful indoor garden that will make your plants grow in a beautiful and healthy environment. Also, pay attention to your plants and know what they require, and you will have healthy plants.

3 Essential Greenhouse Growing Tips for Beginners

Published on July 18, 2020December 9, 2020

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Growing plants on your own is one of the best and most relaxing things you can do. When you give your attention to something you will feel better, you will eat better, and it can be a great way to do some light exercising. Growing things in your greenhouse is easy, and it is definitely fun, but if you don’t know what you are doing, you may end up with dried plants or foods losing their taste even before they get to your table.

To help you out with your project, we created this guide. We are going to give you some tips on how to produce the best things in your own garden, no matter how inexperienced you are. Beginners will definitely benefit from these things because we are going to teach you about the basics and the essentials in gardening. You can also find some great ready made greenhouses here.

1. Plants

If you are just starting your greenhouse, you are probably wondering what you should start with. Even though plants are foods that are generally easy to grow, some of them need more attention than others. Gardenever reports that you should start by planting something that does not require too many things from you. For example, tomatoes are really easy to grow, they need natural light, and they need to be watered from time to time. Even if you forget to water them once, they will not dry out right away.

Potatoes and onions are great as well, and they just need you to plant the seeds, and again, water them. You can go with leafy greens like lettuce, radishes, and even mushrooms. Peas and strawberries are great for beginners as well, and they are extremely easy to plant and grow.

You should think about what you want to get out of your greenhouse and see if you want to plant everything with the same seeds, or just play around and grow everything you possibly can. If you decide to go with different fruits and vegetables, you will see which ones thrive in your location, soil, and type of attention you give them.

2. Illumination

If you want your plants to survive, you need to be aware of how much light do they need. Depending on the season, you can either rely on natural sunlight, or you may want to invest in something that will produce the needed amount of light.

For example, in the spring and the summer, there are a lot of sunny days, and the days are longer, so chances are, your plants will be fine on their own without you spending money on additional equipment.
On the other hand, in the winter and fall, the days are shorter, and the weather may be rainy and overcast. This means that you have to take care of your garden and use additional devices that will produce the needed sunlight.
Fluorescent lamp stripes are some of the most popular now. They are easy to install and they will provide the needed amount of light. You can also try with LEDs and pay a lot of attention to the height where the lights are placed.

Greenhousehunt.com suggests that mini walk-in gardens are perfect for those who don’t need to produce a lot of food but still want to grow their own plants. If you choose something like this, the lights should be between 3 and 8 inches above the plants. If you go with a larger greenhouse, you may want to invest in stripes that won’t be higher than 10 inches above the fruits and vegetables.

If you have shelves, then you should put the lamp stipes under each shelve so all the plants can get the necessary light all year round.

3. Temperature

You have to pay attention to the temperature in your greenhouse. Some plants love the warm weather and they will thrive no matter how hot or humid it gets in the garden. However, others will dry out really quickly if they are exposed to temperatures that are too height.

Choose your plants carefully and try to combine things that are okay with the same temperature. If you choose some of your plants to love the cold weather, and some that like warmth, then you are going to dry both of them.
A heating system is required, especially if you want to plant all year round. The electric heaters are great for beginners because they are easy to install, they don’t take a lot of space, and they won’t waste a lot of power.
On the other hand, when it comes to cooling systems, you have several options. Most users suggest that opening the door of the greenhouse will cool the whole place down, and you don’t have to invest in anything else. However, if you notice that your plants get overheated all the time, you should think about getting an evaporative cooling system that will keep both the humidity and the airflow.

Don’t forget about ventilation, because you have to have the right system so that your plants don’t die or dry out. You should always have vents, including roof units in your closed garden, and keep all of them open in the summer. In the winter, you should pay attention to how much water you put in the soil, so your plants don’t get moldy.
Other things you should pay attention to are the watering system and the seasonal seeds. When it comes to water, you just need to pay attention to how much water your plants require. Most of them should not be watered more than 3 times per week, but that all depends on the season and the type of seeds you have.

Seasonal seeds can survive much longer in the greenhouse compared to nature, and you just need to pay attention to the lights, water, and of course, soil. When you start, it is always better to start with seeds than seedlings or cuttings. They are easier to grow and maintain. There is no exact formula on what your plants like and don’t like. The most important thing is to pay attention to what they need, depending on water and light, and test things out. You should also pay attention to the space they need, as some plants can go higher and quicker than the others.
Greenhouse gardening is amazing both for you and for the planet. When you are a beginner, you may make a few mistakes, but remember that practice makes perfect. Once you learn how to grow easy things, you will be able to go with more complex plants that require more attention.

Ways to Make Your Outdoor Living Space Beautiful

Published on June 24, 2020

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Everyone wants to decorate their outdoor space in a way to create an oasis and feel relaxed every time they step outside. Here are some tips on how to create an outdoor environment and enjoy it.

Consider neighbors

If we are talking about a duplex or “conditional” fence between you and the neighboring section, there may be a shortage of personal space: there’s simply nowhere to hide from prying eyes. The feeling of coziness and intimacy disappears when you feel under close supervision.

Cover it with a tent! Please, do not buy finished products from the hypermarket for gardeners. To build an improvised oriental tent, you can use lining silk or even cheap burlap. Use the wall of the house and the fence as the supports.

Add more plants and bushes

For some reason, a small yard always wants to be enlarged. And all the advice on its arrangement just boils down to how to achieve large “visual space”.

But an equally interesting effect will turn out if you do exactly the opposite – deliberately reduce the courtyard with the help of green thickets. Along the perimeter of the fence, plant climbing plants, and flowering bushes – they will create the illusion of thick “green” walls. You will enjoy dining here, feel free to plan a dining group in this area.

A cozy place where you can hide from the world and be alone with yourself will be no less useful than daily swimming in a large open-air pool. If you already have a place for a table, plan this small corner for a garden bench, or even a sofa.

Plant vertically

Who said peas, cucumbers, and other ampoules should take up a lot of space? Plant the garden vertically: take the usual crop in a miniature space. And use the vacated space for anything else.

In addition to its obvious advantages (a vertical garden does not take up much space), this solution will help you avoid weeds and many pests: vegetables will not grow in the ground, but in a special nutrient soil. By the way, the garden can be not only vertical, but also suspended — on the ceiling.

A self-made vertical patch saves space, but at the same time requires more careful care. For active growth, the roots must be well-nourished, and they will grow in small containers with a limited amount of soil. Therefore, it will need to be fed, fertilized, and watered more often. But you don’t have to worry about the harvest due to a sudden cold snap – for the period of frosts you can easily transfer your vertical garden to the heated room.

Use the stairs

We continue to use verticals: select several levels to increase the area of usable space. Make the retaining walls high (up to 1 m), then they can be decorated with a facing stone or a waterfall. Highlight the upper zone for plants. On the second level, you can arrange a small pond, and use the remaining widest zone for family gatherings.

Build a sports ground

“Take” to the street what you have long dreamed of, but could not find a place in the house. For example, a sports ground. As for advice, we can propose you decking your sports ground in your courtyard and it will look even more impressive. For more information, you can look here.

Horizontal bars and rings can be placed in the open space. A punching bag made of leather, leatherette or canvas is also not afraid of street conditions. But to install it you need a reliable suspension system that can withstand 25-50 kg.

Even a basketball court will require a little space. A rack with a basketball basket is best installed on the opposite side of the house. For a full workout, you need 3 m of free space around the ring, for training three-point throws – from 6 m.

Create a place for water procedures

You can find a place for an inflatable or frame pool without our help, but it is unlikely to be as convenient as a half meter between the house and the fence. Use blind spots to build a long narrow pool. You can not just soak in the water, as you would do in a bath, but use the pool specifically for swimming. A pool is best placed where the sun is in the morning.

Use the space mindfully

Summer cuisine? – Open the window and take out some of the equipment outside. Perhaps, the window for this will have to be replaced, and the windowsill should be modified. But you don’t need to build a summer kitchen: you can still cook at home, and drink tea and lunch in the fresh air, behind a windowsill, which will turn into an impromptu bar counter. At the same time, you can set the table and remove the dishes in a couple of seconds.

And most importantly – the rest of the yard will be at your disposal!

Apply the same principle to other rooms: you need a summer shower `- swipe it along the wall adjacent to the bathroom in the house.

It’s not necessary to sit out all night on garden chairs around the table – relax in comfortable hammocks. This is the most hospitable and compact form of garden furniture: and trees are not needed to hang some of these.

Tip: If you choose a hammock chair with one hook, it can be hung on a branch or mounted on a terrace beam.

Look at the fence

The unsightly wall of a neighbor’s house or a strange fence can be decorated. Your task is to ensure that a focal point appears in a small courtyard – a picturesque view appears.

And what it will be – wood cladding, plants, masonry, mirrors, or just bright paint – you decide.

Think about lighting

When the sun sets, artificial lighting will create the “right” atmosphere in the backyard. A resting place, a path to the house, a small fountain or a pond – you need to illuminate, and the borders of a small courtyard are perfectly acceptable to leave in the dark.

Tip: The whole courtyard can be illuminated using a street garland – it is convenient to fix it on a tree, along the perimeter of the terrace and along the edge of the house.

Add Space and Aesthetics to Your Home with Glass Wall Shelves

Published on December 18, 2019December 24, 2019

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Peace of mind is what everyone one of us is trying to attain each day. We get a new job because the previous one was either not paying well or was too stressful, so there was no peace. Or move into a new house to find peace from our noisy neighbors. Whatever the case may be for you, to find peace of mind, you need to clear through some of your negative thoughts and learn to be calm and relaxed.

Nothing relaxes us more than when we are at home. Not just any home, but a home that agrees with your core. Now, that is getting too deep. I know. All I am trying to say is, you can only find lasting peace when you put your home together. By putting together, I mean with the right aesthetics and space to put your mind at ease after a busy day at work.

It is not a pretty sight coming home after a bad day at work to hit your leg on the shoe box lying just around the corner. Or accidentally shattering the birthday orb your dad gave you on your eighteenth birthday. Although you do not have control over everything that happens around you, having your home is your responsibility. At least that’s the least you can do to make the time you spend at home worthwhile.

Add Luxurious Look with Glass Shelves

There is something outrightly luxurious about glass ledge. From the polishing to the tasteful introduction into your home or office, the effect is nothing short of beauty. You may not realize it, but your home will be extremely messy and scattered without wall shelves. And when shelves made of melted and polished glass adorn your walls, even a jaded observer will step back a pace to quickly appreciate the inherent aesthetic value and its ability to dominate space.

Even more astounding is the fact that glass allows light to shine through from above and below. Why is this a big deal? Spot lightening placed under the wall shelves can create a remarkable lighting effect transforming the room at night. However, there is a limit to what glass shelves can carry and may not be practical for all your storage needs. Nonetheless, they are a worthy alternative to dull and unappealing shelving units.

Displaying flower vases and antiques on wall glass also gives them a certain kind of appeal and significance. While giving you peace of mind, it offers visitors the impression of high value. Available in different sizes and shapes, glass shelves can completely transform your space in a different way unimaginable.

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Ways to Transform Your Space by Using Glass Wall Shelves:

So you just moved into a new place, or you’re looking to renovate your current place. And you’ve spent countless hours going through various home décor designs and decorations. Even for those with a good taste in style, making up your mind out of the numerous designs can be a daunting task.

You know you want wall ledge, but you have yet to decide what or how you want to use them to transform your home. Chances are, you’ve read different magazines and gone through various glass shelving options, but you get confused even more. Below are some of the ways you can use your shelves to transform your space.

Glass Wall Shelves for Plants

The way you decorate your home is a pointer to your personality. And nothing shouts ‘quality’ like adorning your walls with plants placed on wall ledge. It is better if single or small glass shelves are placed in corners around your room or on adjacent sides of your multimedia set in the sitting room. Make sure you opt for plants that can thrive in shades. And you will enjoy all the sereneness, and greenery plants have to offer. Plus, the extra dose of oxygen will leave you refreshed whenever you’re home.

Glass Bookshelves

Are you an avid reader like me? Your glass wall shelf will help you remove your books from the bedside table or shelf where they are occupying space. No matter how you look at it, books never really look pretty sitting on your floor. On glass wall shelves, your books are transformed. They look way better sitting on your well-polished and tempered glass wall shelf than they would in a cupboard on the floor in your sitting or bedroom. For better results, mount your shelf in the sitting room just above the television or adjacent to the door where they are visible to anyone visiting. Doing so gives a strong aesthetic appeal and helps make your space look serene. Making you look like someone in control.

Corners Glass Shelves

Corners are another perfect spot for placing wall glass shelves. Often, our wall corners are left empty and naked, just accumulating dust and cobwebs. It shouldn’t be so anymore. Using corner shelves is a brilliant way to maximize and transform your space. By placing picture frames on corner ledge, you can preserve memories that will bring a smile to your face every time.

Glass Television Tables

Nothing beats style like replacing your television and multimedia tables. Prevalent use of wall glass shelves in recent times is in television stands using black glass to match your LED and plasma screens. Much better than having a 2000 years old bulky table that is occupying more space than you would want it to. Another great idea is combining wall ledge with other materials like wood to give a striking look and feel. Besides, having a TV on a beautiful wall glass shelf makes watching television a whole new experience for you and your family.

Glass Shelves for Your Bathrooms

Glass wall shelves are a beauty to behold in the bathroom. Aside from the fact that glass is waterproof and easy to clean, you get to remove clutter from your bathroom. Instead of using closed cupboards and drawers that will end up taking up space, consider using wall shelves. You should place your everyday essentials like toothbrushes and pills on small glass ledge to save up more space.

Kitchen Glass Shelves

Wall glass shelves are not meant for only your rooms and bathrooms. They are a brilliant addition to your kitchen too. A great way to spice up your kitchen counter instead of having jars and ceramics lined up on your kitchen counter. Your spices and utensils also will look good sitting on your shelf while adding beauty and convenience. Consider using glass shelf brackets along with your wall glass ledge to keep things from sliding or crashing to the floor. There are no rules here, tweak till you get what pleases you.

Dock Your Valuables

Kids are inquisitive. On my return home from the office one day, I met my three-year-old jumping on my laptop. He thought it was a weighing scale. Funny right? If you have kids in your house, then you better anchor your valuables up above their reach. Valuables include your cellphones and other office equipment or something that could cause your kids harm. Put them all up there.

Wall ledge are also child-proof as children cannot reach them effortlessly. Even in kid’s rooms, shelves are fantastic for storing their toys. You must take note, however, to make the edges of wall ledge for your kiddie’s room rounded to be able to store more and reduce injuries.

Maintaining Your Wall Glass Shelves

It doesn’t take talent or wit to be able to maintain your wall glass shelf. Besides being durable, glass shelves are very easy to maintain. All you have to do is wipe away dust with a soft cloth and cleaner to keep them sparkly clean. Wall ledge lose their beauty and appeal when they are left unattended.

You must take special care when removing your valuables placed on the shelves for cleaning so as not to scratch or break the glass. After all, these shelves are made of glass and not stones.

Conclusion

Furnishing your home or office with modern wall glass ledge has many advantages. You get enough storage space to buy the things you’ve always wanted to purchase, and you transform your room or home with style. All you have to decide on is the room or wall to mount your shelf on, as the units are very easy to install.

Glass ledge can be added to just about any room in the house to give it a new and modern feel and transform the overall appeal of your home.

Regardless, the position of the shelf in the house, the effect is always nothing short of beauty and class. Whether it’s a new home or remodeling of the old one, wall shelves are the first choice for homeowners and apartment dwellers that desire a simple and effective way to de-clutter their home. The attractiveness and the chic elegance that is achieved after installing shelves are enjoyed for a very long time. So when next you think of orderliness, class, and beauty, think of installing wall glass shelves.