Greenhouse Convention Brings New Ideas In Growing and Lighting

Online, November 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - At a recent National Greenhouse Convention held in Canada, new ideas in growing and lighting technology were the top subjects on the convention floor. Greenhouse experts discussed the use of silicon in keeping plants strong, and rainwater storing and reuse. The biggest topic and concern was, as usual, grow lights. Grow lights are key to yielding the best crops, and professionals discuss various techniques and ideas for new lighting systems.

Greenhouse lighting is a technology that continues to advance and grow, changing the way professional growers use it. LED lights are a hot topic with growers, due to their extremely high price. The latest innovation in LED lights provides for more efficiency and turns electrical lighting into energy that plants need for growth. Professional growers are beginning to use LED lights more often, yet still relatively sparingly because of their cost. With conventional grow lights still being the more affordable way to go, the newest trend is to use LED lights in a supplementary capacity. At the latest Greenhouse convention, growers spoke of using conventional grow lights as their main source of lighting, and running strings of LED lights throughout the canopy. Growers are finding that this innovative way of using LEDs saves them money while providing for an increase in crops. Tomato and cucumber growers especially are seeing big results from employing this type of lighting strategy. LED grow lights and grow panels continue to lead the industry, being the brightest and most powerful indoor lights ever developed. Costs remain high, but with the longer life span of these lights, growers still save money by not having to replace them as often as conventional grow lights.

Growers at this year's Greenhouse Convention agreed that lighting technology, which continues to advance at a rapid pace, will continue to be at the forefront of discussion, and prove to be fascinating year in and year out.