When should I expose microgreens to light? A lot of gardeners have searched high and low for the perfect lights for growing microgreens and dove in to various other means for how to develop them properly. First of all, consider the microgreen you are trying to develop, if you are interested in eating microgreens for food, then you certainly do not want any light at all. On the other hand, for other purposes, exposure to light can actually be beneficial to your growing microgreens.
One of the most common questions about growing microgreens is “What should I expose them to?” You should definitely not expose them to direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight will dry out your micro green leaves, eventually reducing their size and causing them to wilt. This happens because microgreens absorb lots of moisture from the soil and water, and then they cannot absorb enough from the air to remain green and healthy. In other words, they do not go to sleep.
Another question often asked is “Do I need led lights or fluorescent lights when growing microgreens?” In general, it is better to use a low wattage bulb in your growing area. Be sure that your lights are rated for the amount of light you need to provide for the area. In general, a good starting point for planting microgreens would be a standard indoor plant pot with medium to medium-high intensity (LED) lighting. They will provide a strong light source, but since they are not “grow lights” they will not heat up the room.
Microgreen chlorophyll must absorb at least 6 times its own weight in order to change color. The amount of light they absorb depends on their absorption peak. Their highest absorption peak is when they are about one-fourth of an inch below the surface of the soil. Once they have absorbed this much light, they will start to change color. Microgreens with a high absorption peak are red in color.
It is important that you do not expose your microgreen plants to very high levels of light. If you place a light fixture near your plants when they are in the growing stage, they will absorb much more light than they normally would. Some of the lights that you can use include: recessed lights, metal halide lights, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and LED lights. Metal halide lights tend to produce very strong light that tends to be harsh on the eyes. They also tend to produce very blue and yellow colors.
When should I expose growing microgreens to the sun? Metal halide lights are usually not recommended for use when growing microgreens. However, some experts believe that a high quality LED light source can be used if the plant is placed directly in front of a bright light source. This type of light source has been known to create very strong, but colorful light.
When should I expose growing microgreens to the wind? You should avoid exposing your growing microgreens to direct sunlight because they could possibly burn the roots. If the lights are too intense, however, they may get burned when they come into contact with wind currents. This type of exposure usually occurs when the growing lights are placed above the height of the plants.
When should I expose my growing plants to the water? Microgreen plants are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and they could become damaged when exposed to certain temperatures for prolonged periods. It’s best to remove the micro green plants from the direct sunlight or put them in a temperature-controlled dark room. You can also place the micro green plants in an unheated area if you want.