When considering indoor grow lights, remember that light for plants is measured in micro-moles shining on a square meter. For example, full-sun at noon on the equator is 1990 μmols-m2-s1. (1990 micro-moles per square meter per second). To measure the light-energy for a photoperiod, multiply the micro- moles by the total seconds in the photoperiod and divide by 1 million….1990×3600×12÷1,000,000 = 86 moles (DLI) …which is also referred to as the Daily Light Integral (DLI). To add some perspective, the highest DLI recordings in the USA are in the Californian desert at 45 DLI. These measurements relate to the Photo synthetically Active Radiance (PAR) of the solar light-wave, which is between 400nm and 700nm. A new HID 1000 watt ballast and indoor grow lamp should be capable of generating 1990 μmols-m2-s1 one foot from the lamp or light point. As light travels its intensity deteriorates. For example, at 19 inches from the light point, the micro-moles are calculated thus:

1990÷(19″÷12″)2 which resolves to 794 μmols-m2-s1 or a DLI of 34. About the light saturation point for green-leaf photosynthesis. Inverse Square Law tells us the power produced by an indoor grow light decreases the greater the distance from the bulb. Weight Loss Success Stories Vegan DietSpacing plants in growing enclosures presents a gardener with the paradox of how to achieve an optimum Leaf Area Index (LAI) while fully covering the plant canopy with direct-light at the right intensity.Epi Outdoor Furniture You could be losing up-to 60% of your light energy because static lighting lacks an ability to diversify itself to maximize your plants absorbing surfaces at the right intensity. Micro Tiny Puppies For SaleMoving your indoor growing lights offers the grower considerable flexibility in terms of plant to lamp tolerance, spacing plants, and provides light intermittently on the same leaves 40% of the photoperiod at the correct intensity so the maximum LAI (Leaf Area Index) can be achieved.

Leaf Area Index – is a measure of the total upper leaf surface area exposed to direct- light in relation to the area of ground that a plant occupies.Lighting Calculator Thanks for your interest in using the Simkar Lighting Calculator.Ideally, the calculator should be accessed via product pages. We are adding links to active products below, but while this reference is being built, please check the product page as well.Simply visit the page of the product you’re interested in and click on the “Photometrics” tab.Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.To determine how much soil you need to fill your planter or raised bed, enter the dimensions below (in inches) and hit "Calculate". Below is the total amount of soil you need. Choose cubic feet or cubic yards. GOOD soil is the single most important ingredient for a good garden. Raised beds give you an immediate advantage over a regular garden, because when you fill your raised bed, you can fill it with a blend of soil that's superior to the native soil in your yard.

Soil that's loose and rich with nutrients and organic matter will allow the roots of your plants to grow freely, and ensure that they have access to the water and nutrients they need to sustain healthy growth. Example: How Much Soil Do I Need for a 3x6 Bed? To fill a 3x6 bed with 10" sides, you will need 15 cubic feet of blended soil. To create the blend, use the following quantities: 9 cubic feet of topsoil (9 20-quart bags) 4.5 cubic feet of compost (4.5 20-quart bags) 1.5 cubic feet of soilless growing mix 1.5 cups Gardener's Supply All-Purpose Fertilizer Before placing your raised beds in their permanent location, be sure to remove any grass or perennial weeds from the area. Use a garden fork or shovel to loosen the native soil to a depth of 6-10″. This will improve drainage and moisture retention in the raised beds. It also means that even with a 5″-high raised bed, your plants will think they're growing in a bed that's 12-18″ deep — plenty of room for carrots, potatoes, full-size tomato plants and most any other vegetable you'd ever want to grow.

If you'll be filling more than one raised bed, you may want to buy your soil in bulk — by the cubic foot or cubic yard. Use the Soil Calculator to figure out the total amount of soil you'll need for each bed. For most situations, we recommend these proportions: In our Raised Beds department, you'll find DIY raised beds, raised bed corners, elevated raised beds, watering systems, pest protection, season-extending tools and accessories. Keep in mind that proportions are approximate because soil volume varies from source to source. For instance, if the calculator specifies .444 cubic yards of soil for your bed, go ahead and round it up to a half yard. If you do not have access to quality topsoil, an acceptable substitute would be a 50-50 blend of soilless growing medium and compost. If you want to add peat moss to the bed, it should not be more than 20 percent of the total mix. Peat moss is naturally acidic and is not a good medium for growing vegetables. YES, you can use the old soil in your pots, planters and raised beds.

Just start the season with a special boost that ensures good results. With a couple ingredients, you can transform depleted soil into fertile ground for whatever you want to plant. After a season of growth the soil in this raised bed is a couple inches low. Top it off: If the level of soil has dropped, add fresh planting mix also known as potting soil. Ideally, the soil comes to within an inch or so of the rim of the planter or raised bed. Use a fork or hand tool to blend the new soil into the old soil. Blend new soil into the old soil. All-Purpose Fertilizer and Booster Mix Recharge it: Measure the square footage of your raised bed or pot to figure out how much of the two "secret ingredients" you need for your bed. All-Purpose Fertilizer: Use 1/4 cup per square foot. A slow-release, 5-5-5 granular organic fertilizer that gives plants balanced nutrients for vigorous root growth and improved water penetration all season long. Contains only naturally occurring minerals, peanut meal and animal or vegetable meal.