Living walls are a stunning way to bring nature indoors, but providing adequate natural lighting for healthy plant growth can be a challenge. That’s where supplemental lighting, specifically grow lights, come in. Around 70% of our interior living wall projects have some form of supplemental lighting.
For indoor living walls, mimicking natural sunlight is key to plant health. Unfortunately, most indoor spaces simply don’t offer the quality or intensity of light that many plants need to thrive. Grow lights have the capability to provide the necessary light spectrum to promote healthy and even plant growth.
Plants use specific wavelengths for photosynthesis, the process by which they convert light into energy. Blue light wavelengths encourage leafy growth, while red wavelengths are crucial for flowering. Full-spectrum grow lights provide a balanced mix of these wavelengths, ensuring all parts of your living wall receive the light they crave. This translates to vibrant foliage, proper plant development, and a thriving ecosystem within your living wall.
When it comes to choosing grow lights for your living wall, there are a couple of options. Below are some popular choices:
LED Grow Lights:
These are quickly becoming the go-to solution when it comes to lighting for living walls. LEDs are energy-efficient, have a long lifespan, and emit minimal heat – perfect for close proximity to plants. Additionally, they come in various configurations, allowing you to customize the light spectrum to your specific plants’ needs.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps:
These traditional grow lights offer powerful light output, making them suitable for larger living walls. However, they generate significant heat and require bulky fixtures, so proper ventilation is crucial. HID lamps come in two main types: Metal Halide (MH) for leafy growth and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) for encouraging blooms.
At New Earth Solutions, we’ve designed an integrated lighting solution that uses LED grow lights with red and blue spectrum wavelengths. These lights are integrated into the living wall vertically and promote even growth across the living wall installation. These fixtures are unique because they are easy to install – in fact, no additional installation is necessary – and they seamlessly blend with the ambient lighting in the space.
No matter which type you choose, remember to consider factors like the size and depth of your living wall, the plant varieties you’ve chosen, and the desired light intensity. With a little planning and the right grow lights, your indoor living wall can flourish, bringing both beauty and health to your space.