how much light does hydroponic lettuce need how much light does hydroponic lettuce need

Here is some more info on the Kratky method: Windmill Palm Care: 9 Tips And Tricks For Beginners, Christmas Palm Indoors: 5 Easy Adonidia Merrillii Care Tips, Are Grow Tents Worth It For Vegetables? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Whats the best lettuce to grow hydroponically? How much is this exactly? Growertoday.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. They can be found in your local hardwa re store if you're lucky. Darkness is as vital as light for plantsthey need time to rest and metabolize food, just like animals. Nearly any type of lettuce can grow well in a hydroponic environment, but some of the most popular varieties are romaine, red and green oak leaf, and butterleaf. If we talk about the natural sunlight, it will be enough for the herb to spend 6 hours in the sun. Make sure to provide the lettuce plants with about 10 to 14 hours of fluorescent lighting every day. They grow fast, produce well, and have a small footprint in your grow space. As long as the plants share similar nutritional needs, they can be grown in the same container or from the same reservoir. Anything else lettuce might grow but it will be elongated and not form proper lettuce heads. Lettuce is one of the most common hydroponic crops because its easy to grow and rapidly reaches maturity. An electronic timer is especially necessary if you are growing a variety of different plants. But how do you choose which to plant with so many varieties available? You will see about 80-100k at around 6 inches from a T5. Another tray or container should hold your lettuce and water. Take milkweed, for example. Water your seeds a few times per week. This package includes a 4-18-38 Tomato and Vegetable Formula, 15.5-0-0 calcium nitrate fertilizer, and Epsom salt. By 80 Watt, I guess you mean an 80 Watt (incandescent) equivalent. Lettuce is the perfect first plant for hydroponic newbies beginners. Double check the pH level of your system approximately 15 to 30 minutes after adding nutrients. The cheapest way to do it is wire your own panel using keyless lamp holders and bulk buying the CFL's. However, a better strategyespecially for home growersis to periodically harvest lettuce leaves as they come in or as they are needed. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Always be sure to find a Kelvin. PAR is more accurate but for practical purpose lumens is useful if you know the spectrum of the light. Lettuce has low light requirements and they are fast-growing. Besides those blanched heads have very little nutritional value. This also allows you to use lights that give off less heat, saving on electricity and cooling costs. But with so many types of lettuce available, how do you pick just one (or even just a few)? Such temperatures ideally should range from at least 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. Now I have bought a Light Meter, to test various lights. Start small and experiment, you can add more if you like. What Size Grow Light Do I Need For Two Plants? How to Build a Hydroponic System For Lettuce? If you decide to mix short- and long-day plants in one growing system, it is best to compromise their needs and pick a lighting schedule that is right in the middle: around 14 hours of light per day. If they are exposed to more than 12 hours of light per day, they will not flower. In general, most hydroponic leafy greens offer 11-13 harvests per year with the right greenhouse conditions. I am beginning to get into indoor hydroponics to grow lettuce, I haven't figured out which type of lettuce to grow yet, I am thinking of a butterhead. It increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the bulb by reflecting the light down onto the plants at multiple angles, giving a more effective spread. How many hours of light does hydroponic lettuce need? Lastly, lettuce becomes more bitter with agethere isnt any getting around this. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Masterblend Complete Combo Kit Fertilizer. - neydroydrec Dec 14, 2016 at 3:32 Full light from the sun can cause lettuce to go into the flowering phase (bolt) and turn bitter. Once they get their true leaves, I run the lights 10-12 hours per day. It is a passive form of DWC, needing no airstones, pumps, or electricity. In an effort to address the needs of an emerging trend for indoor-food gardening, we have begun to characterize the minimum light requirements to grow lettuce plants . You can determine the power of light using a PAR meter or the manufacturers recommendations. By mixing one part Tomato and Vegetable Formula, one part calcium nitrate, and one-half part Epsom salt with pure water, you get a hydroponic fertilizer concentrate that can be diluted and make an incredible nutrient solution. Source: Rural Living Lettuce requires roughly 10-12 hours of light per day. In this case, the solution is to turn down the thermostat or give your plants some space by changing the height of your grow lights. In her spare time, she enjoys reading gardening magazines and attending local horticulture events. To be most effective, each light should be a specific distance from the plants: Fluorescent lights should be 3 to 12 inches above the tops of the plants; HID s, 24 to 60 inches; and LED s, 12 to 24 inches. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Lettuce will take about 21 days to grow its edible leaves and 45 to 85 days for its full head to be ready for harvest. If you arent controlling the temperature that your lettuce is grown in, you need to work with the sun or accept the occasional bitter head of lettuce. These include their light spectrum and light intensity requirements. My hydroponic lettuce has really taken off. 7. You can probably start harvesting leaf lettuce in 3 or 4 weeks. Monitor the pH and temperature of the solution and adjust as needed. The information here is general and may not pertain to every variety of hydroponic lettuce. Naturally, lettuces develop leaves incredibly quickly, but putting them in hydroponic systems is like super-charging them. Set the timer to control the frequency and duration of the water pump. Ensure your plants get plenty of calcium to ward off burned or wilted leaves. That way you can harvest and replace plants periodically. Its measured in units called micromoles (mols) for light wavelength that is usable by your plant. Indoor Vegetable Grower is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Setting Your Hydroponic Lettuce Plants In Net Pots, Growing Hydroponic Lettuce Indoors Update, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kratky_method, How To Build A DIY Strawberry Tower Easy DIY Project, Indoor Coffee Plant Care Your Complete Coffee Care Guide, Growing Cantaloupe From Seed Indoors With Lights, DIY Sub-Irrigated Planter [Its Easy Peasy], Sub-Irrigated Planter Soil Mix [ A Complete SIP Soil Guide ], Sustainable Apartment Gardening [ How To Grow Sustainable Vegetables ], How To Grow Vegetables In A Closet For Beginners. I am growing a mix of buttercrunch and leaf lettuce in my tote. In general, your NPK levels should be as follows: Nitrogen: keep the nitrogen level at approximately 5. In fact, many growers remove the entire plant, root system and all, to prepare it for retail sale. Your tomatoes should get at least 12-18 hours of light daily. Forgetting to stratify seeds. The high temperature will cause your lettuce plant to bolt or go into the flowering phase. Approximately 80-100k will be adequate. Most lettuce varieties will regrow three to five times if harvested carefully. Hydroponic Lettuce Nutrient Requirements How much light does Lettuce need per day: Indirect vs. That is why I call it a hybrid but as long as it grows lettuce for me I dont care what it is called. The size of the plants also impacts this. Which varieties of lettuce are commonly grown hydroponically? A great starting point for any type of lettuce is 12 or more hours per day. 4Wonderful GiftThe hydroponic growing kit is easy to assemble and easy to use. Some popular choices include lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs. Lettuce, for example, prefers a range high in blue light. How much lightning is needed for water spinach and celery? Hydroponic Lettuce Growing Light Requirements, Types Of Low Light Lettuce Grown In Hydroponic. So its not simple thing pop a couple bulbs out throw a lumen number at them and say ok plants will grow, yes maybe they will grow but not at the best or optimum for the plant. Make sure to put your container in a place that gets a good amount of sunlight. You can even notice a difference in flavor in lettuce that is harvested early in the cool morning, and late in the afternoon when the sun is out. I also added a wick system to it. Lettuces, in particular, are highly susceptible to dangers like e.coli. Bolting just means that growth in the lettuce quickly shifts from leaf growth to flower and seed growth. I will show you how to grow lettuce indoors. Plants grown under lights indoors need more hours of light than the same plants do outdoors. Depending on the lights you use and your particular setup, you may need to bump this up or down. Your lettuce plants prefer a stable pH level of 5.5 to 6.0, in most hydroponic growing systems. Hydroponic lettuce needs a high-quality nutrient solution to survive and thrive. Leafy greens like lettuce need plenty of nitrogen to grow. The color of your lettuce may impact your light requirements. Eunice takes great pride in her garden and often shares the fruits of her labor with friends and family. Lettuce needs between 12 to 20 hours of daylight, showed a study by Ohio State University 's Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. Usually, it takes about 3 weeks for the first edible leaf to emerge and about 45 to 85 days to get the full head harvest. Eunice has been gardening for over 15 years and has developed a unique style of landscaping that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Lettuce does well in cooler temperatures. This is because a hydroponic system is an extremely controlled and efficient environment for plants. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Ideally, hydroponic tomatoes should receive eight hours of natural light a day or closer to sixteen hours of artificial light (since it won't be as intense). But generally, you can use half the manufacturers recommended feeding amount. Moderately low temperatures at night of around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit are great for lettuce. It is a 2 part A+B hydroponic nutrient. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Financially though, you are better off using a high volume manufactured light (common bulbs) that is producing a lot of light you don't really need, but is producing a small percentage of the light you actually do need. Put a few seeds in each planter. How many hours of light does hydroponic lettuce need? To supply the right balance of nutrients to your plants, you will need the right hydroponic fertilizer. Anyway, I'll probably get more and different lights in February, and update this post, but probably not before then. That's inaccurate. Soil can expose plants to E. coli and Salmonella, as well as other bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and insects. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This brings our total to 330 kWh = 1.2 GJ = 1,200 MJ of primary energy required to produce 1 kg of lettuce. You can buy transplants at a garden store but it is very easy to start a new crop from seed every few weeks. "High humidity also favors the physiological disorder tip burn. Some people say 16-18 hours a day because that is how much light they get outdoors. They grow fine. If you go larger they will fall through. This is simply because the lettuce may have been handled by someone with unclean hands. Harvest can be incredibly simple if youre not concerned about regrowing your lettuce from the same root system. DLI is calculated by measuring the photosynthetic photon flux density, which is how much light within the wavelength that plants need. If you remove all of the leaves on a head of lettuce and leave it in a hydroponic system, it will continue to grow. A lot of commercial lettuce is grown this way. And fluorescent light works best as it is of a reasonable cost, especially if you are a beginner and are only trying out. Each type of bulb has pluses and minuses depending on your level of investment in hydroponics and growing needs. You should maintain your hydroponic system to ensure your lettuce grows as quickly as possible. You should really have a TDS meter and pH pen to measure your nutrient solution. Is a lighting system required for hydroponic gardening? The Kratky system is the ideal hydroponic system for beginners. It is not that accurate, but it will tell you if you are in the zone. By mixing one part Tomato and Vegetable Formula, one part calcium nitrate, and one-half part Epsom salt with pure water, you get a hydroponic fertilizer concentrate that can be diluted and make an incredible nutrient solution. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If you're going to grow lettuce, consider Bok Choy too. An electric timer allows you to take care of this hassle-free and change it according to your needs as your garden evolves. So it will keep growing and provide multiple harvests. You dont need to worry about having the perfect, optimum light cycle, just one that keeps your plants healthy. Plant lettuce seeds or seedlings in small pots or plugs filled with a soilless growing medium, like coconut coir or peat moss. I recently read "The Winter Harvest Handbook" by Elliot Coleman and in it he describes growing lettuces in the winter in Maine (Zone 5) in the dead of winter underneath two layers of insulating row cover. For most varieties, you can have fresh, healthy leaves ready to harvest within six to eight weeks. A great all-in-one option is the Masterblend Complete Combo Kit Fertilizer. The, Hydroponic lettuce needs a high-quality nutrient solution to survive and thrive. So, for example 6 ml of each per gallon would make a gallon of 600 ppm nutrient solution. This package includes a 4-18-38 Tomato and Vegetable Formula, 15.5-0-0 calcium nitrate fertilizer, and Epsom salt. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. This is a popular variety for baby leaf production. 650 to 700nm is Red and used for flowering and fruit ripping, yes? A great tip for beginners is to rotate the plants. You will need a tote and lid, any size will work. To start growing hydroponic lettuce indoors you will need to build a simple Kratky system. Next, a lack of water will cause bitterness. It is also low maintenance so as a newer grower you wont have to do anything but watch it grow! They must be heavy-duty and grounded (three-pronged plug) but can be either manual or electric. Boosting the nitrogen levels in your nutrient solution can fix the problem. With a sweet yet nutty flavor and a buttery, soft texture, oak leaf lettuce is always a favorite. The store is trying to push a huge T5 lighting system. How Long Does it Take to Grow Lettuce in a Hydroponic System. Manage Settings Growing lettuce hydroponically is of great benefits and you can grow any variety of lettuce in your hydroponics system. Even with all the answers, there doesn't appear to be a mention of recommended lux/lumen for lettuce. How much water do these hydroponic office plants need? Luckily, hydroponic growers dont need to be scientists to get the right lighting. She is especially fond of growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors. How To Keep Cut Flowers Fresh Without Water: Full Guide. My electric bill is lower and they will be slower to bolt and go to seed. This means you can store it various ways without worrying about it going bad. With food prices rising across the country, more people are interested in growing their own healthy groceries and fresh harvests at home. My system started out as a standard Kratky method grow. Its requirements are not too hard and it is one of the easiest plants to grow hydroponically. Why does Mister Mxyzptlk need to have a weakness in the comics? The size of the grow light you need for two plants will depend on the plants specific needs. Building a hydroponic system for lettuce is a fun and rewarding project. Ready to grow some hydroponic lettuce? Set the towel inside a small plastic container with a lid. The amount and strength of this light determine the taste of your lettuce leaf. The roots in the water are feeder roots. Smart Hydroponic Growing System for Indoor Garden,32",7L Hydroponic Garden Kit with LED Grow Light. From personal experience I know these lights work well with lettuce and basil. They are not the most common you will find. I have been to many hydroponics stores and seen almost all the lettuce hydroponics videos on youtube. What Types of Plants Can Grow in a Hydroponic Garden? If you wanted to grow tomatoes in this system you would need to grow them in a trash can. Place the lights about 10-20 cm from the plants (only do this with fluo or LED lights, not Metal Halide or HPS bulbs). Measure twice, cut once. Examples include rice, eggplant, roses, and corn. Theyre easy to grow, thrive in hydroponic conditions, are versatile in their use, and offer incredible nutritional bonuses. No matter where you are in your hydroponic journey, lettuce could be the right vegetable for you. The pH range for seedlings should be adjusted to 6.4 and as your plant matures, the pH should be adjusted to 6.0. You need to maintain at least 60-75% relative air humidity-a higher nighttime humidity benefits nutrient movement during the day. Lettuce is a great plant to grow indoors, as it doesn't require a lot of light. Lettuce is the type of plants that don't require much light as other plants would. All plants have different light spectrum requirements. i wouldnt swap out my led for any t5 cfl or metal halide out there for power ppfd/watt light efficiency. The good news is that hydroponic lettuce, since it typically doesnt have to travel long distances to get to the consumer, tends to last quite a bit longer than most soil-grown lettuces. How Many Hours of Light Does Hydroponic Lettuce Need? In the summer heat, they undergo changes and start to bolt, creating a bitter flavor. In general, lettuce should germinate in temperatures between 65 and 80F. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',140,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-140{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Lets take a look at some other growing requirements: Below are the commonly grown types of hydroponic lettuces:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-box-4','ezslot_7',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-box-4','ezslot_8',107,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-107{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The duration in which the head of your lettuce plant ripens will depend on the variety. You will want to set your plants in the net pots and backfill around them with hydroton. This means 5+ hours of sunlight hitting the plant leaves is recommended for growing lettuce and other leafy greens. You can even grow lettuce in quart mason jars with the Kratky method. Here are the steps you can follow to build your hydroponic system: Several parts determine the efficiency of a grow light. Mix well. Lettuce seedlings need around 18 hours of light during the day and six hours of darkness overnight to mimic outdoor conditions. Phosphorus: keep phosphorus levels between 15 and 20. Most light providers don't even know about PAR though, unless they are specialized in photosynthetic light. At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you put into the plant and your personal preference. Some types may be better than others, or more efficient. Bought 11 right away. It is fine as is. The appropriate temperature during the day should be from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Are you thinking about growing hydroponic lettuce indoors? To get the best out of your hydroponic lettuce, it is best if you grow it in a medium with a PH value of 5.5 to about 6.5. You might be interested in growing lettuce hydroponically and wondering what the light requirements are. It is also more sustainable, using less water, no soil, and no chemical pesticides. Hydroponic lettuce may taste different based on the nutrients you provide it, the temperature, and several other factors, but in general, hydroponic lettuce and lettuce grown in soil taste the same. Dont try to start your seeds in soil because you dont want loose dirt falling into the reservoir. This also allows me to grow a larger, slower maturing plant as long as I keep it topped up. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Lettuce plants grown in hydroponics are fast and easy to maintain. But I found a workaround. Harvest your lettuce when it is ready to eat. This technique is called cut and come again. Using cut and come again, you can have fresh salads every day without the wasted time and energy of constantly replanting heads of lettuce from seed. Milkweed seed podslet them self-sow or sow them in fall. Growing conditions for hydroponics - Vanilla Planfolia and Saffron (Crocus Sativus), Lighting for indoor citrus to produce full fruit, How to handle a hobby that makes income in US, Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology, Euler: A baby on his lap, a cat on his back thats how he wrote his immortal works (origin?). Red and green varieties are frequent hydroponic favorites and quite attractive on a plate or sandwich. so now if that has you all confused its not that hard to go by . Lettuce needs 12-14 mol/m-2/day which equals if you have a light system putting out 280 ppfd the DLI will be about equal to the number of hours the lights are on 12 hr = 12.1 dli , 14 hrs = 14.11 dli . The adequate light duration for lettuce is about 10 to 12 hours. Check out TrueLeaf Market for 20+ varieties of lettuce seeds! Lettuce doesn't demand a lot of light, so start with anywhere from 10 to 14 hours of moderate to low light each day. Plugs are really better but use what you have. Today 2017, many of your indoor vertical farms are playing with the r:b ratio to affect taste, color and texture. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-leader-1','ezslot_14',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',109,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-109{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Grow lights can be energy-intensive. Standard grow lights include fluorescent, LED and HID lamps. Think of it like filling a jug of water. When you think hydroponics, the first vegetable that comes to mind is probably. He said the lower humidity helps to limit pathogen issues. Ways to Use It is recommended to buy the ballast as a set with the bulb because they must match each other in wattage. Preparing a Vegetable Garden Site. Thanks to products like Lettuce Grow's Farmstand, even those without a lot of outdoor space can easily and conveniently grow produce at home. For new growers, the easiest and most effective option is to get apremade dry mix of nutrients specially designed for lettuce. You can go a bit wider if you want but not any closer. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Unlike certain plants, you don't need to change the lighting photoperiod as the plants grow. Learn More About Our Innovative Hydroponic Greenhouses. Plants were thinned to one per pot and two weeks later the remaining plants just went crazy. "cool white" (more "blue") lights tend to be more beneficial for vegetative growth, while "warm white" (more "red") helps flowering growth, I believe, so if you get a shop light, get the cool white bulbs for this. They are small and you want to make sure each planter has at least one healthy plant. Since its up to 95% water, it can have a hydrating effect, and its vitamin A is good for the eyes. Here is everything you need to know about hydroponic lettuce. It is also important to monitor the plants as they grow. Manufacturers of indoor lighting will try and target 555 nm because the photopic conversion (lumens/watt) is 683 lm/w at this wavelength, while light that plants need has a very small photopic conversion (430 nm is only 8 lm/w, 650 nm is 73 lm/w). But I wanted to be able to top my reservoir up and adding airstones allows me to do this. It is also easy to grow. One of the most recognized and well-known lettuces, Romain has characteristically long leaves. - the incident has nothing to do with me; can I use this this way? Once established, your hydroponic lettuce plants should get between 10 and 14 hours of light per day. The primary reason for washing vegetables is contact with soil. rev2023.3.3.43278. Fill the container with water and add a nutrient solution according to the package instructions. Temperatures that are even slightly lower than this will be helpful for the lettuce at night. During the day, lettuce seeds require an average of 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness to grow properly. Recommended Amount: The recommended amount of potassium needed to grow hydroponic lettuce ranges from 20 to 40 (for example, an NPK of 8-10- 38 ). If it isnt cover it or paint it black. What are the main components of a lighting system? It is possible to grow vegetables hydroponically both outdoors and indoors. Lettuce is a fast grower. A 40w tube light is definitely not enough either. According to my experience, 5-15 klux is ok for lettuce (I use Lux Light Meter app on my smartphone). Anything else lettuce might grow but it will be elongated and not form proper lettuce heads. . With some aeration, the air roots wont be damaged because they can breathe even if partially submerged. And 1 ml each of both A and B is about 100 ppms. Some growers use a piece of floating Styrofoam cut to fit inside their tote. If you are growing your lettuce indoors, place it near a south-facing window. Possibly the most popular type of lettuce today is romaine. Also a T5 is not by any means overkill. You want a tight fitting lid. Yes! Hydroponic lettuce growing with indoor lighting. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. "High humidity favors powdery mildew and Botrytis," he said. The texture is crisp, and the flavor is slightly sweet. How Much Light Does Kratky Lettuce Need? I'm guessing they grow toward blue light more than red. Allow for at least 14 to 16 hours of artificial light, followed by 10 to 12 hours of darkness every day for annuals. Remote ballasts are much better for home systems. Hydroponic lettuce offers all the benefits of traditional, soil-grown lettuce. The leaves shouldn't be too much warmer than the ambient air. Since hydroponic lettuce is grown in controlled environments, its hard to imagine a scenario where e.coli could be introduced. If growing indoors, artificial lighting will help faster growth. To grow hydroponically, you need plants, a container, water, a way to anchor the plants, nutrients and a light source. Indoor growers usually wont have temperature problems. My advice would be to go to home depot and get some shop lights which are 40W fluorescents or something similar. If you remove the large, outermost leaves and keep the rest of the plant intact, the head will continue to pump out new leaves. However, its possible for seeds to be contaminated and carry the contamination through the growth cycle and end up on the final productbut this is unlikely. WhyFarmIt.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.