KNOWLEDGE CENTER
Crop Lighting Guides
Explore crop-specific lighting considerations for tomatoes, lettuce, fresh herbs, roses and other commercial horticultural crops.
LIGHTING BY CROP
Match the Lighting Strategy to the Crop and Production Goal
Different crops—and different stages of the same crop—can require distinct approaches to light intensity, daily light delivery, spectrum and photoperiod. Growing environment, crop geometry, production schedule and quality objectives must also be considered when developing an effective lighting strategy.
CROP LIGHTING GUIDES
Explore Lighting Considerations by Crop
Explore how crop characteristics, growth stages and production objectives influence light intensity, daily light delivery, spectrum, photoperiod and system design.
Tomato Lighting Guide
Explore lighting considerations for tomato production, including crop stage, canopy development, DLI targets, supplemental lighting and light distribution.
Lettuce Lighting Guide
Learn how light intensity, DLI, spectrum, photoperiod and uniformity can be planned for consistent commercial lettuce production.
Fresh Herb Lighting Guide
Explore lighting strategies for fresh herbs, with considerations for compact growth, colour, quality, production cycles and different crop varieties.
Rose Lighting Guide
Review lighting considerations for commercial rose production, including seasonal light availability, crop development, flowering and greenhouse conditions.
FEATURED LIGHTING PRINCIPLE
Begin With the Crop, Then Define the Lighting Strategy
There is no single lighting target that applies equally to every crop or production stage. The appropriate intensity, DLI, spectrum and photoperiod depend on the crop’s characteristics, development stage, growing environment and production objectives.
A practical lighting strategy begins by defining what the crop requires, then coordinating light delivery with canopy geometry, available natural light, facility conditions and the planned production schedule.
CROP-LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS
Translate Crop Requirements Into Practical Lighting Decisions
An effective crop-lighting strategy brings several connected factors together. Each should be evaluated according to the crop, production stage, growing environment and desired outcome.
Crop Stage and Production Objective
Seedlings, vegetative crops, flowering plants and fruiting crops may require different lighting approaches. The strategy should reflect the current growth stage and the production or quality objective.
Light Intensity and DLI
PPFD describes the light reaching the crop at a given moment, while DLI represents the total delivered throughout the day. Both help define suitable lighting targets and schedules.
Spectrum and Photoperiod
Light spectrum and day length can influence crop development, morphology, flowering and other responses. Their effects should be evaluated alongside intensity and daily light delivery.
Growing Environment and Crop Geometry
Greenhouse conditions, indoor layouts, canopy height, plant spacing and crop density affect how light reaches the crop and how fixtures should be positioned.
CROP-PLANNING RESOURCES
Turn Crop-Lighting Requirements Into Practical Project Inputs
Use these resources to calculate daily light delivery, estimate supplemental lighting requirements, compare potential energy costs and organize the information needed for early project planning.
DLI Calculator
Calculate the Daily Light Integral delivered to your crop using the average PPFD at canopy level and the number of lighting hours per day.
Calculate DLISupplemental PPFD Calculator
Estimate the average supplemental PPFD required using your target DLI, available natural-light DLI and planned lighting hours.
Calculate Supplemental PPFDLED vs HPS Energy Savings Calculator
Compare estimated annual electricity use, operating costs and potential savings when evaluating LED and HPS lighting for crop production.
Compare LED and HPSLighting Project Questionnaire
Share your crop, production targets, growing area, facility conditions and operational requirements to support an initial lighting-project evaluation.
Start the Project QuestionnaireCONTINUE EXPLORING
Explore More Horticultural Lighting Topics
Continue exploring the principles, environments, crop strategies and engineering tools used to plan effective commercial horticultural lighting.
Lighting Fundamentals
Build your understanding of PPFD, DLI, spectrum, photoperiod, efficacy and the core measurements used to evaluate horticultural lighting.
Lighting System Design
Explore how light distribution, fixture spacing, mounting height, electrical infrastructure and controls shape a complete lighting system.
Growing Environments
Compare how greenhouse, indoor-farming, vertical-farming and propagation environments influence light delivery, fixture selection, layout and control strategies.
Calculators and Engineering Tools
Use practical tools to estimate DLI, supplemental PPFD, energy consumption and the early requirements of a lighting project.
PLAN YOUR PROJECT
Plan a Lighting Strategy Around Your Crop
Every crop and growing facility presents a different combination of light requirements, canopy conditions and operational goals. Share your crop, production targets and facility details with our team, and we will help you evaluate an appropriate horticultural lighting strategy.