KNOWLEDGE CENTER
Growing Environments
Explore how horticultural lighting strategies and system requirements differ across commercial greenhouses, indoor farms and vertical growing facilities.
LIGHTING BY ENVIRONMENT
Match the Lighting Strategy to the Growing Space
Every growing environment presents different lighting opportunities and constraints. Natural-light availability, mounting space, crop arrangement, climate control, electrical infrastructure and operating schedules all influence how a horticultural lighting system should be planned.
GROWING ENVIRONMENTS
Explore Lighting Strategies for Different Growing Facilities
Each growing environment creates a different relationship between light, crop arrangement, facility infrastructure and daily operations. Explore the key lighting considerations for three common types of commercial growing facilities.
Commercial Greenhouses
Supplemental lighting in a greenhouse must work with changing daylight, seasonal conditions, crop targets and the physical structure of the facility.
Indoor Farms
In enclosed growing facilities, electric lighting provides the crop’s primary light source and must be coordinated with climate control, crop scheduling and energy use.
Vertical Farming
Multi-layer growing systems require compact fixtures, consistent close-canopy distribution, effective thermal management and flexible control across production levels.
Propagation Lighting
Propagation areas require uniform, carefully controlled light to support seedlings, cuttings and young plants during their most sensitive stages of development.
COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSES
Supplement Natural Light With a Responsive Lighting Strategy
Greenhouse lighting must respond to changing daylight conditions while delivering the additional light crops need to reach their daily targets. Seasonal light availability, greenhouse structure, crop geometry, mounting height and shading all influence fixture selection and system layout.
An effective strategy combines supplemental lighting with appropriate controls, allowing growers to adjust light delivery according to natural-light levels, crop stages and production schedules.
INDOOR FARMS
Design Electric Lighting as the Crop’s Primary Light Source
In an enclosed indoor farm, crops depend almost entirely on electric lighting for photosynthesis and development. Light intensity, spectrum, photoperiod and uniformity must therefore be planned as integral parts of the production system.
The lighting strategy should also work with climate control, irrigation, crop scheduling and energy-management goals. Fixture efficiency, heat load, mounting conditions and dimming capabilities can significantly influence both crop performance and operating requirements.
VERTICAL FARMS
Deliver Uniform Light Across Every Growing Layer
Vertical farms place crops in multiple stacked layers, creating strict requirements for fixture dimensions, mounting distance, light distribution and thermal management. Each production level should receive consistent light without sacrificing valuable growing space.
A well-planned system coordinates intensity, spectrum, photoperiod and dimming across individual zones or crop stages. Efficient fixtures and precise controls can help manage electricity use while supporting repeatable production throughout the facility.
PROPAGATION AREAS
Create Consistent Light Conditions for Young Plants
Seedlings, cuttings and young plants require carefully managed light during their early development. Uniform intensity across trays and benches helps create consistent growing conditions throughout the propagation area.
The lighting strategy should reflect the crop, development stage, photoperiod, mounting distance and available natural light. Appropriate dimming and zone controls can also help growers adapt light levels as plants progress toward transplanting.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Plan Lighting Around the Complete Growing Environment
Lighting does not operate independently from the facility. These considerations help connect crop-lighting targets with the environmental, structural and operational conditions of the growing space.
Natural-Light Availability
Greenhouses may receive substantial but variable daylight, while enclosed facilities depend primarily on electric lighting. Available natural light influences supplemental-lighting requirements, schedules and control strategies.
Climate and Heat Management
Lighting contributes heat to the growing environment and can affect cooling, ventilation and dehumidification requirements. These systems should be considered together during project planning.
Facility and Crop Configuration
Structural supports, bench or row layouts, growing layers, crop height and available mounting space all influence fixture positioning, light distribution and system accessibility.
Controls and Operating Strategy
Dimming, control zones, lighting schedules and sensor integration allow light delivery to respond to crop stages, available daylight and the facility’s production plan.
PLANNING RESOURCES
Apply Growing-Environment Insights to Your Project
Use these resources to evaluate daily light requirements, estimate supplemental lighting needs and organize the facility information required 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 horticultural lighting systems.
Compare LED and HPSLighting Project Questionnaire
Organize your crop, growing area, facility layout, mounting conditions, electrical requirements and operational goals for an initial 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.
Crop Lighting Guides
Explore crop-specific lighting considerations for tomatoes, lettuce, fresh herbs, roses and other commercial horticultural crops.
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
Turn Lighting Fundamentals Into a Practical Project Plan
Every crop and growing facility has different lighting requirements. Share your project details with our team, and we will help you evaluate the appropriate lighting strategy for your operation.