One of the biggest takeaways for me is that many people are using the term “dynamic lighting,” but often they are talking about slightly different things.

For instance, dynamic lighting can refer to dimming the intensity of light during periods of lower sunlight. If done correctly, this introduces energy savings for growers because they are only ever using the minimum amount of light necessary.

Dynamic lighting can also describe controlling different channels of light. This adjustment of wavelengths can be used to produce different spectra recipes, which can change throughout the day or even be used at different times of the year.

Lastly, it can also be used to describe the dynamic control of a far-red channel, and for many growers, this can be their first step into using dynamic lighting. Far-red can be applied at the end of the day (EOD) to control flowering in certain types of plants, giving the grower more control over the growth cycles.

Which solution is the best for growers?

Well, if you ask us (Valoya), that depends. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Our recommendation to growers is that you should pick the solution that gives you the best ROI. For many crops, we have produced tailored spectra recipes which have been developed and tested to provide the best yield. For other species such as flowering species, a dimmable far-red channel could increase your ROI by allowing more control over the production of flowers.

2. What’s the Best Light Recipe for Your Location?

It has been fascinating to learn from growers the history of light recommendations in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe. When you speak first-hand with them, you hear in their own words the journey they have made from HPS to LEDs, and the years of trials they have conducted to optimize their lighting controls.

It’s no surprise that the Netherlands has been a pioneer in horticultural research, and many recommendations for growers have originated from here. But more and more people are beginning to look deeper into questions such as:

• Should we have different recommendations for Northern Europe in winter, where it is even darker, and the days are even shorter during winter?
• Should we also consider different spectra for these regions which experience greater darkness?
• Should we implement higher light intensities during these darker months in Northern Europe compared to winter in Central Europe?

These are exactly the questions we have been asking ourselves at Valoya, and indeed, this is what we aim to do when working with growers! We want to provide you with the best solution for your needs, as we understand that a lighting solution has to work for your particular crop, in your location, with your environment.

If you have any questions about dynamic lighting or are interested in the best light recipe for your location, reach out to us at sales@greenlux.com.