• Topics: Environmental Horticulture | House Plants | Ruppert, Kathleen Carlton | Park Brown, Sydney G | Schutzman, Bart | Horticultural Therapy | Lighting

How to Build a Plant Lighting System¹

The publication provides detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for building an inexpensive, portable plant lighting system for hobby use, horticulture therapy programs, classrooms, etc.

Table 1 provides a list of supplies and tools required for assembly. The type of light fixture you use with this system depends on which plants you want to grow (Table 2) and the amount of light they need. To determine this, consider where they grow best - outdoors in full sun, part shade, or shade? Table 3 provides information on the various artificial lights used for growing plants and a brief explanation of their benefits and drawbacks.

All PVC pipe should be:

• 1 inch

• 10 foot lengths

• Schedule 40

• Without bell (flared) ends

All PVC fittings should be:

• 1 inch slip (not threaded)

• Schedule 40

• From the same manufacturer.

Casters can be 1 1/4", but select a larger size – such as 2" – if the cart will be frequently moved around. Select a drill bit that corresponds to the size indicated on the package. Casters are not necessary if the lighting system will not be moved.

How to Assemble

Step 1. Measure and mark each of the four, 10-foot lengths of PVC pipe at the following positions: 36", 57", 78", 91", 101", 111", 113", 115", and 117". Cut them with a PVC cutting tool. A hacksaw is not recommended because of inaccuracy, but if you must use one, a miter box will help keep the cuts straight.

Cuts at these positions will produce the following lengths from each pipe (See Figure 1):

• 1 - 36"; 2 - 21"; 1 - 13"; 2 - 10"; 3 - 2"

From the four lengths, this will give a grand total of:

• 4 - 36"; 8 - 21"; 4 - 13"; 8 - 10"; 12 - 2"

A complete diagram of PVC parts is shown in Figure 2 including pieces cut to size and extra fittings, i.e., Ts (tees), Ls (ells), Xs (crosses) and caps.

Extra accessories, including casters, shelving strips, plastic ties, silicone caulk, PVC cement and timer, as well as a drill and a PVC cutter, are pictured in Figure 3.

Figure 1. 

Figure 2. 

Figure 3. 

Assemble the Top Frame

Step 2. Assemble four combinations of the PVC pipe and fittings in this order: an "L," a 2" piece of pipe, a "T," a 10" piece of pipe, and a second "T," as shown in Figure 4.

Notice that two of the assemblies are mirror-images of the other two. When joining the pieces, it is essential that the upright parts (Ts) are at a perfect 90 degree angle from the other Ts and Ls so the structure will be square and true. If necessary, line up the parts against a floor and wall known to be square (use a T-square if you have one) when gluing. If using PVC primer prior to gluing, read label instructions on primer first.

Figure 4. 

Caution. PVC cement is extremely quick setting; once joined, parts cannot be separated. Make sure the PVC is aligned correctly before you glue: you won't get a second chance! Practice putting components together before you begin gluing.

Use just enough cement to hold components together. However, be sure to glue both the inside and outside portions of the components to be secured. Conspicuous color differences will result at joints where excessive amounts of PVC cement are used.

Step 3. Join the mirror image assemblies together using two of the 13" pipe lengths, as shown in Figure 5. If done correctly, the Ls on the ends of each assembly will face in the same direction.

Figure 5. 

Step 4. Join the two assemblies made in Step 3 together with four 21" pipe lengths, as shown in Figure 6. This completes the top frame of the lighting system.

Figure 6. 

Assemble the Bottom Frame

Step 5. To put together the bottom frame of the lighting system, assemble four sets of pvc pipe and fittings as follows: an "L," a 2" pipe length, an "X," a 10" pipe length and a "T" as shown in Figure 7. The four sets will be identical. Caution: It will be tricky, but it is important to make these parts join at perfect 90 degree angles.

Figure 7. 

Step 6. Similar to the procedure used for the top frame, join two of the assemblies from Step 5 together, each with a 13" pipe length. The Ls at the ends of each assembly should face in the same direction, as pictured in Figure 8 .

Figure 8. 

Step 7. Connect the two units from Step 6 together with four 21" pipe lengths. This completes the bottom frame of the lighting system (Figure 9 ).

Figure 9. 

Step 8. Join the bottom frame to the top frame with the four 36" pipe lengths (Figure 10 ). If you plan to transport the system from one location to another, the assemblies can simply be joined without cement so they can be taken apart, moved, and later reassembled.

Figure 10. 

Step 9. If casters are not desired, add the 2" pipe lengths with caps attached unto the bottom frame. If casters are to be used, first drill the appropriate hole size in the four caps for the caster stem. Attach each cap to a 2" pipe length and insert the caster into the drilled hole. Insert each caster assembly into the bottom frame.

Complete the Lighting System

Step 10. Attach the lights you have chosen (see Table 3) to the frame according to manufacturer instructions (Figure 11 ). Bulbs should be installed after light fixtures are in position.

Figure 11. 

Step 11. Connect the shelf strips to the bottom platform with plastic cable ties. Use silicone caulking generously at the ends of the shelving strips (Figure 1 2) because these may be sharp and could cause injury to young children. An alternative to caulking is to bevel the sharp corners and edges with a file. The completed lighting system is shown in Figure 1 3 .

Figure 12. 

Figure 13. 

Step 12. Connect your completed lighting system to a nearby wall outlet by means of an extension cord connected through a timer. Place plastic flats across the across the shelf strips. Small potted plants and/or cell packs of flowering annuals can then be placed inside the flats. Happily growing plants (such as the African Violet in (Figure 14), will be the end result of a well-constructed lighting system.

Figure 14. 

References

Buying the Right Indoor Plant Grow Light, 2007. http://www.homeharvest.com/whichgrowlightisrightforme.htm

Growing plants under fluorescent light. Union Electric Company: St. Louis, Missouri.

Pranis, E. and J. Hale. 1988, revised 2006. GrowLab: A complete guide to gardening in the classroom. National Gardening Association: Burlington, Vermont.

Tables

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.

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