1. Ivan Tchakarov
Director of Growing
Tue. September 20| 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM |

2. Agenda
 Discuss lighting used at Metrolina Greenhouses.
 Photoperiod lighting.
 Not all new lighting.
 Review some of the work we are doing on LED.

3. Photoperiod Lighting
 Lighting to turn short days into long days
 Typically 4 hour night break (10 pm to 2 am)
 Why is this important?

4. The rise of the calibrachoa!
 Calibrachoa in the past several years has become one
of the most important hanging baskets we do.
 8 year ago we grew very few. Now we are up to over 1
million plugs per year

5. We grow them in Baskets

6. We grow them in Pots

7. We grow them in other Pots

8. We grow them in other Pots

9. We grow a lot of calibrachoa

10. Calibrachoa
 Calibrachoa varieties are facultative long day plants
 Varieties are getting better and better and more “day
neutral”
 However our first shipments are in Mid to Late
February.

11. Metrolina: Huntersville, NC

12. Calibrachoa

13. Calibrachoa

14. Calibrachoa

15. Lighting History At Metrolina

16. Lighting History At Metrolina
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol

17. Lighting History At Metrolina
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol
Low light
quantity

18. Lighting History At Metrolina
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol
Low light
quantity
Cravo/
Cold area

19. Lighting History At Metrolina
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol
Low light
quantity
Cravo/
Cold area
Great
area but
filled
with
other
spring
crops

20. Lighting History At Metrolina
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol
-This area originally designed for growing
plug (reason for 40 umol light)
-This is now a finish production area.
-Do not need that much lighting now!

21. Lighting History At Metrolina
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol
HPS-20 umol
-Took half the lights down and moved to
rest of the range to increase LD area

22. What about plugs?
Incadescent- 10 FC
HPS-40 umol
HPS-20 umol
-3 acres with 40 umol lighting for long day
lighting Calibrachoa plugs

23. What About New Lighting?

24. LED
 Like most of you like us have been bombarded with
LED sales people

25. General “LED” Sales Pitch
 The general LED sales pitch is that since you can
control the spectrum of light with an LED you can
better control plant growth.

26. Dr. Eric Runkle-The Expert!
 http://leds.hrt.msu.edu/

27. Dr. Eric Runkle
 Using HPS, PL, or
LED as a sole source
of lighting to growth
the plugs.
 GPN Sept 2014

28. Dr. Eric Runkle
 Using HPS, PL, or
LED as a sole source
of lighting to growth
the plugs.Ambient

29. Dr. Eric Runkle
 Using HPS, PL, or
LED as a sole source
of lighting to growth
the plugs.
Ambient Supplemented
70 umol/m2/s
Plasma HPS LED

30. Dr. Eric Runkle
 Using HPS, PL, or
LED as a sole source
of lighting to growth
the plugs.
1. Supplemental lighting flowered
faster than ambient.
2. Light sources worked similar
Plasma HPS LED

31. LED-What we understand today
 LED work as well as HPS (supplemental lighting).
 LED are more energy efficient than HPS on a bulb
basis by far .
 LED are much more costly initially

32. LED Trial
 We wanted to learn more for the future expansion and
for improvements to the plug range.
 Most supplemental lighting benefits have been found
in more northern areas in US and Europe
 Would we get a benefit in NC

33. Dr. Jim Faust

34. Faust- Data NC
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1/1 1/29 2/26 3/25 4/22 5/20 6/17
Mol/Day/m2
Typical Min
Typical Max

35. Faust- Data+2016 NC
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1/1 1/29 2/26 3/25 4/22 5/20 6/17
Mol/Day/m2
Ambient
Typical Min
Typical Max

36.  Set up 3 light zones in our propagation area
 Control- Ambient lighting glass greenhouse.
 HPS- 80 𝑢mol/m2/sec from High Pressure Sodium
fixture (18 hrs per day)
 LED- 80 𝑢mol/m2/sec from Philips LED (18 hours/day)
 ie added over 5 mol/day extra to ambient light.
 Stuck cuttings, 1 week later placed plug under the
various light treatments.
Material and Methods

37. • Bacopa Bahia Lavender Blue 3
• Bacopa Bahia Pink Halo 3
• Begonia Evi Bright Pink
• Calibrachoa AlohaHula Hot Pink
• Calibrachoa AlohaKona Hot Orange
• Calibrachoa AlohaKona Tiki SftPk
• Calibrachoa MiniFams Com Dk Red
• Calibrachoa Calipetite Pink
• Calibrachoa Calipetite White
• Calibrachoa Calipetite Yellow
• Calibrachoa Calipetite Red
• Calibrachoa Calipetite Blue
• Calibrachoa Lindura Purple
• Calibrachoa Lindura Yellow
• Calibrachoa MiniFams Dbl Blue
• Calibrachoa MiniFams Dbl Comp Lemon
• Calibrachoa MiniFams MiniDblMgnt
• Coleus Kingswood Torch
• Coleus Mainstreet Wall Street
• Coleus Vino
• Coleus Mainstreet River Walk
• Coleus Mainstreet Fifth Avenue
• Coleus Inferno
• Dahlia Dahlinova Carolina
• Dahlia Dahlinova Alabama
• Dahlia Dahlinova Carolina Orange
• Lobelia Hot Water Blue
• Lobelia Hot Snow White
• Lobularia Stream White
• Lysimachia Goldi 2
• Osteo Margarita Purple
• Osteo Margarita White
• Osteo Ostica Pineapple
• Petchoa SuperCal Violet
• Petchoa SuperCal Cherry
• Petchoa SuperCal Blue
• Petchoa SuperCal Artist Rose
• Petchoa SuperCal Light Yellow
• Petunia Ctg Good n Plenty Orange
• Petunia Ctg Good n Plenty Yellow
• Petunia Ctg Pinkadilly Circus
• Verbena Wicked Cool Blue 2
• Verbena Wicked Great Grape 2
PLANTS EVALUATED

38. • Plants were transplanted into a 1 quart round pot and place under
ambient light conditions.
• Plants were evaluated weekly for first flower, full flower and ship
stage.
• At the ship stage height, width, and Quality (1>5) were measured.
MATERIAL AND METHODS

39. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1/1 1/29 2/26 3/25 4/22 5/20 6/17
Mol/Day/m2
Ambient
Typical Min
Typical Max
LIGHT MEASUREMENTS
Light measured at outdoor weather station.
Period of Trial

40. • Mixed range of results.
• Similar to Runkles results supplemental lighting
of the plug decreased time to ship.
• Similar results between LED and HPS
RESULTS

41. DAHLIA WO72548 DAHLIA DAHLINOVA
CAROLINA Q1.0MON ANN
10.5 10.5
11.5
7.0
8.5 8.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Control HPS LED
HeightorWidth(Inchs)
Height Width
13
11 11
16
14 14
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Control HPS LED
WeekNumber
First Flower Ship Week
3.0
4.0 4.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control HPS LED
Rating(5>1)
Over All
Over All
Control HPS LED

42. DAHLIA WO72548 DAHLIA DAHLINOVA
CAROLINA Q1.0MON ANN
10.5 10.5
11.5
7.0
8.5 8.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Control HPS LED
HeightorWidth(Inchs)
Height Width
13
11 11
16
14 14
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Control HPS LED
WeekNumber
First Flower Ship Week
3.0
4.0 4.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control HPS LED
Rating(5>1)
Over All
Over All
Control HPS LED
2 weeks faster ship time with
supplemental lighting

43. CALIBRACHOA WO72289 CALIBRACHOA
ALOHAKONA HOT ORANGE Q1.0MON ANN
9.5
9.0
8.5
10.0
9.0
6.0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Control HPS LED
HeightorWidth(Inchs)
Height Width
14 14
12
17
16
15
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Control HPS LED
WeekNumber
First Flower Ship Week
3.5
3.0 3.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control HPS LED
Rating(5>1)
Over All
Over All
Control HPS LED

44. CALIBRACHOA WO72289 CALIBRACHOA
ALOHAKONA HOT ORANGE Q1.0MON ANN
9.5
9.0
8.5
10.0
9.0
6.0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Control HPS LED
HeightorWidth(Inchs)
Height Width
14 14
12
17
16
15
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Control HPS LED
WeekNumber
First Flower Ship Week
3.5
3.0 3.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control HPS LED
Rating(5>1)
Over All
Over All
Control HPS LED
2 weeks faster ship time with
supplemental lighting. Some
Additional benefit from LED

45. CALIBRACHOA WO72631 CALIBRACHOA
LINDURA PURPLE G1.5HBP LO ANN
8.0
8.5
8.08.0
7.0
7.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
Control HPS LED
HeightorWidth(Inchs)
Height Width
14 14 14
17
16
17
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Control HPS LED
WeekNumber
First Flower Ship Week
3.0
3.5
3.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control HPS LED
Rating(5>1)
Over All
Over All
Control HPS LED

46. CALIBRACHOA WO72631 CALIBRACHOA
LINDURA PURPLE G1.5HBP LO ANN
8.0
8.5
8.08.0
7.0
7.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
Control HPS LED
HeightorWidth(Inchs)
Height Width
14 14 14
17
16
17
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Control HPS LED
WeekNumber
First Flower Ship Week
3.0
3.5
3.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control HPS LED
Rating(5>1)
Over All
Over All
Control HPS LED
1 weeks faster ship time with HPS
lighting. No benefit LED

47. CONCLUSIONS
Time To Ship
Should We Supplmental
Light In Plug
Bacopa No benefit No
Begonia 1 week earlier with LED Yes
Calibrachoa Variable response Maybe
Coleus No benefit No
Dahlia 1 to 2 earlier with ligting Absolutely
Lobelia Variable response Maybe
Lobularia No benefit No
Lysimachia No benefit No
Osteospermum 1 to 3 earlier with lighting. Yes
Petchoa No benefit No
Petunia One series 2 week faster. Maybe
Verbena No benefit No

48. • Initial cost calculations demonstrated that a one week faster
finish time would offset the added cost for LED lighting.
• However there is a faster pay back for HPS.
DISCUSSION
$0.00
$0.01
$0.02
$0.03
$0.04
$0.05
$0.06
$0.07
$0.08
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00
$/1.5GallonBasket
Finish Time Savings
Cost Savings
Added Cost LED
Added Cost HPS
R:MG0029 Light On GrowthLED VS HPS Cost Calculation.xlsx. Based on Calibrachoa
basket 4 ppp/2 SF spacing.

49. • LED fixtures worked as well as HPS sodium for crops that were
responsive.
• There will be energy saving from using LED versus HPS
• However there is a substantial increase in costs to LED installations.
• The payback period from using the LED over HPS is between 2 -7
years.
DISCUSSION-WHAT WE FOUND
“Year Pay Back”= Energy saving costs from using LED versus HPS. Therefore how many
years to pay back the added equipment cost with the initial pricing from last year …

50. • At the moment evaluating them all.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

51. • Supplemental lightings is not on the 2016-
2017 Capital Budget, however more testing is
in progress and will start by the end of this
year .
• Right now LED is a substantial investment for
us that does not have a quick pay back.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

52. • Supplemental lightings is not on the 2016-
2017 Capital Budget.
• We will repeat the trial earlier in the season
and look at more seed and vegetative crops.
• Expect even more benefits under early season
low light level conditions.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

53. THANK YOU!