Botanical Garden Lighting

There is no denying the impact lighting has on the setting. When it comes to botanical garden lighting, there are a few things you need to keep in mind for this particular type of setting. Here are a few best bets and practices to help you maximize this area for success through the right lighting applications or techniques.

1. Choose the right heat output for the area

The first step to figuring out the best route for botanical garden lighting is to consider the heat output of the suggested lamp types. Since plants may be vulnerable to being exposed to high heat or too much heat, you should make sure this won’t be an issue. Most botanical gardens choose to go for low to no heat emitting options, such as LED, to get the safest option for the plants.

2. Opt for a higher CRI

The color rendering index or CRI is one of the most important aspects of lighting for plants and flowers. The color rendering index measures how well a light fixture picks up and distinguishes between different colors. A lower index will make slight differences in hue less perceivable to the naked eye while a higher CRI will make them more visible. When dealing with flowers and plants, you can see why this is an important factor. Choose lights with at least a CRI of 80+ or higher for the best results.

3. Choose a cooler color temperature

Not to be confused with color rendering index, the color temperature is another important aspect of lighting a botanical garden. Color temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale from warm to cool. Warm is a yellow-tinged light and cool is a white to white-blue light. It is important to remember that the color temperature will play a role in how the eye perceives the plant and flower colors. It is better to stick with a cooler temperature than a warmer one to help avoid the plants looking dingy or faded in yellow light.

4. Check your listings

When lighting for any outdoor area, it is important to choose fixtures designed to handle the elements. To make sure you get the right choice, check for listings such as wet or damp to make sure they can handle being outdoors. You should also consider the use of vapor tight fixtures because they will be protected from water, dust, and other debris.