DLI: Daily Light Integral
DLI measures the total photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) a plant receives over 24 hours, in mol/m²/day. It’s the “calorie count” for light.
Crop Requirements
| Crop | Min DLI | Optimal DLI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | 12 | 14–17 | Bolts with too much heat, not light |
| Herbs (basil, cilantro) | 12 | 15–20 | Cilantro bolts in greenhouse heat |
| Strawberries | 12 | 17–22 | Semi-permanent in hydro |
| Peppers | 15 | 20–30 | Thrive in south zone heat |
| Tomatoes | 15 | 20–30 | Need south zone |
| Cucumbers | 15 | 20–25 | Good for west zone |
Verdify DLI Situation
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor-reported DLI | 5–7 mol/m²/d |
| Estimated actual DLI | 17–27 mol/m²/d |
| Grow light contribution | 8–12 mol/m²/d |
The lux sensor severely underreports. Actual plant DLI is adequate for all planned crops.
→ See Climate at 5,000 Feet for the full light analysis. → See Grow Lighting for the supplemental system.