Luminous stones are available as plastic pebbles that charge themselves, with solar technology and in the wired version with LED lamps. They are used as garden decorations for beds or ponds, but brightly shining stones can also be used on paths, stairs and driveways.
Advantages of luminous stones
Luminous stones look like normal stones during the day, but at night they emit a light that has a very decorative effect and sets parts of the garden beautifully in scene. At the same time, they also provide the necessary lighting on the property.
- Luminous stones can be used not only for decoration, but also for illuminating paved surfaces. For this purpose, there are luminous stones that are placed between the paving stones and are flush with the top edge.
- There are luminous stones with solar technology, so that no cables have to be laid. However, luminous stones with LED lamps that consume little electricity shine brighter.
- LED lamps have a long lifespan and therefore rarely need to be replaced.
- Luminous stones are made of plastic and are therefore weather and UV resistant. Particularly stable stones can even be run over by car.
- Luminous stones with a brightness sensor switch on automatically at dusk and off again at sunrise.
Disadvantages of the glowing stones
With luminous stones that are only used as garden decorations, it is not too bad if the sunlight of the day was not enough to recharge the stones. However, many of these products are not reliable enough to provide the necessary safety on paths.
- Cables for powered luminous stones must be laid underground or in the wall.
- In sets that consist of several stones, the individual stones are connected to one another by cables, which looks ugly and also poses a risk of tripping.
- Luminous pebbles can discharge again during twilight. They then have to be illuminated with a flashlight or similar so that they shine again. In addition, they can get dark when exposed to sunlight if they are wet.
- Luminous stones with solar technology will not work if the sky has been cloudy all day.
Prices
Small luminous pebbles made of plastic are often sold in pack sizes of a few hundred to a few thousand pieces. Depending on the purchase quantity, the prices are between 3 and 5 euros per 100 pieces. Luminous stones with solar technology are available as sets with a solar cell and several stones. They cost around 20 euros. Really robust luminous stones with LEDs, which can also be used for a driveway, are available from around 30 euros, but they are also often sold as sets.
Manufacturers and distributors
- Luminous pebbles made of plastic are available in large packaging units at bayFair. They also sell mats for stairs that glow at night.
- The LED shop sells luminous stones with LEDs for walls and paths. Most of these stones are designed so that they can be run over by a car.
- The solar light shop offers illuminated paving stones with solar technology. There are also paving stones with several LED lamps so that the color of the light can be changed or an automatic color change can be set.
- The company Wir sind heller offers the service of adapting luminous stones to the existing paving stones of their customers so that the stone is practically invisible in daylight.
Conclusion
Luminous pebbles made of plastic have the disadvantage that the sunlight stored in them is already used up during twilight, so that they hardly shine in the dark. Luminous stones with solar technology, on the other hand, are equipped with a battery in which the energy is stored. But of course they are dependent on sunshine, so they are in favor of lighting driveways and because of the safety issues, wired luminous stones with LEDs are best suitable. As a pure garden decoration, however, all products offered in the trade are equally well suited.
Tips from the editors
- Luminous pebbles are also suitable as a decoration for the living area or to create some light in the children's room or in the stairwell.
- Luminous stones are particularly suitable for a pond bank, where they can be easily hidden between the normal stones.
