Hey Everyone! Hope you are all keeping well and settling in post lock down, this is simply a continuation of PART 1, took a bit longer to post as we have recently moved to a larger facility, still in Auckland just down the road from our previous warehouse.ContentsThe usage of light spectrum for plantsHow each of the light spectrums affect the growth of plantsEverything you need to know about shade-avoidance responsesThe usage of light spectrum for plants Through the information given, I hope it will help you to make better assumptions as to how to grow your crops and how to react to the changes in the adjustments of the grow light’s spectral ratios. How each of the light spectrums affect the growth of plants The results can depend on a lot of factors, not just the light spectrum itself. There are certain rules that you have to follow when using light spectrums to achieve different plant responses.Here is everything you need to know about each waveband and its use for your growing environment. When it comes to UV Light Wavelengths, it is important to know that the UV waveband is outside of the PAR waveband. This means that it offers many new applications that are not well defined.The same way that the human body can be sunburned from extended exposure to UV light, plants can become damaged. They naturally elicit protective compounds and can mitigate UV tissue damage. If you see your plants turning darker, they are trying to limit the damage they are taking.Other side effects of UV lights include leaf colouration and thickness and resistance to environmental stress.As we talk about Blue Light Wavelengths, it is important to note that it can increase the quality of the plant itself, especially within leafy greens and ornamental crops.The requirement for blue light is minimal if you want to sustain plant development.When you combine blue light with other light spectrum wavebands, the blue light can be responsible for the root development of the plant. It is important to note that high intensities of blue light can inhibit flowering.As for Green Light Wavelengths, chlorophyll does not absorb green light as well as other wavelengths. This is the reason why most plants turn green. When the light itself is plentiful, the chlorophyll can reach a saturation point and can stop absorbing red and blue light. Green light can still affect the chlorophyll molecules though.Next, we have Red Light Wavelengths which have been proven to be one of the most influential and effective wavebands for stimulating photosynthesis in plants. Under this light, plants can become stretched, tall, and filled with leaves.Adding some blue light to the mix can balance out the red light and in turn create better plants.Finally, Far-Red Light Wavelengths can be found at the furthest point of the spectrum, commonly within 700 to 850 nanometers.This light can introduce a response that results in severe stretching for the plant. It also promotes flowering and leaf expansion, which can be great in some cases.Everything you need to know about shade-avoidance responses Let us look at our very own mother nature.Within mother nature, we have the sun. The sunlight that echoes from it has about 20% of far-red light and 21% red light.Leaves at the top are exposed to sunlight and can easily absorb red light while reflecting the far-red light. This leaves the lower leaves in the canopy to have less red light available to them and they receive a higher level of far-red light.Growers who want to benefit from compact growths need to be cautious and add far-red light to their lighting to ensure natural growth. Far-red light has a crucial role in effective photosynthesis.When it comes down to it, having in-depth knowledge about the grow light spectrum should help you to make a more educated and estimated growth cycle in your next session.Keeping all of this in mind will surely help you to achieve a higher level of growth and hopefully inspire you to pursue even bigger challenges going forward.
Hey Everyone! Hope you are all keeping well and settling in post lock down, this is simply a continuation of PART 1, took a bit longer to post as we have recently moved to a larger facility, still in Auckland just down the road from our previous warehouse. Contents The usage of light spectrum for plants How each of the light spectrums affect the growth of plants Everything you need to know about shade-avoidance responses The usage of light spectrum for plants Through the information given, I hope it will help you to make better assumptions as to how to grow your crops and how to react to the changes in the adjustments of the grow light’s spectral ratios. How each of the light spectrums affect the growth of plants The results can depend on a lot of factors, not just the light spectrum itself. There are certain rules that you have to follow when using light spectrums to achieve different plant responses. Here is everything you need to know about each waveband and its use for your growing environment. When it comes to UV Light Wavelengths, it is important to know that the UV waveband is outside of the PAR waveband. This means that it offers many new applications that are not well defined. The same way that the human body can be sunburned from extended exposure to UV light, plants can become damaged. They naturally elicit protective compounds and can mitigate UV tissue damage. If you see your plants turning darker, they are trying to limit the damage they are taking. Other side effects of UV lights include leaf colouration and thickness and resistance to environmental stress. As we talk about Blue Light Wavelengths, it is important to note that it can increase the quality of the plant itself, especially within leafy greens and ornamental crops. The requirement for blue light is minimal if you want to sustain plant development. When you combine blue light with other light spectrum wavebands, the blue light can be responsible for the root development of the plant. It is important to note that high intensities of blue light can inhibit flowering. As for Green Light Wavelengths, chlorophyll does not absorb green light as well as other wavelengths. This is the reason why most plants turn green. When the light itself is plentiful, the chlorophyll can reach a saturation point and can stop absorbing red and blue light. Green light can still affect the chlorophyll molecules though. Next, we have Red Light Wavelengths which have been proven to be one of the most influential and effective wavebands for stimulating photosynthesis in plants. Under this light, plants can become stretched, tall, and filled with leaves. Adding some blue light to the mix can balance out the red light and in turn create better plants. Finally, Far-Red Light Wavelengths can be found at the furthest point of the spectrum, commonly within 700 to 850 nanometers. This light can introduce a response that results in severe stretching for the plant. It also promotes flowering and leaf expansion, which can be great in some cases. Everything you need to know about shade-avoidance responses Let us look at our very own mother nature. Within mother nature, we have the sun. The sunlight that echoes from it has about 20% of far-red light and 21% red light. Leaves at the top are exposed to sunlight and can easily absorb red light while reflecting the far-red light. This leaves the lower leaves in the canopy to have less red light available to them and they receive a higher level of far-red light. Growers who want to benefit from compact growths need to be cautious and add far-red light to their lighting to ensure natural growth. Far-red light has a crucial role in effective photosynthesis. When it comes down to it, having in-depth knowledge about the grow light spectrum should help you to make a more educated and estimated growth cycle in your next session. Keeping all of this in mind will surely help you to achieve a higher level of growth and hopefully inspire you to pursue even bigger challenges going forward.
