Red Light vs. Blue Light Which Light Color Is Better For Plant Growth

While red is most efficient for photosynthesis, having only red light would result in poor growth such as very elongated stems, so blue is added to keep plants compact and a more typical shape.

What color light is best for plant growth?

Different color light helps plants achieve different goals as well. Blue light, for example, helps encourage vegetative leaf growth. Red light, when combined with blue, allows plants to flower. Cool fluorescent light is great for cultivating plant growth indoors.

Is blue light or red light better for plants?

Plants that receive plenty of blue light will have strong, healthy stems and leaves. Red light is responsible for making plants flower and produce fruit. It's also essential to a plant's early life for seed germination, root growth, and bulb development.

Will any LED light work as a grow light?

Can Any LED Light Be Used As A Grow Light? LED lights are more energy efficient and emit much lower levels of heat than other types of lighting. But can you use any led lights to grow plants? Generally, yes.

Is LED light good for plants?

Offering low energy usage, low heat, and color optimized for growth, LED lights are the most efficient, effective, and customer-friendly way to grow plants at home than growing with fluorescent lights or incandescent lights.

Why do plants absorb red and blue light the best?

BLUE light carries a higher energy signature then RED light does and that higher energy with a shorter wavelength should provide the plants with a better environment for growth. Blue light has a wavelength that is shorter in the visible spectrum as compared to red light and has a higher energy.

Why is blue light so bad?

Almost all blue light passes straight through to the back of your retina. Some research has shown blue light may increase the risk of macular degeneration, a disease of the retina. Research shows blue light exposure may lead to age-related macular degeneration, or AMD.

Does blue light make plants grow faster?

Blue light helps with the plant's production of chlorophyll--the green pigment that traps light energy and is integral to photosynthesis. In other words, blue light is easier for a plant to absorb and use the energy in photosynthesis. So, blue light increases plant growth and makes the plant reach maturity faster.

What light bulb is closest to natural sunlight?

Halogen bulbs are a type of incandescent that gives a close approximation of natural daylight, known as "white light." Colors appear sharper under halogen light and the bulbs can be dimmed. They're a little more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but they're more expensive and burn at a higher temperature.

Are white LED lights good for growing?

When combined with the 20%-40% efficiency loss, "full spectrum" white LEDs are less than half as efficient for growing plants than the correct mix of pure-color LEDs-- white LED grow lights force you to cool your growing environment more, just like HPS and MH, losing a lot of the other advantages LEDs offer.

What type of light is best for growing plants indoors?

Like plants growing outdoors in the sunlight, indoor plants grow best under full-spectrum bulbs, which produce a balance of cool and warm light that replicates the natural solar spectrum. They're excellent for seedlings as well as houseplants, culinary herbs and other plants.

Can you leave grow lights on 24 hours a day?

A: In general, you should not leave grow lights on 24/7. Plants need a light-dark cycle to develop properly. It's believed that they truly do “rest” during periods of darkness, and probably use this time to move nutrients into their extremities while taking a break from growing.

How far should LED grow lights be from plants?

For established plants, they are already where they need to be in order to thrive. During the flowering stage LED Grow lights should be located between 16-36 inches from the plant canopy. Moving the grow light closer will increase the light intensity which can maximize photosynthesis.

What color do plants absorb the least?

Plant pigment molecules absorb only light in the wavelength range of 700 nm to 400 nm; this range is referred to as photosynthetically-active radiation. Violet and blue have the shortest wavelengths and the most energy, whereas red has the longest wavelengths and carries the least amount of energy.

What does blue light do to plants?

Generally, blue light suppresses extension growth; plants grown with blue light are usually shorter and have smaller, thicker and darker green leaves compared to plants grown without blue light (Figure 1).

Is white light better than blue light for photosynthesis?

White light is actually made by combining other colors on the spectrum such as red, green, and blue. Therefore white light will actually be much more beneficial for the photosynthesis process than yellow light.

How do you reverse blue light damage?

Here are some practical ways to protect your eyes from blue light damage:

Limit screen time when you are not working. ...
If you use your devices at night, download a blue light filter app. ...
Try not to use your devices directly before bedtime. ...
Blink, blink, blink. ...
Get regular comprehensive eye exams.

Is blue light bad for your skin?

Research shows blue light from electronic devices can lead to changes in your skin cells, including cell shrinkage and death. These speed up the aging process. Even exposures as short as 60 minutes can trigger these changes.

Is blue light actually harmful?

Continued exposure to blue light over time could damage retinal cells and cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration. It can also contribute to cataracts, eye cancer and growths on the clear covering over the white part of the eye.

Do blue LED lights cause algae?

Blue lighting can cause excess algae in freshwater and low Kelvin lighting, peaking in the red, can encourage algae in marine aquaria. Bulbs and tubes degrade over time, lowering their Kelvin rating, possibly causing more algae and producing light less useable by plants or corals.

What color causes the most plant growth?

As it turns out, blue appears to be the color that had the most plant growth in both experiments. Green was the lowest in both experiments, of course. Red was the second highest, violet was the third highest, and orange was the second lowest in both experiments.

Is white light best for plants?

Plants use all colors and that is exactly what white light provides. Because it provides all colors, and because it is the light that plants receive out in nature, white light is the best light for plants. High pressure sodium and metal halide bulbs have been growing plants successfully for decades.