LED plant lights are known as the indoor “sun”, which can replace the sunlight to ensure the healthy growth of plants indoors. The development of indoor agriculture has proved that for plants, the role of LED plant lights can even exceed the sunlight. So, why can LED plant lights replace the “sunlight” to regulate the growth of indoor plants? What advantage does it have over sunlight? It also starts with the absorption and utilization of light by plants.

Plants absorb light in this way

The absorption of light by plants is mainly through photosynthesis.

In this process, plants use their own “light-catching antenna” photosynthetic pigments to absorb sunlight and convert it into chemical energy to store in the form of sugar, and then use this energy to grow.

At the same time, some of the absorbed light can be used as environmental signal factors to regulate a series of growth and development behaviors of plants, such as seed germination, morphogenesis, flowering and synthesis of secondary metabolites.

Light plays an important role in the growth of plants.
Plants that are bathed in sunlight actually absorb only a small part of the sunlight, and most of the other sunlight is not used by the plant.

This is because the wavelength range of sunlight covers the entire electromagnetic spectrum from X-rays to radio waves, and the photosynthetically active radiation available to plants is located in the range of visible light (400-780nm), that is, we usually say red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and seven colors of light.

Spectral analysis showed that plants mainly absorbed red and blue light for photosynthesis in the seven-color light. Green light, yellow-orange light and far-red light are involved in other metabolic processes of plant growth.

In addition to the composition of the spectrum, the growth of plants also requires the appropriate photoperiod and light intensity.

We call the sum of the needs of the plant for spectrum, photoperiod, light intensity, light mode, etc., the light formula.

Design Light Recipes for Plants
It is precisely because of the “recognition” and “preference” of plants to light that provides theoretical guidance for artificial light cultivation plants.

About spectrum

In the seven-color light, red light and blue light mainly regulate the photosynthesis of plants, thus affecting the yield.

That’s because when plants sense more red light through a “light-catching antenna,” they release a hormone that prevents chlorophyll from breaking down. This allows the plant to convert light energy into more chemical energy, allowing the plant to grow stronger. In addition, plants also need red light to bloom and bear fruit properly.

Blue light receptors in plants trigger a hormonal response when they sense higher levels of blue light, which slows down the growth of stems and leaves, so blue light helps plant stems grow stronger.

About light intensity & photoperiod

In addition to the composition of the spectrum, the growth of plants also requires the appropriate light intensity and photoperiod.

In a certain range of light intensity, the photosynthetic rate of plants accelerates with the increase of light intensity, but it does not increase light intensity blindly. For each plant or each stage of development, too high light intensity on the one hand leads to light suppression phenomenon, affecting the yield and quality, on the other hand also wastes a lot of electricity, increasing investment costs.
After fully understanding the needs of different plants and different growth stages of the same plant for light recipes, researchers designed “light recipes” and used LED “core light” technology to balance the relationship between yield, quality and energy consumption. Designed not only to meet the energy needs of plant photosynthesis, but also suitable for the precise control of growth and development, while saving energy and cost in the production of LED plant fill light, to achieve artificial light instead of sunlight, to help plants grow healthily.

With the appropriate light formula of LED plant lights, not only can ensure the efficient process of plant photosynthesis, but also the special light formula can regulate the behavior of plants like condiments, so that vegetables are more delicious and nutritious, flowers are more colorful, fruits are sweeter and more nutritious.

Controlled “sun”

LED plant lights are powerful, it is not only energy efficient and long service life, but also low heat output, can be closer to the plant, very suitable for indoor farming. Compared with the sun, the biggest advantage of LED plant lights is its controllability.

We know that the sun is the source of energy for everything, but it is not infallible.

The rotation of the Earth causes the sun’s position to change constantly, and it also “disappears” on rainy days, which means plants can’t sunbathe all the time. In addition, the sun is shared by all things, and does not favor any kind of plant, only the plant can adapt to it.

The advent of artificial light, especially the birth of LED plant lights, made all the difference.

Unlike the instability of the sun, LED plant lights do not change intensity with day or night, summer or winter, rainy or sunny days, it can provide stable and consistent light for plants.
In addition, as mentioned above, we can precisely design and tailor the light formula of the plant. For example, give different crops different light, tomatoes like purple light more purple light, blueberries prefer red light more red light; For example, to configure different light at different growth stages of the same crop, the cell division rate and photosynthesis of the plant seedlings are strong, and more blue light is shone to make the seedlings grow more robust; In this period, red light is easy to cause plants to grow thin, so control the amount of red light; To the fruiting period, you can shine more red light, promote the expansion of the fruit, improve the accumulation of sugar in the fruit, and make the fruit better to eat.

LED plant lights allow farmers to get the “sunlight” they need anytime and anywhere, providing them with something they can’t have in the sun, that is, “control”.