The growth of plants depends on the sun, and the light requirements of plants mainly include light color, spectrum, light intensity and light time. Sunlight consist of many different wavelengths, and only a very small part(about 5% )of the solar radiation spectrum affects photosynthesis. Through research, the red light at 620-680nm and blue-violet light at 400-500nm has the greatest impact on plant growth.
Therefore, by artificially developing the illumination of specific spectrum lighting fixture is beneficial for increase the growth of plants.
Red to blue ratio for grow lights
LED grow lights can not only emit light with narrow light wavelength, such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, infrared, etc., and also can be combined according to different needs of plants.So,what is the best ratio of red and blue of LED grow light for indoor plants.It is a bit complicated because there are many types of plants,each plant has different light requirement,such as:light plants, shade-requiring plant plants etc. Moreover, even the same plant requires different light at different growth stages.
In addition to the type of plant,there are many other factors also affecting the ratio of red and blue light.LED grow light manufacturers or LED plant grow light service providers are still in the process of research. At present, the reference is based on the ratio of sunlight spectrum for different plant like below:
Cos lettuce: The ratio of red and blue light at 6:1 or 7:1 is the most suitable for its growth.
Leek: The ratio of red and blue light at 6:1 is significantly promote plant height, stem thickness, leaf width, etc.
Cucumber: The ratio of red and blue light at 7:2 is best for the growth of cucumber seedlings, and at 7:1 is the best ratio during the growth period.
Green vegetables and water spinach: The ratio of red and blue light at 7:1 is best the growth of green vegetables and water spinach leaves.
White radish: The ratio of red and blue light at 8:1 is the most suitable for its growth.
Lettuce: The ratio of red and blue light at 9:1 is the most suitable for lettuce growth.
Strawberry, tomato:The ratio of red and blue light at 9:1 is the most beneficial to the growth of strawberry and tomato, and the fruit is full and nutritious.
Holly: The ratio of red and blue light at 8:1 is the most beneficial to promote holly grows best.
Sprouts: The red, green and blue ratio of 6:2:1 is the most suitable for its growth.
Calla lily: The ratio of red and blue light at 6:2 is the most beneficial to promote Calla lily grow.
This is a full spectrum led grow strip light, which uses high-brightness 2835 SMD CHIP, DV 5V USB as the power supply, very well used as a grow light to promote the growth of plants and vegetables, including: succulents, tomatoes, strawberries, etc.
Why is the red light more than blue light in LED grow lights
We all know that plants need photosynthesis to grow.The right light wavelength（about 400-700nm） is beneficial to promote plant leaf green, CO2 and H2O, etc., thereby developing carbohydrates.
Through related research, it is found that the red light wavelength and the blue light wavelength are very close to the efficiency curve of plant photosynthesis. The red light range about 610-720nm and blue light range about 400-500nm are close to the light range for photosynthesis.
Different light qualities or wavelengths have significantly different biological effects, including different morphological structure, photosynthesis and growth.
Blue light mainly acts on leaves, and red light mainly acts on fruiting and prolonging flowering.
Red light generally promotes growth and increases the accumulation of chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars and other substances.
Red light can promote the growth of leaf area and β-carotene accumulation of pea seedlings.When lettuce seedlings lighting by red light then near-ultraviolet light. It is found that red light can enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes and increase the content of near-ultraviolet absorbing pigments, thereby reducing the damages lettuce seedlings by ultraviolet light. When full spectrum lighting on strawberries,it is found that red light is beneficial to increase the content of organic acids and total phenols in strawberries.
Blue light plays an important role in the early stages of plant growth. Blue light can not only help some seeds germinate, but also ensure the strong growth of their roots, stems and leaves.Why? because blue light can promote plants to produce more chlorophyll, help seedlings better absorb and use the energy in photosynthesis to grow and mature faster.
Study show that blue light can reduce the plasticity of plant leaf cell walls, increase the activity of IAA (auxin) oxidase, reduce the content of IAA, and weaken the “height” of plants, thereby growing watermelon, cucumber, sweet pepper, etc stronger.
Although red light or far red light and blue light play an important role in increasing yield, regulating flowering, making plants more stronger, this does not mean that plants do not need other colors of light. Other color light also plays an indispensable role in plant growth.
Short ultraviolet light can decrease the growing speed of plants and have disinfection and sterilization effects to reduce plant diseases.
Studies have shown that although plants absorb less green light, it does not mean that plants do not need green light.
if there is too much green light, the plant grows slowly and the shape is not good, if there is too little green light, the leaves of the lower layer of vegetables are prone to yellowing prematurely and the leaves aging.
Adding a proper proportion of green light can solve the problem of aging of the lower leaves of lettuce. This is because green light has strong penetrating performance and allows the lower leaves to absorb light.
In addition, on the basis of red to blue light ratio, adding a proper proportion of green light can significantly increase the yield of lettuce and reduce the hollow rate.
This quantum grow light adopts high brightness LED chip,it is suitable for all indoor growing environment: grow tent, grow room; best for growth and bloom stage.
Wrapping up
Plants need to do photosynthesis through lighting,and the chlorophyll of plants absorbs the most red-orange light, followed by blue-violet light, and the least yellow-green light. Far-infrared light can produce heat that helpful for the growth of crops,but near-infrared light is useless for crops.
In addition, the same plant has different requirements for light quality and light quantity in different growth periods. It is important to use different red to blue ration during the growth period.