what plants grow best under fluorescent lighting?
mascorrofactor asked:
this is for an ap bio planning lab. we wanna see how the spectrum of light affects plant growth, so we have a normal light bulb and a black (purple-ish) one. we could only afford fluorescent ones.
which plants are easy to keep alive with fluorescent lighting? we have to start with seeds, by the way.
this is for an ap bio planning lab. we wanna see how the spectrum of light affects plant growth, so we have a normal light bulb and a black (purple-ish) one. we could only afford fluorescent ones.
which plants are easy to keep alive with fluorescent lighting? we have to start with seeds, by the way.
From my belief, if I recall correctly, in science class (5 years ago now or so), red light is the best (for any plants), blue and purple are the next best lights, followed by other various colors.
But all plantlife that uses sunlight should react the same. So results shouldn’t vary too much between different plants. Just make sure to use a control group of each plant in natural sunlight and/or regular indoor lighting, as a comparison. Don’t compare one type of plant to another, as they grow at different rates anyway. [who] suezzle
I grow just about anything under flourescents..I will show you pictures of my set up after I answer this..When starting from seeds you want to use A SOILESS seed starting mix…do not use common dirt for it caries a bit of fungi and some diseases..start your seeds off to a good “sterile” start..You can buy a premixed seed starting mix already prepared..When growing plants from seed you want to keep the lights no further than 4 inches away from the seeds/seedlings/plants…(this is for flourescent lights only)..If you don’t the sprouting plants will grow straight up and become “leggy” and fall over..I also put small fans by my seedlings to give strength to thier stems and make them strong..The breeze makes them develop a stronger plant kind of simulating a wind from outside..this also prevents them from getting “leggy”….When germinating seeds and also taking “hard or soft cuttings” from other plants the main thing is “bottom heat”..The soil should stay in between 75 to 80 degrees farenheit for proper germination and growth of roots ..To heat a whole room/greenhouse with a heater source and keep at that temperature will be very costly..if you can maintain the air in the place of growing to about 50 degrees, then use a bottom heat source for the plants soil, it will be alot cheaper..I personally bought a new electric blanket, stretched it over 2 growing tables next to each other, and then covered with 4 mil plastic, and set my plants on it for germination and growth..some might think this is dangerous, but i have done it all my life ..and many other people I know have as well..here are some pictures of my set up..Each one is relatively cheap to do…Home Depot sells the 4 foot fixtures for 8.99…no bulbs included..Then you buy a package of t 12 COOL TOUCH…not warm touch..they are 3.95 for a 2 pack at Home depot…Then I buy a T 12 plant and aquarium bulb from Home Depot for 9.95…In each fixture I put 1 cool white bulb..and one of the full spectrum plant and aquarium bulb..each set up takes around 25.00 total to set up..heres some pictures..You can grow about anything you want under these..
Now on most the plants i showed you..they are ESTABLISHED plants alread and rooted..so I keep the lights up higher than with seed..I keep the lights about 4 inches away on seedlings for at least 6 to 8 weeks ..then switch over to the lights that are up higher.. [who] pcbeachrat