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Ques about red wavelengths of light and effect on plants

Posted by cbarry z7 NY (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 1, 04 at 20:49

This is a cross post from the Orchids forum, based upon a suggestion from another member...I appreciate any comments.

The original post is here:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orchids/msg0923001418125.html?7916

I have a rather odd question for those who really understand how specific wavelengths of light affect plants. I remember doing an experiment in a college botany class where we exposed seeds to different wavelengths of light, in different orders, and then put everything in the dark to see what sprouted. The result was that a certain wavelength prevented the seeds from sprouting if it was the last light that the seed saw before going into total darkness.

I have a kind of bubblegum pink room that has always been an excellent plant nursery. Put sick plants in there, and they root, sprout whatever is needed. There's only one average size window which faces N-NE, so the room is not brightly lit. I have some orchids in the window, and the less light needy ones are happy with minimal supplemental light. I'm in the process of adding 2, 2-40W bulb hanging fixtures, over a table as a permanent place for my orchids. And I'd love to repaint the room, but don't want to lose the magical properties that this bubblegum pink room seems to have.

So now my question...Am I nuts, or are the pink walls reflecting a favorable wavelength of light to my plants?

Thanks,
Carolyn


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Ques about red wavelengths of light and effect on plants

  • Posted by chaman U S east coast (My Page) on
    Sat, Oct 2, 04 at 11:28

Red light helps plants in more than one way.Red light has two wave lengths and they are red and far red.They react with cell pigments known as phytochromes Pr and Pfr.
Red light makes plants grow healthier.
Phytochromes help certain plants to produce florigen for flowering and fruiting.These plants are known as short day and long night plants.
With help of red light seeds find out the depth at which they should start germination process so that they can survive as a plant.There also it is the phytochromes and the red components of the incident light will help the seeds to start germination or not.
Blue light also plays importent role in healthy growth of plants.

Chiman


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RE: Ques about red wavelengths of light and effect on plants

Chiman, Very interesting. What is incident light? Where can I find a list of these plants that respond to the red light? What role does blue lighr play in healthy plant growth?


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RE: Ques about red wavelengths of light and effect on plants

  • Posted by chaman U S east coast (My Page) on
    Tue, Oct 5, 04 at 18:48

Gramma,light that comes out from the source likke Sun, Light bulb or lighted candle and falls on the objects is called incident light.This light from the objects that comes to the eyes is called reflected light.With the help of reflected light we can see the objects.
Like phytochrome pigments, there are cryptochrome pigments in the plants which absorb blue light from the sun light for use of plant growth.

Chiman


 
 

 

 


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