Lighting

University of Florida researchers Kevin Folta (left) and Thomas Colquhoun are studying the effects LED lights have on the state’s high value crops, including strawberries and tomatoes.

Potential of LEDs Expected to Extend Well Beyond Production

Much of the research and trade press coverage related to light emitting diodes (LEDs) applies to their use with controlled environment agriculture, including greenhouse and vertical farming production. However, LEDs are also being studied for... more »

Efficacy of Lamp Types at Controlling Flowering

When the nights are long (the days are short), delivering low-intensity lighting can regulate flowering of photoperiodic ornamental plants. Incandescent lamps have been used for decades to successfully inhibit flowering of short-day plants and promote... more »

Innovations in Grow Lighting

Innovations in grow lighting are paramount to the current and future success of controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) and greenhouse supplemental lighting. No single grow light is good for every single application; the term we use... more »

Lighting Metrics … And What Matters

With the continuing development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and other lighting technologies, there are various metrics that academics and lighting companies use to communicate information on lamps for plant applications. Some of the metrics are... more »

Photoperiodic vs. Photosynthetic Lighting

A common question I'm asked is what the best lighting strategy is to promote early spring flowering of bedding plants and/ or herbaceous perennials. The answer to such a question is situational, depending in part... more »

Interactions of Light, CO2 and Temperature on Photosynthesis

Light and temperature are two of the most commonly manipulated environmental factors in greenhouse crop production. Supplemental lighting is useful during light-limiting conditions, while during high-light conditions, shading is often used to help prevent excessively... more »

LED Lighting and its Effect on Plants, Growers and the World

Growers like Sustainable Local Foods use LED lighting to produce plants year round while keeping costs down.As many growers have found out over the course of human history, even the sun needs some help from... more »

Turning On/Off Supplemental Lighting

An increasing number of growers are using high-intensity lighting during low-light periods to increase crop growth, especially during young plant production. The benefits of increasing the daily light integral (DLI) are well documented and include... more »