Light Color

Gardening Under Lights



Sunlight contains the complete spectrum of light including all colors of the rainbow: red through yellow to blue and violet. Plants use the full spectrum for photosynthesis, although red and blue light seem to be most critical. Red light stimulates vegetative growth and flowering, but if a plant gets too much red light, it will become tall and spindly. Blue light regulates plant growth, which makes it ideal for growing foliage plants and short, stocky seedlings.

Some plants perform best when given more of a certain color light. An African violet will thrive under blue light, but if it doesn't receive an abundance of red light, it may never flower. If you learn what color light your plants need, you can then select the right type of bulbs to meet that need.