As far as number 2 goes. I'll try to keep it simple. Plants utilize the "color" of light to complete the photosynthesis process. Ultraviolet doesn't play into this, it's not needed. We measure the color of light in the Kelvin scale. The lower the kelvin value, the more red the light is. Example: most "plant bulbs" you find at the hardware or big box store are rated around 3000k. They appear more red when viewed by the human eye. Great for flowering plants, but not so optimum for foliage growth. At the opposite end of the scale is 10000k. This is the blue end of the spectrum. Excellent for complex algae, like the algae that lives within corals, but also, not optimum for nice, lush foliage growth. In the middle is what we desire to provide to our plants. White light, with a touch of blue: 5000k-6700k. That's the ticket.
Now, an example on how this all ties together to make a bit more sense. I am going to use the plant cannabis sativa as the example. Disclaimer: I, nor frog forum, endorse the growing of this plant since it is illegal to grow it. Cannabis is an amazing plant. It has beautiful foliage and gorgeous flowers, off allowed to bloom. If you were growing it indoors, you would provided it with 6500k lighting to promote vegetative growth. In order to force it to bloom, you would provide it with 3000k lighting. This would trick the plant into thinking it was later in the season when the sun would be at a different angle and would be providing the plant a different spectrum of lighting.
See? Simple?
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Re: 1000+ questions :)
Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk
As far as number 2 goes. I'll try to keep it simple. Plants utilize the "color" of light to complete the photosynthesis process. Ultraviolet doesn't play into this, it's not needed. We measure the color of light in the Kelvin scale. The lower the kelvin value, the more red the light is. Example: most "plant bulbs" you find at the hardware or big box store are rated around 3000k. They appear more red when viewed by the human eye. Great for flowering plants, but not so optimum for foliage growth. At the opposite end of the scale is 10000k. This is the blue end of the spectrum. Excellent for complex algae, like the algae that lives within corals, but also, not optimum for nice, lush foliage growth. In the middle is what we desire to provide to our plants. White light, with a touch of blue: 5000k-6700k. That's the ticket.i actually think i do get it... and since some of us dont talk plants.... Yet......all i needed to know if a frog/reptile needs uvb for metabolism just having led is not enough, yes?
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