AIR,LIGHT,HUMIDITY & T° - Air,Light.Humidity &T°

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Published on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 04:07

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Exposure to light

When the plants are exposed to light, the tissues containing the chlorophyll produce the carbohydrates necessary for their nourishment. This natural process, called chlorophyll photosynthesis, can not be produced except in the presence of light. Natural light is composed of different bands of color, in the rainbow we see the light decomposed into the individual fundamental colors. The research has identified in the properties of blue-violet and red-orange the color bands of the solar spectrum essential for the survival of plants; the former determine the direction of growth and stimulate the production of sugars and starches by the chlorophyll present in the plant, while the red-orange bands are necessary for seed germination, vegetative growth and flowering, as well as for the synthesis of nutrients. In fact, all flowering plants need sunlight to produce buds, although some, the so-called brevidiurne (plants that bloom better if subjected to a photoperiod less than twelve hours), require less than others. The photoperiod is the duration of the daily illumination period. By artificially increasing the hours of light in the greenhouses, the chrysanthemum has been able to flourish throughout the year, which under normal conditions has only one autumn bloom. Houseplants, especially in winter, can suffer from lack of light. It is possible to improve the lighting with some tricks: by painting the walls in white or with a very light color so that the light, reflecting on them, increases in intensity; the dark walls absorb the radiation. It is also important to keep the leaves of the plants extremely clean, washing them regularly with lukewarm water together with a neutral detergent. Clean leaves are able to absorb a greater amount of light, and therefore synthesize more nutrients, look good and be healthier in general. Plants placed near a window should be turned 90 'each time they are watered in order to receive the same amount of light from all sides. A plant illuminated only on one side will grow unevenly; on the contrary, if it is turned regularly it will develop harmoniously. The most suitable windows for apartment plants are those facing East, because the light that goes from dawn to 11 am is the one that produces the most beneficial effects, while the windows facing south are more suited to those plants that prefer intense light and high temperatures. A plant that has survived a dark winter may not be able to withstand the intensity of summer light and must be protected from direct sunlight. Simple curtains or semi-enclosed blinds will prevent the soil from overheating and damaging the roots. Most plants need 12-14 hours of light a day, when darkness enters into a cyclic phase of rest that lasts until dawn.