How Does Light Color Affect Plant Growth?
Light Triggers Photosynthesis Plants require sunlight to produce food. Leaves are green because the pigment in them—called the chlorophyll—absorbs all other colors of light and reflects green light. When the chlorophyll absorbs light energy, it triggers the photosynthesis process through which that light energy is converted into sugars. For the plant to grow, it needs to have this process operating at its prime, with the maximum amount of food being made to give the plant the fuel to grow. Color and Absorption Chlorophyll requires light at the two far ends of the visible spectrum to activate photosynthesis. By reflecting green and yellow light waves, the chlorophyll does not use these to begin the process. Plants grown under a green-colored bulb will not grow as large as those under red or white light. Sources of Light Natural sunlight has a lot of blue and red coloring in it, but these are imperceptible to the human eye. The plant uses blue wavelengths of light to create food for
