GROW WITH LEDs™

Growing Plants Using LED Lighting

Glossary



  • Action Spectrum – the efficiency of a particular plant molecule at absorbing wavelengths of light to conduct photosynthesis.  LEDs are very efficient at producing the wavelengths of light that plants can best use.
  • Aeroponics – a system where plant roots are in an environment saturated with fine drops (a mist or aerosol) of nutrient solution. 
  • Aquaculture – the cultivation of water plants and animals for human use or consumption.
  • Aquaponics – is the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics.
     
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas, somewhat heavier than air that is a product of respiration and combustion.
     
  • Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b – the two primary pigments involved in photosynthesis. These two molecules most efficiently absorb light at the red and blue ends of the light spectrum.
     
  • Fluorescent – a glass tube coated on the inside with a fluorescent substance that gives off light.  Acceptable for starting seeds and low light plants.  
     
  • Growth Influencing Factors (GIF) – most important GIF is light.

  •  High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights – artificial light such as High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide.
     
  • High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Lights – produce strong output of the red spectrum.  This light will promote fruiting and flowering.
     
  • Horticultural – the art or science of growing flowers, fruits, vegetables or shrubs, esp. in gardens or orchards.
     
  • Hydroponics – the growing of plants without soil. A nutrient solution provides food and water for the plant.
     
  • Incandescent Bulb – light produced by a filament of conducting material contained in a vacuum and heated to incandescence by an electric current.  This is a standard household bulb.
     
  • Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) – produce light of specific wavelengths selected to best meet the needs of growing and flowering plants.
     
  • Metal Halide (MH) Lights - have more blue output, which is for vegetative growth (young growth) or leafy plants, such as lettuce and herbs.
     
  • Oxygen (O) – a colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous chemical element.
     
  • Parabolic Aluminized Reflector (PAR) - method to describe the style of a typical spot or flood light bulb reflector such as PAR20, PAR30, PAR38, etc.

  • Photosynthesis – manufacture of sugar from two simple raw materials – carbon dioxide and water - in the presence of chlorophyll with sunlight (or artificial light) as a source of energy. Photosynthesis provides the organic molecules upon which virtually all life depends.

  • Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) - designates the spectral range of solar light from 400 to 700 nanometers that is useful to plants in the process of photosynthesis.
  • Potential Hydrogen (pH) – measure of alkalinity or acidity of nutrient solution.
  • Spectrum – the series of colored bands dispersed and arranged in the order of their respective wavelengths by the passage of white light through a prism. The six main colors of the spectrum are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
  • Wavelength – the distance, measured in the direction of progression of a wave, from any given point to the next point characterized by the same phase.