Entries by Darryl Nelson

Photoreceptors and Spectral Absorption

A plants development is dependent on the environmental conditions where it is growing. Light is not only a substrate for photosynthesis but a stimulus that regulates a wide range of metabolic and developmental processes, including seed germination, leaf development, stem extension, phototropism, gravitropism, chloroplast movement, shade avoidance, circadian rhythms and floral induction. Light is the energy source for […]

A Brief History of LED Grow Lights

Full Spectrum grow lights carry the blue spectrum which stimulates vegetative growth and the yellows, ambers/orange, reds and far-red spectra which stimulates pre-flowering and flowering (reproductive growth). Therefore, virtually all plant life will grow from germination to maturity using JUST LED US LED lights with wavelengths in the ranges of 400 to 730nm that target all four receptors of chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B absorption peaks.

Keeping Your LED Light at a Proper Distance

ance between your full spectrum LED grow light and your plants is important for photosynthesis and growth. Your JUST LED US full Spectrum LED grow lights provide the wavelengths of light your plants need for germinating, growth/vegetation and flowering/fruiting. You should always monitor the distance between the top of the garden canopy and the light source as the light becomes more intense when the garden grows. Increasing the the height of the LED grow light will allow for a constant delivery of intensity to the gardening area.

Daily Light Integral

The term Daily Light Integral, or DLI, is used to describe the total quantity of light (PAR) delivered over the course of an entire day. The daily light integral is reported as the number of moles (particles of light) per day.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll structure reveals the mechanism of its absorption of light, the excitation of its electrons, and its ability to give electrons off to an electron transfer system. The molecules of chlorophyll (C55H70MgN4O6) are large. Instead, they are attached to the membranes of disc-like structures, called chloroplasts, inside the cells.

Light is Vital for Photosynthesis

Think of one of your experiences on one of the various Great Lakes or the ocean, all of them have waves. Waves are disturbances, ripples on the water, and they possess a certain height
(amplitude), with a certain number of waves rushing past you every minute (the frequency) and all moving at a characteristic speed across the water (the wave speed). Notice the distance between successive waves? That’s called the wavelength. If we assume that the waves are successive or intermittent, we can find a pattern and quite literally speculate at the miracles that are unfolding right in front of our eyes in the visible light spectrum.

Beauty Care and Your Garden

Resinous substances may occur alone or in combination with essential oils or gums. Resins are unlike gums as they are insoluble in water, but they dissolve in other solvents including alcohol. Resin production occurs in various plants in nature, but only a few families are of commercial considerations. These include the Anacardiaceae (the sumac family), Burseraceae (the incense tree family), Cannabaceae (the hemp family), Dipterocarpaceae (major importance timber trade), Guttiferae (primarily tropical-some species offer resin which bees use in nest construction), Hammamelidaceae (the witch hazel family), Lamiaceae (mint family – culinary & essential oils), Leguminosae (the pea family), Liliaceae (the lily family), Meliaceae (the mahogany family), Pinaceae (the pine family of conifers), Styracaceae (the silver bells family – are evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs) and Umbelliferae (the parsley family). The true botanical origin of a resin is often generally not definitive, especially in the case where they derive from fossil or semi fossil types.

Indoor Plants-Essential Oils and Hygiene

In a Northern climate we find it very challenging to produce indoor plants – essential oils and hygiene related produce. Consider that we grow our plant life in our homes to produce certain qualities that we may not be able to attain from store bought produce and flowers. The plant material you use must be clean and free of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals.

Leaf Area Index

What is Leaf Area Index (LAI) and why do researchers interchange values with PAR?” LAI can be determined directly by taking a sample of foliage from a plant canopy, measuring the leaf area per sample plot and dividing it by the plot land surface area. LAI is used to predict photosynthetic primary production, evapotranspiration (evaporation and transpiration) and as a reference tool for crop growth.