Short answer

Incorporate end-of-production supplemental lighting with optimized red and blue LED ratios to enhance the visual appeal and marketability of ornamental plants.

Field: Resource Management
Source: HortScience (2017)
Method: Experimental research
Evidence: Strong effect

Supplemental lighting with specific ratios of red and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at the end of a plant's production cycle can significantly enhance foliage color, making ornamental plants more visually attractive to consumers. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in HortScience. Using Experimental research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate end-of-production supplemental lighting with optimized red and blue LED ratios to enhance the visual appeal and marketability of ornamental plants.

Study

Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Red and Blue LED Lighting Enhances Plant Pigmentation for Increased Consumer Appeal

HortScience · 2017

Key Findings

01Supplemental lighting with red and blue LEDs significantly influenced chlorophyll content and leaf color (lightness, saturation, hue).
02Plants exposed to supplemental lighting for 3 to 14 days showed increased relative chlorophyll content and darker, more saturated foliage with specific hue angles.
03LEDs delivering 100 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of red and blue light (in various ratios) for at least 14 days resulted in darker, more saturated foliage with orange to violet-red hues under low daily light integrals.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate end-of-production supplemental lighting with optimized red and blue LED ratios to enhance the visual appeal and marketability of ornamental plants.

How to apply

For ornamental plant producers, implement a finishing stage using LED lights with a high proportion of red and blue wavelengths for 1-2 weeks before shipping to boost leaf color saturation and darkness.

Project actions

01Consider how light quality affects the visual appeal of products.
02Investigate the use of targeted lighting treatments to enhance product aesthetics.

Method & Evidence

AimTo quantify the effect of supplemental lighting with different light sources, qualities, and intensities on the foliage color of geranium and purple fountain grass before shipping.

MethodExperimental research

ProcedurePlants were finished under controlled greenhouse conditions and exposed to supplemental lighting from various sources (high-pressure sodium lamps, LED arrays with different red:blue light ratios) at different intensities and durations. Pigmentation was assessed using chlorophyll meters and colorimeters.

ContextOrnamental horticulture, floriculture production

Variables

IV["Type of supplemental lighting (HPS, LED ratios)","Light intensity","Duration of supplemental lighting"]

DV["Relative chlorophyll content","Leaf lightness (L*)","Leaf chroma (C*)","Leaf hue angle (h°)"]

CV["Ambient greenhouse solar light","Plant species (geranium, purple fountain grass)","Initial plant quality"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Quantifiable measurements of plant pigmentation and color.
+Comparison of multiple lighting treatments.
+Consideration of different seasonal conditions.

Limitations

The specific light recipes and durations might need adjustment for different plant species or greenhouse setups. The long-term effects of such lighting on plant health beyond visual appeal were not the primary focus.

Reliability & validity

The study uses objective measurement tools (chlorophyll meter, colorimeter) to assess findings, enhancing reliability. The controlled experimental setup contributes to internal validity, though generalizability to all horticultural settings might be limited.

Think critically

To what extent can the principles of manipulating light spectrum for aesthetic enhancement be applied to non-plant-based products, or to other stages of the plant life cycle?

Design Principles

"Manipulate light spectrum and intensity during critical finishing stages to achieve desired aesthetic outcomes in plant products."

This research offers a practical method for floricultural producers to improve the aesthetic quality of their products without altering genetics or growing conditions for the entire production period. By strategically applying supplemental lighting, designers and growers can influence consumer perception and potentially increase market value.

What This Means for Your Design

Adding special red and blue lights to plants just before they are sold can make their leaves look much better and more colorful.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing how environmental factors can be manipulated to achieve specific aesthetic outcomes in a design project.
2.Use it to justify the selection of specific lighting conditions if your design involves plant-based elements or aims to enhance visual appeal through controlled environmental factors.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research by Owen and López (2017) demonstrates that supplemental lighting with specific ratios of red and blue LEDs during the end-of-production phase can significantly enhance the visual appeal of ornamental plants by increasing foliage pigmentation. This suggests that targeted environmental manipulation can be a powerful tool in product finishing to meet market demands for aesthetic quality.

Source

HortScience

Geranium and Purple Fountain Grass Leaf Pigmentation Is Influenced by End-of-Production Supplemental Lighting with Red and Blue Light-emitting Diodes

journal · 2017

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about red and blue led lighting enhances plant pigmentation for increased consumer appeal?: Incorporate end-of-production supplemental lighting with optimized red and blue LED ratios to enhance the visual appeal and marketability of ornamental plants. Evidence: HortScience (2017).
Why does "Red and Blue LED Lighting Enhances Plant Pigmentation for Increased Consumer Appeal" matter for design?: This research offers a practical method for floricultural producers to improve the aesthetic quality of their products without altering genetics or growing conditions for the entire production period. By strategically applying supplemental lighting, designers and growers can influence consumer perception and potentially increase market value.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate end-of-production supplemental lighting with optimized red and blue LED ratios to enhance the visual appeal and marketability of ornamental plants.
What were the main findings?: Supplemental lighting with red and blue LEDs significantly influenced chlorophyll content and leaf color (lightness, saturation, hue).. Plants exposed to supplemental lighting for 3 to 14 days showed increased relative chlorophyll content and darker, more saturated foliage with specific hue angles.. LEDs delivering 100 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of red and blue light (in various ratios) for at least 14 days resulted in darker, more saturated foliage with orange to violet-red hues under low daily light integrals.
What research method was used?: Experimental research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from HortScience.
What should I do differently in my next project?: For ornamental plant producers, implement a finishing stage using LED lights with a high proportion of red and blue wavelengths for 1-2 weeks before shipping to boost leaf color saturation and darkness.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on specific plant species (geranium and purple fountain grass) and may not be directly generalizable to all ornamental crops. The effectiveness can also depend on ambient light conditions and the duration of supplemental lighting.