Can plants live with only artificial light?

Answer 1

Yes it is possible to grow plants using artificial light as long as the frequencies and quality of light supplied is acceptable.

An extreme example of this practice is where Marijuana plants are grown indoors in an artificial environment so that they are not detected by authorities

Answer 2

Yes, certain plants can survive with only artificial light, such as certain types of indoor plants. However, the type, intensity, and duration of the light are important factors to consider for the plant's health and growth. It's essential to provide the right spectrum of light and ensure the plant receives adequate rest periods to mimic natural daylight cycles.

Answer 3

Most greenhouses use artificial lighting (or grow lights) to supplement daylight, for instance, to trick the plant into thinking it is a long hot summer day when it is snowing outside.

The latest technology uses LED light bulbs, which can be designed to emit the colors of light that best suit photosynthesis, mostly 80% red and 20% blue LEDs rather than trying to emulate the full daylight spectrum.

Heating is usually provided by dedicated heaters, so infrared lighting is not necessary.

Ultraviolet light has a disinfecting role in natural sunlight, so it may be needed, although there are no studies about its importance in a sanitary controlled environment such as a greenhouse. Plants are not just about chlorophyll though, it is not entirely clear if other light frequency in the daylight spectrum may benefit plant growing for other reasons, especially if growing them totally out of a natural daylight environment.

So yes, plants can grow entirely on artificial light, like underground or maybe on the International Space Station, not even in a green house.

But apart from marijuana, there is currently no plant that is grown entirely on artificial light, so we don't have sufficient information to tell if just red and blue lights are viable in the long term.

LED lighting is also much cheaper to run than other artificial light sources, and the best LED grow light panels are usually assembled in such a way that you can adjust by software the ratio of red vs. blue light, for different stages of the culture (seedlings, flowers), different crops (leafy vs. root vegetables), seasons, regions, etc.

Red and blue light does not look strong enough to us, but it is because human eyes are more sensible to green/yellow light. For a plant, these LED lights are plenty, assuming you follow the manufacturer's instructions.

LEDs run on DC current, so they are also perfect for DC power sources such as solar panels, reducing the power usage even more than the LED lights in our houses, which require a DC/AC converter and a huge heat dissipator because of heat generated by the converter.

I linked a few reputable LED manufacturers' web sites.

Answer 4

Growing plants with artificial light is very popular. Growing plants with artificial light is particularly useful when natural light is not abundant.

Answer 5

Plants are grown in artificial light all the time. As long as the photons of light are of the correct wavelength the plant does not care where the light comes from.

Answer 6

It depends if the artificial light gives off enough heat. You'd specifically need a heat lamp.

Answer 7

You can grow plants in artificial light. This is through the process known as hydroponics which can use incandescent, florescent or LED bulbs within an enclosed environment.

Answer 8

Plants are grown in artificial light all the time. As long as the photons of light are of the correct wavelength the plant does not care where the light comes from.

Answer 9

Yes, plants can live with only artificial light. The only real disadvantage is that sunlight is available for free, and artificial light requires you to pay for the electricity.

Answer 10

Some plants do very well in artificial light such as African violets. Many people start seeds indoors with artificial light.