When cultivating cannabis, a grower must pay close attention to the plant’s light exposure. Not only do you have to consider how much light a plant is getting, but you also need to consider what kind of lighting you’re using and during which stage of plant life. Here, we’re talking specifically about the utilization of green lights during a plant’s off-cycle and why many growers choose this color specifically.
From why people use green lights to how they help during off-cycles, we’re discussing the ins and outs of this color on the light spectrum and its relationship with successful cannabis growth. Let’s get started.
The Influence of Green Lights and Cannabis
Compared to the other colors on the light color spectrum, green is one of the colors that scientists currently know the least about. But, studies are beginning to give us a good insight into what we can expect from using green lights properly.
Some farmers are learning that green lights during the flowering stage of the cannabis plant can be hugely beneficial, as this green light helps to trigger photosynthesis, morphology, and overall healthy plant growth. During the flowering stage, your cannabis plant is finally growing the potent, smokable flowers that us consumers know and love, so having this influence of strong, nourishing lights can help support a large, potent grow.
There is quite a popular misconception that cannabis plants don’t actually react to green lighting and that it cannot help signal photosynthesis. This is completely untrue! In fact, most colored lighting—like reds or blues—actually contains small amounts of green light that your plants detect. Together, they’re able to receive full amounts of nourishment, all while their compounds are signaling that it’s time to make some energy.
Along with helping to signal photosynthesis, green lights are integral in regulating your cannabis’s response to blue light, as well. Cannabis plants are highly attracted to blue light, with their leaves stretching up towards this type of nourishment. If they don’t detect enough blue light, these plants will then assume that they have been shaded by other plants, and will quickly react by growing large and sporadic. This can completely ruin a grow.
Having a balance of green and blue lights, though, can change all of this. Green light will penetrate through clouds and canopies much easier than other lights, so when plants can pick this up, they know they’re not in danger of too much shading. Thus, they grow confidently and uniformly.
Green Lights During a Plant’s Off-Cycle
Okay, but what about using green lights during a plant’s off-cycle? What does this do?
Green lights are extremely valuable to cannabis cultivators because this type of gentle lighting does not disturb a plant during its off-cycle. Like humans, plants require a bit of rest. While some growers may choose to have lights on 24/7, this can often tire your plants and leave them burnt out, not nearly as strong and healthy as they should be. However, allowing your plants even just a few hours of darkness creates enough time for your cannabis to rest, recharge, and get ready for cultivation the next day. But, what happens if you need to maintenance your plants during this time?
To see your plants during this period of darkness requires light of some sort. UV light, red light, or even yellow and oranges will immediately trigger your plants, waking them up out of their off-cycle. This ruins the circadian rhythm you’ve helped create with your plants, throwing off their on and off cycles entirely. Thankfully, that’s where green lighting comes in.
Cannabis plants will not react to green lighting during their off-cycle. Instead, they will stay dormant and sleeping, allowing you to maintain them as you need without any disruption. Whether you’re just analyzing your plants or grooming them, doing so under the supervision of green light allows for an undisturbed, easy process.
Green goggles are best for this, as the amount of light you’re emitting is very little and easily controlled. This gives you the ability to focus on each plant at a time, seeing everything you need even without the presence of actual supplemental lighting.
When to Use Green Lighting
At the end of the day, whenever you choose to use green lighting is entirely up to you. While some farmers only utilize these plants during off-cycles, they are also highly beneficial during flowering and even the seedling stage for extra growth support. From germination to flowering and even your plant’s off-cycle, green lighting can be used to help perfect your yield in ways you may have never thought possible.
However, this decision is yours to make, and it’s one that will take some time to perfect. Be patient and discover what your plants react best to, and what works best for your cultivation schedule. From there, perfecting your use of green lighting and manipulating the color spectrum will enhance your cultivation and harvests tenfold.
Achieving Your Perfect Cannabis Cultivation
We know that this is a lot of information to absorb at once; but, cannabis cultivation is not an easy process! Those of us behind Luna Cultivation know firsthand how complicated growing cannabis can be, and that’s why we’re here to help you understand even the nitty-gritty details of lighting and lighting manipulation.
So, the next time you’re about to tackle your new crop of cannabis, make sure you’re comfortable with the light spectrum and its effect on plants, first. With this kind of knowledge, cannabis cultivation becomes all the more accessible, and a whole lot more successful, too.