Legacy PPFD Lighting Charts

Why PPFD charts are essential for indoor growers:

Compared to outdoor growing, indoor cultivation presents unique challenges which growers should be aware of when setting up their grow room lighting. PPFD charts help growers achieve optimal results in several ways:

• Precise light control: Unlike the variable light levels produced by the sun over the course of a day and through different seasons, indoor growers must rely on the consistent and artificial illumination of grow lights. When the grow lights are not set up to optimise the plants’ natural photosynthetic behaviours, it can create a whole host of plant development issues and wasted energy. Therefore, PPFD charts help indoor growers gather data on the precise level and duration of light required by their plants and use this data to set their grow lights’ output to get the most out of the plants’ natural behaviours.
• Maximising yield and quality: When growing in confined spaces such as a grow room, every environmental factor plays an important role in the development and health of the plants. PPFD charts are a tool which growers can use to fine-tune their grow lights’ output to correspond with the other environmental parameters of their grow space. This reduces the risk of oversaturation, foliage burn, photobleaching, and other plant damage created by extreme light and heat. By applying the data plotted in a PPFD chart to optimise light distribution within their grow space, indoor growers will be protecting their plants from irreversible damage, thereby maximising yields and generating high-quality product.
• CO₂ supplementation considerations: For indoor growers supplementing their environment with CO₂, understanding the interaction between CO₂ levels and PPFD is essential. PPFD charts acknowledge the impact of elevated CO₂ levels on plant metabolism and growth and provide separate recommendations for growers using CO₂ When the grow space’s CO₂ levels are optimised alongside PPFD, growers benefit from enhanced photosynthetic activity and greater yields.
• Avoid potential issues: Applying the wrong PPFD without considering the effect of CO₂ supplementation and other environmental factors in the grow space can lead to a variety of plant issues, including stunted growth, nutrient deficiencies, decreased yield, quality issues, and wasted resources.
• Adaptability to different setups: PPFD charts can be tailored to suit the specific set-up of the grow lights, regardless of the size of the grow space. Whether it’s a small grow tent or large-scale commercial facility, PPFD charts help growers understand the unique characteristics of their grow space and create a growing environment that optimises plant growth.
• Enhancing professional grower results: For professional growers, PPFD charts play a significant role in their plants’ health, yield, and quality, all contributing factors in profitability.