Signify Introduces Far-Red Grow Light for Van Wordragen

Signify, a world-leading lighting company has provided Van Wordragen Flowers BV, a chrysanthemum grower in the Netherlands, with LED installations that include an adjustable far-red light spectrum. According to research by WUR, chrysanthemum stem length can be regulated completely by LEDs by providing subsequent end-of-day lighting with far-red light. This research puts an end to the fear amongst chrysanthemum growers that the use of full LED might result in too short flower stems in the winter. The move to use LED lighting and adjustable far-red technology is driven by the high energy prices growers face and the desire to better regulate stem length

Signify, a world-leading lighting company has recently provided Van Wordragen Flowers BV, a chrysanthemum grower in the Netherlands, with LED installations that include an adjustable far-red light spectrum. This makes Van Wordragen Flowers BV the first in the Netherlands to use this technology from Signify. The system, set to be launched at the IPM, consists of the Philips GreenPower LED toplighting force with an energy-efficient spectrum of red, white, blue light, and in addition, far-red LEDs which can be steered separately for better stem elongation.

According to research by WUR, chrysanthemum stem length can be properly regulated with full LED by providing subsequent end-of-day lighting with 30 minutes of 20 μmol/m²/s far-red light. This research puts an end to the fear amongst chrysanthemum growers that the use of full LED might result in too short flower stems in the winter. Another benefit of using far-red in this way is a potential reduction in the cultivation period by a few days and less shoot growth at the base of the plant.

Leontiene van Genuchten, Plant Specialist at Signify, explains that previous research by WUR has also demonstrated that lighting with far-red also has positive effects on crop elongation when illuminated for shorter periods by using only 10 or even 5 μmol/m²/s far-red. Furthermore, the practical application at Van Wordragen next winter will yield new information and insights. “We are all going to learn a great deal,” says Van Wordragen.

Signify has also been closely involved in this process, with Van Genuchten stating that “Every week we harvest a small section to see how long the stems are. If you then compare this against the amount of far-red applied and the use of plant growth regulators, it is very enlightening. We want to identify when you need far-red in particular and when you might still be able to decrease this; if you use energy, it needs to serve a purpose after all.”

The move to use LED lighting and adjustable far-red technology was driven by the high energy prices and the desire to better regulate stem length. The results so far have been highly encouraging, and with further research and practical application, growers can expect to see even more benefits in the future.

Image provided by Van Wordragen Flowers BV