And that's assuming that you have a spare windowsill or two for potted plants. Even if your growing area consists of some shelves in a dark corner of a room, artificial lighting can come to the rescue. Light is essential for photosynthesis, the process whereby green plants use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide to sugar and other carbohydrates. Plants utilize these products for food and to regulate physiological processes. Without ample light, photosynthesis and other biological processes are reduced or cease entirely.
Quality refers to the color of the light emitted by a light source.
The sun radiates light in all the colors of the rainbow. Plants need most of their light from red and blue areas of the color spectrum. Duration or photoperiodism, refers to the daily amount of light to which plants are exposed. Most plants need 14 to 16 hours daily. Intensity refers to the amount of light available in a given area.