Indoor Pollination with Grow Lights

In open-field environments, plants depend on natural sunlight and wind to access pollinators such as bees and butterflies. However, these factors are limited in enclosed systems like greenhouses or indoor farms. Since they are indoors, there’s reduced exposure to natural pollinators. Fruit-bearing crops need to receive pollination since they need to produce fruits. With that in mind, indoor cultivation is not a hindrance to this process even though sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and diverse plant ecosystems are unavailable.

In open fields, plants rely on natural sunlight and wind for pollinators like bees and butterflies, but these are limited in enclosed spaces like greenhouses. For indoor cultivation, grow lights can enhance pollination by emitting specific wavelengths of light that promote plant growth and attract pollinators. The reduced presence of natural pollinators indoors does not hinder pollination, despite the absence of sunlight, temperature variations, and diverse plant ecosystems.

Pollinators, especially bees, are attracted to certain wavelengths like UV light. Grow lights that include UV components mimic sunlight, increasing pollinator activity and helping them locate flowers. By offering pollinators the same visual cues they find in outdoor environments, grow lights help them locate flowers, thus enabling pollination. Some studies have shown that grow lights with a mix of blue and UV wavelengths increase bee foraging activity and enhance pollination efficiency. 

As such, different types of pollinators help plants in many ways. Pollinators rely on day-night cycles to regulate activity. Grow lights can simulate these natural rhythms, ensuring pollinators stay active when plants need pollination. Certain grow lights can also emit infrared light, attracting nocturnal pollinators like moths. This ensures pollination continues during the night which can benefit crops that rely on both diurnal and nocturnal pollination. Even self-pollinating crops like tomatoes benefit from pollinator activity, and grow lights can enhance flower vibration and pollen release.

NutriHydro’s grow lights and nutrient solutions are tailored for fruit-bearing crops. They offer red and blue wavelengths to enhance pollination and simulate sunlight for higher yields. Paired with fruit-bearing formulas, they encourage optimal growth and productivity in controlled environments.

References:

Bennie, J., Davies, T. W., Cruse, D., & Gaston, K. J. (2016). Ecological effects of artificial light at night on wild plants. Journal of Ecology, 104(3), 611–620. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12551 

Macgregor, C. J., Pocock, M. J. O., Fox, R., & Evans, D. M. (2019). Effects of street lighting technologies on the success and quality of pollination in a nocturnally pollinated plant. Ecosphere, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2550 

Bilodeau, S. E., Wu, B., Rufyikiri, A., MacPherson, S., & Lefsrud, M. (2019). An update on plant photobiology and implications for cannabis production. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00296 

Meijer, D., Van Doesburg, F., Jungerling, L., Weldegergis, B. T., Kappers, I. F., Van Oystaeyen, A., Van Loon, J. J., & Dicke, M. (2023). Supplemental far-red light influences flowering traits and interactions with a pollinator in tomato crops. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 213, 105438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105438