Michigan State University Looking to Grow Specialty Cut-Flowers Sustainably with LEDs
A team of researchers at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, are looking into making the specialty cut-flower industry more sustainable and cost-efficient. Their latest research is working with multi-colored LEDs to see how quickly flowers grow.
“There’s a huge demand for specialty cut-flowers,” says Roberto Lopez, Associate Professor of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “There are more and more greenhouse cut-flower growers coming along in Michigan and across the U.S.”
Specialty cut-flowers are any cut flower that is not a rose, carnation, or chrysanthemum. About 80% of cut roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums are imported. The specialty cut-flower market, however, is one that is not dominated by imports.
Lopez’s research focuses on how different colored lights affect flower growth. His team is trying to find the best combination of time and light color for cut-flower growth.
“Some plants need more than 12 hours of light to flower,” says Lopez. “If you want to grow high-quality plants in Michigan, you have to supplement sunlight with high-intensity electric lights.”
The research team has so far found that red light promoted stem growth, while blue light caused the plants to flower faster.
The team says it must conduct another growth cycle to confirm its results.
“There’s not very much research out there,” Lopez says. “And there are so many questions.”
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