With lighting technology quickly advancing, knowing the basics of the light spectrum will help you get the most out of your lighting equipment and your plants.” from the EDITOR
Did you know that Earth is the only planet capable of creating rainbows? Or that the further north of the 40 th parallel you go, the more blue there is in sunlight? The world of light is something we take for granted every day, but the visible light spectrum is a fascinating topic. In this issue of Maximum Yield, we feature one of the most important factors in your growroom: your lights. Or, more specifically, how your lights affect your plants. Grow lights are an artificial light source designed to stimulate plant growth by facilitating photosynthesis, the process required for all plant growth. Whichever type of light you prefer to use, it is important to understand how your plants “see” and use the light spectrum. On page 42, Eric Hopper, with assistance from our advisory board, breaks down the light spectrum to determine how each band of light affects plant growth. With lighting technology quickly advancing, knowing the basics of the light spectrum will help you get the most out of your lighting equipment and your plants. And since we are enjoying more sunlight as we approach the summer solstice, things begin to heat up. Just as winter can create difficult growing conditions, summer heat can be just as devastating on your garden. On page 58, Bryan Traficante and Wiley Geren from gardeninminutes.com provide some tips on how to keep your garden cool and hydrated in the blazing heat, and which fruits and veggies are a good choice to have in the garden when the mercury spikes. Also in this issue are thoughtful stories on how to fight mites in the growroom, how to use different chemical combos in the garden, how to start a vertical farm at home, and much more. If you’re looking for specific information from past issues, check our website at maximumyield.com or download our app for iPhone or Android. Thanks for reading Maximum Yield and if you have any questions feel free to contact us at [email protected].