Bloei & stuurlicht bij Phalaenopsis : bloei-inbductie door stuurlicht spaart energie

Phalaenopsis plants are grown at relatively low temperatures during the flower induction phase for the plants to flower. Because flower induction hormonally driven, there is a good chance that the light spectrum can induce flowering as well. In this way energy can be saved in the summer not having to cool the greenhouse during flower induction. With relatively more red light (imposed) bud break could be realized by activating phytochrome B, which reduces the apical dominance and increases the chances of spike elongation. In order to investigate this, an experiment was designed comprising of treatments with relatively high amounts of red light or relatively high amounts of far red light were combined with reduced or intermediate temperatures. The experiment showed that a cooling period of 8 weeks will always result in a higher percentage of multiple spikes in both cultivars regardless of the light spectrum. However, it took two weeks longer to have these plants ready for sale. Regarding the spectrum, light with a higher proportion of red light also resulted in a higher percentage of multiple spikes. Light with relatively more far-red light lowered the percentage of multiple spikes when no cooling period was included in the induction period. This experiment showed that a cooling phase of 19°C can be replaced by using of HPS lamps (with more red light) and a temperature of 22°C.