Problem:

How does colored light affect plant growth?

Hypothesis:

I think that colored light will have a huge affect on plant growth according to my research, all
plants need light to grow and live. Sunlight is made up of different colors of light that are emitted
at different wavelenghts. Certain wavelengths will be better for plant growth than
others. Yellow will produce the best results.

Literature Review:

Plants and Colored Light

Plants and colored light, just how does the color of light affect plant growth? Plants are a

very important part of life. Without plants there would be no life. Plants are the basis of all food

chains on earth. With the decrease of fertile lands available to produce crops and the

development of forests and such into communities, having optimal conditions for plant growth

becomes critical.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food to grow. Photosynthesis means

“building with light.” Plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O) to make glucose, a

kind of sugary substance which is food for plants, and Oxygen (O2) which is necessary for all life

on earth. The chemical equation is as follows:

CO2 + H20 + energy (light) glucose (sugar) + O2

This process takes place in the chloroplasts located in plant cells. Chloroplasts contain

Chlorophyll, a green pigment in all plants, used to absorb light so photosynthesis can happen.

Plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil through its roots and CO2 through tiny holes in its

leaves. Light is also an important part of this process. Without light, photosynthesis cannot

happen and plants will not be able to produce food to grow. In fact, the more sunlight a plant
receives, the greater the ability to produce food in photosynthesis. Therefore, plants will always

face the light, or try to. This response to light stimuli is called phototropism.

The major source of light is the sun. Light travels in the form of electromagnetic

vibrations which have different wavelengths. The sun gets its energy by a nuclear process in its

interior. It emits a continuous spectrum instead of a line. Color equals all aspects of life except

time and space. We only see visible light which is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and

violet. Red has the longest wavelength while violet has the shortest. All wavelengths together

produce white light. We can only see objects if they reflect light or make it themselves. The

colors you see depend on three things. First, it depends on the intensity or wavelengths of the

light. Second, it depends on the wavelength transmitted or reflected from the object. Third, it

depends on absorption or reflection by substances in the light path. In other words, what you see

is light bouncing off objects that were not absorbed. All atoms in matter can absorb light. But,

objects have selective absorption. Therefore, the colors we see around us are a result of selective

absorption. An apple looks red because all wavelengths are absorbed except red. When you see

white, the object reflects all wavelengths and absorbs none. When you see black, all

wavelengths are absorbed and reflects none.

Light quantity is the intensity or concentration of sunlight. Maximum light happens in

summer and minimum occurs in winter. The more sunlight, the more food producing ability

plants have through photosynthesis. Light quality is the color or wavelength. Research indicates

that blue and red wavelengths lead to the best plant growth.

So, does the color of light affect plant growth? Jenni, a student in China, did a similar

study and concluded that the color of light does affect plant growth. She found that plants like
violet, blue, and red the best. She also noticed that plants did not like yellow orange or green

wavelengths.

In my experiment, I want to test how valid these findings are. I will use different colored

cellophane to see which color will lead to the best growth of plants. I will keep all the conditions

including the type of plant constant. I want to see if there is a significant difference in plant

growth. I will use marigolds because it is a hearty plant that grows well.

Bibliography

Claybourne, Anna, Gillian Doherty, and Rebecca Treays. "Plant Life on Earth." The Usborne

encyclopedia of planet Earth. New York: Scholastic, 20001999. 96-97. Print.

"How Colored Light Affects Plant Growth, Page 3 of 3 - Associated Content from Yahoo! -

associatedcontent.com." Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2011.

<http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/350805/how_colored_light_affects_plant_gr

owth_pg3.html?cat=58>.

"Plant Growth and Light Color." Color Matters Science Projects. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2011.

<http://www.colormatters.com/plant-growth-and-light-color>.

"Plant growth and light, Botany Course, Master Gardener Training, Extension Service, Oregon

State University." Celebrating 100 Years! | Oregon State University Extension Service.

N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2011. <http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/botany/light.html>.

Rainwater, Clarence. Light and color. new york: Golden Press, 1971. Print.

"Physical Science." Sciencesaurus. New York : Great Source Education Group, 2006. 308-311.

Print.
Materials:

1. 15 potted Dwarf French marigold plants almost fully bloomed each with at least

one flower.

2. 5 cardboard boxes that are exactly the same (37 cm x 25 cm x 38 cm)

3. Colored cellophane in the following colors:

a. Red

b. Yellow

c. Green

d. Blue

e. Violet (purple)

4. Measuring cup (to measure the same amount of water for each plant) 1/8 cup

5. Metric ruler

6. Sharpie pen and tape to label each plant

7. Round circle labels, one for each plant (15 total)

8. Tap water

Procedure:

First, get 5 boxes all of the same shape and size. Costco is a good place to find boxes of

the same size and kind. Cut off all of the flaps on the boxes and cut a window on one side using

a box cutter or x-acto knife. Be very careful when using the knife. Cover each box using a

different color cellophane (red, yellow, green, blue, and purple). Make sure that each box is

prepared exactly the same.

Next, purchase 15 of the same marigold plant (three for each colored box). Label each

plant (e.g. R1, R2, R3, etc. R = red, Y = yellow etc.). Water each plant exactly the same (1/8 cup
each). Organize the plants as indicated in figure A. Use a centimeter ruler to measure each

plant, measure the tallest part of the plant. Be sure to measure the exact same part of the plant

each time measurements are taken.

Record your data and observations. Finally, cover with the cellophane covered boxes

according to how you labeled your plants.

Take measurements and observations everyday for ten days. Also take photographs 3 or

4 times during the recording period. After the tenth day, analyze data and create graphs to

illustrate your data. Make a bar graph using the data from day 0 and day 10 for comparison.

Then, analyze your results and draw conclusions.