Hi Tom,
As I understand that the Red Pigmentation in Echinodorus, Cryptocorynes, Alternanthera reineckii 'Pink', Rotala wallichii etc are caused by Flavenoids, which protect the plants from the damaging effect of ultra violet light (UV-B ?). These plants produced more of this chemical in sunshine than underwater. The red colour was there to protect them from the bright light and specifically from ultra violet light. ( Please Correct me in case I am wrong in thinking that Flavenoids casue the red pigmentation in aquatic plants)
So is it right to suggest that to grow red plants properly one should use lamps that would emit light mostly in between UV Light and the Blue Green Spectrum of Light and very little at the red spectrum because they would reflect them ?
Also has the red colouration in these plants anything to do with any other factor other than the light ?
Best Regards
Sujoy
As I understand that the Red Pigmentation in Echinodorus, Cryptocorynes, Alternanthera reineckii 'Pink', Rotala wallichii etc are caused by Flavenoids, which protect the plants from the damaging effect of ultra violet light (UV-B ?). These plants produced more of this chemical in sunshine than underwater. The red colour was there to protect them from the bright light and specifically from ultra violet light. ( Please Correct me in case I am wrong in thinking that Flavenoids casue the red pigmentation in aquatic plants)
So is it right to suggest that to grow red plants properly one should use lamps that would emit light mostly in between UV Light and the Blue Green Spectrum of Light and very little at the red spectrum because they would reflect them ?
Also has the red colouration in these plants anything to do with any other factor other than the light ?
Best Regards
Sujoy