Plant Lighting

Well-being in the workplace

Plants have long been popular in offices and contribute significantly to a pleasant atmosphere. While plants near windows can often thrive for years, the modern office world presents a different picture: Not every workplace is by a window, but employees who work farther away from daylight also want to enjoy the positive effects of plants. Plants often serve as a design element or room divider and enrich the room's ambience both visually and atmospherically. Artificial lighting plays a crucial role here: The aim is not to accelerate plant growth as in a greenhouse, but to provide them with sufficient light for healthy growth. In this way, plants noticeably improve an office’s atmosphere and promote well-being in the workplace.

Which color rendition is best?

It should be noted that conventional office lighting is generally not enough to do plants justice. With the colour rendering typically found in offices (Ra >80) plants often appear pale and lifeless. For a more vibrant effect, direct spotlights with optimised colour rendering are ideal. Light sources with a colour rendering index of Ra >95, such as those often used in retail stores, are ideal for plants. They usually achieve an R9 value of around 95, which results in more natural and vibrant colour rendering and supports plant growth.

This is because plants need both a high proportion of blue and red in the light spectrum for healthy growth. While the green part of the spectrum is largely reflected by the leaves and is therefore visible to us, the blue and red, which are important for plant growth, are absorbed. Conventional efficient light sources with a colour rendering index of Ra >80 offer a high proportion of blue light, but often only a small proportion of red light.

Which ist the best colour temperature for plant lighting?

Leaf at 5700K

Colour temperature plays a crucial role in both the aesthetic effect and the efficiency of plant lighting. Cooler light sources in the range of 5000 K to 6500 K offer a higher luminous flux and are therefore considered energy efficient. However, the high blue component of these cool light sources can cause leaves to appear unnaturally pale or turquoise.

Leaf at 3000K

For a cosier atmosphere with a higher red component, a colour temperature of 3000 K could be considered. However, the leaves then often appear yellow-greenish and less true to life. Colour temperatures around 4000 K show similar weaknesses, as they often create a pale turquoise appearance. We recommend a colour temperature in the range of 3000 K to 3500 K.

Leaf under VOGUE lighting 3250K

The VOGUE COB module is ideal with a colour temperature of 3250 K and an excellent colour rendering index of Ra 96. This light source is available as an ‘on request’ option for many XAL spotlights. At 3250 K, the dashed red reference line in the spectrum is precisely matched in wide spectral ranges, and the R9 value, which particularly represents saturated red, achieves an excellent 96.

Vertical plant walls

Vertical plant walls are increasingly used as interior design elements and can now be found anywhere from underground car parks to modern offices. These plant walls have a soothing effect thanks to their natural leaf shapes, green colours, and the increased humidity in the room. They increase well-being, performance and concentration, reduce fatigue, make it easier to breathe and ensure a calmer sleep and lower blood pressure. They are ideally positioned in shaded areas of the room. The selection of plants usually consists of various shade plants. Ideally, plant walls should be illuminated from above at an angle of 45° using a wall washer optic. With an illuminance of more than 1000 lux over 12 hours, a colour temperature of 3250 K and a colour rendering index of Ra>95, the colours appear optimally saturated, and the plants thrive, growing healthily and displaying beautiful, natural colours.