What Does Photosynthesis Mean?
Photosynthesis is the process used by plants and other organisms to convert sunlight into chemical energy to fuel their many activities. The chemical energy obtained through the photosynthesis process is synthesized from water and carbon dioxide (CO2) and is stored in the organism’s carbohydrate molecules.
The process of photosynthesis is crucial to the production of oxygen (O2) and to sustaining life on earth as it supplies life forms with their required energy and organic compounds.
Maximum Yield Explains Photosynthesis
The process of photosynthesis is essentially what brings nourishment to plants. It starts out with the plant absorbing sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. The plant takes in CO2 from the air, bringing it to its leaves, while the plant's roots latch on to water and guide it to various vessels.
The process of photosynthesis occurs mainly in the leaves of the plant, which contain tiny cells that absorb as much sunlight as possible through the use of chlorophyll.
In the photosynthesis process, the sun’s energy is then used to divide the water absorbed by the roots into different molecules like oxygen and hydrogen. As the plants "breathe", the oxygen is diffused back into the earth’s atmosphere, while the plant conserves the carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which it will later convert into energy and glucose. The glucose ends up contributing to the plant’s healthy development and growth, and some of it is stored in the fruits, roots, and leaves for later use.
Plants grown outside can generally perform the vital function of photosynthesis without any additional aid. However, plants grown indoors, such as cannabis, requires quite a bit of help to carry this out.
Grow lights generally need to be used in indoor cultivation, unless the plants are in a greenhouse setting where they can still receive natural light. Even these, though, can benefit from additional artificial lighting during darker times of the year. All indoor plants need to receive adequate amounts of water from some form of irrigation.
Whether or not indoor plants require additional CO2 to photosynthesize will depend upon how they're being grown. In a greenhouse, or other open setting, it may not be needed. However, in a closet, growroom, or tent type of set-up, additional CO2 may need to be added to the space in sufficient levels for photosynthesis.
It's important to replenish all of the inputs plants use during photosynthesis at just the right rates in order to product healthy, productive yields.
