Why do plants grow so fast when the lights are out in the dark?

sed03f

sed03f

a plant a fish
Jul 23, 2008
683
0
0
Florida
inverthobby.com
Real Name
Sarah
Whenever I leave for the weekend, and leave my tank lights out. I come home to find all my plants have grown! This time, all my wendii crypt plants have twice as many new leaves shooting from the surface. My tropical sunset, rotala, ludwigia and asian ambuia all reach the top of the tank and are leaning now. Even the pygmy chain sword and java moss looks thicker.

Is this good for the plants? I am thinking of doing it more often maybe. Everything looks healthier. Does this mean I leave my lights on too long?
 
They do it because they miss you.

I notice it too, especially after a 3 day black out.
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
thats when plants grow is when the lights are off.
Click to expand...


Why did I not know that? I feel silly, I am always so excited to see what my tanks look like when I get back, they always look so much better.


Jag1980- that would be sweet, but I am sure they would be mad at me if they knew I forgot to fertilize the last two water changes.
 
Wow, I had no idea. So the plants eat when the lights are on.... but grow when the lights are off? Wow. Uh.... now I don't know what I know anymore..... (Can you tell I have about 5 plants total between 10 tanks?)
 
Plants don't eat when the lights are on but make their food, sugars and carbohydrates, via photosynthesis. During the periods that they are not photosynthesizing is when they consume the food to grow.
 
Makes sense. It's like when children fall asleep, all their energy goes to growing. When they are awake, all of it goes to activity.
 
wow that is fascinating, ive never thought of that
 
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