Question
Hello,

I use HO florescents for some of my plants, and noticed that using a mixed color temp that is more orange then blue seem to work better for the Nepenthes, while just more blue seems to work better for Heliamphora and the other highland plants.

Is that because lower more tropical altitudes have more natural light from the orange spectrum while ones like Heliamphora is in the mountains?

Answer
Hi John,

I've never seen any research in this area, but this would be very logical.  The more atmosphere the sunlight has to go through, it tends to shift the spectrum towards red.  This is part of why it looks red at sunset and sunrise.  Less air would allow more short wavelength shifting towards blue.  Over time plants would adapt to this.  This is definitely an area for more experimentation.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com