The Effects of Light-emitting Diode (LED) and Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) on

the Growth of Mexican Snowballs (Echeveria elegans)

Alexa Myrtile L. Balinas

Shifra Lois M. Delfin
IC L. Gavia
Zhoey B.Gellor

Science, Technology and Engineering

Bukidnon National High School
January 2023
 Chapter 1

The Problem

Background of the Study

One of the most important factors affecting plant growth is light. Life comes

from light. It encourages growth, especially growth to living things such as plants.

Light is one of the most important factors in the process of photosynthesis. All plants

need light which brings to photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis involves

turning light energy into chemical energy that can later be released for the growth of

the organism. For photosynthesis, the process by which plants turn light, oxygen,

and water into carbohydrates. This energy is necessary for plants to develop, bloom,

and set seed. Without enough light, plants cannot produce carbohydrates, their

energy stores run out, and they eventually die.

There are many sources of light, the most common is the light from the sun.

Sunlight is the main reason for many plants to grow, sunlight also produces natural

light which leads to a greater and more positive impact compared to inorganic and

unnatural sources of light. However, there are seasons where rain and cloudy

weather blocks the sun which can also be caused by climate change, which then

causes for plants to be unable to receive sunlight.

Over the past years, artificial lights or grow lights have been used as a

substitute for natural light. It is used to help plants grow year-round especially in

climate change. Climate change is one of the main factors that changes the

temperature which then leads to extreme weathers. It especially happens in

Philippines where calamities frequently happen. With this, plants are one of the most

affected as climate change greatly impacts the living organisms.

In our country, most families have taken interest in growing flowers or plants

like succulents. Succulents have been rising in popularity since 2007 and became

even more popular when the COVID-19 pandemic started. Usually, it is been used

as a decoration and as a souvenir. Due to its durability and versatility, not only it will

survive outdoors but it can also be kept indoors. Mexican snowball (Echeveria

elegans) is one of the famous types of succulent. It is a member of the well-known

Crassulaceae family in Mexico. When fully grown, this plant can reach heights of 6 to

8 inches and a width of 12 inches. They are fast-growing plants, they enjoy and

prefer warm environment. However, due to climate change that cause long-term shift

in temperatures and weather patterns, it cannot grow fully since they require

exposure to sunlight for at least 6 hours daily in order to thrive. Factors like rainy

seasons, greatly affect the succulent as they need less water and more sunlight.

Therefore, using grow lights could be an effective alternative for natural sunlight

(Hellendoorn, n.d.).

Grow lights are used in growth and development of a plant. One of the most

popular grow lights are light-emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent lamp

(CFL). CFL are widely used to supplement sunlight (supplemental lighting) and day-

length extension (photoperiodic lighting) to produce horticultural crops in

greenhouses (Hoang et al, 2020). The various monochromatic LED lights are widely

used in growth facility for cultivating various plants, particularly horticultural crops

because of their higher luminous efficiency, lower radiation and power consumption

than the traditional white fluorescent lamp light. However, considerable inconsistent

effects have been reported in literature (Yuanchun et al. 2021).

 Therefore, the researchers aim to investigate how effective LEDs and CFL are

in the growth of Mexican snowballs compared to sunlight and help the gardeners be

worry-free about the weather affecting the growth of the plant at any day.

Framework of the Study

This study is anchored to these articles; Sunlight vs. Artificial Light in Plant

growth by Michelle Miley (2022), The effects of light-emitting diode lighting on

greenhouse plant (Virsile, 2013), and Growlight vs. Sunlight: Is Natural Light Really

Better Than Artificial? (Pure Greens, 2018). These articles supports that the artificial

lights namely CFL and LED can be used as an effective alternative to natural

sunlight in the growth rate of Mexican Snowball.

These articles demonstrate that just as sunrays emits various colors of

rainbow, artificial light does so in some respects. Studies have shown that with

proper care and attention, it is possible to grow plants indoor under artificial light. It is

effective to utilize LED and CFL lighting for your plants. Succulents, specifically,

Mexican Snowball, require at least 6 hours of exposure to light and can do so with

partial light. Thus, using artificial light is effective and less troublesome for

gardeners.

According to Pure Greens (2018), artificial lights can be sometimes more

effective than natural sunlight. There are times where sunlight can be difficult to find

depending on the season and region. There are places where spaces are

inadequate which cause the sunlight to be unable to sustain plants consistently. In

addition, plants, mostly cactus and succulents can survive in low lights and so, using

artificial light is a great decision. In fact, it is even more effective because succulents
can receive sufficient light daily without being bothered with numerous factors

affecting the growth in any way.

This study assists in developing techniques for improving plant isolation with

the use of LEDs and CFL as an effective alternative for natural sunlight despite the

climate change in some part of our country consistently intensifying.

Figure 1 illustrates the conceptual model of the study, showing the

independent and dependent variable of the study. The box shown on the right side

incorporates the independent variables. It shows the LED (Light-emitting diodes) and

CFL (Compact fluorescent lamp) as an artificial light, where the LED comes in

different colors; red, blue, yellow, and green. The dependent variable can be found

on the left side which is the growth of Mexican Snowball in terms of its size, height,

and weight. The arrow between the boxes then represents the effects of LED and

CFL on the growth of Mexican snowballs.

Artificial Lights Growth of Mexican Snowballs

 LED (red, blue, yellow,  Size

and green)  Height
 CFL  Weight

Figure 1. The Conceptual Model Showing the Parameters of the Study.

Statement of the Problem

This study focuses on investigating the effects of LEDs and CFL in improving

the growth of Mexican Snowballs.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following question:

1. What is the effectivity level of LED (red, blue, yellow, and green colored lights)

and CFL light in improving the growth of Mexican snowballs compared to sunlight

(control group) in terms of:

a. Number of leaves,

b. Height of the leaves, and

c. Width of the leaves.

2. Is there a significant difference in the effectivity level of LED and CFL on the

growth of Mexican snowball in terms of:

a. Number of leaves,

b. Height of the leaves, and

c. Width of the leaves.

3. Is there a significant difference in the effectivity level of LED and sunlight on

the growth of Mexican snowball in terms of:

a. Number of leaves,

b. Height of the leaves, and

c. Width of the leaves.

4. Is there a significant difference in the effectivity level of CFL and sunlight on the

growth of Mexican snowball in terms of:

a. Number of leaves,

b. Height of the leaves, and

c. Width of the leaves.

Null Hypothesis

H01: There is no significant difference in the effectivity level between LED and

CFL on the growth of Mexican Snowball.

H02: There is no significant relationship between LED and Sunlight on the

growth of Mexican Snowball.

H03: There is no significant relationship between CFL and Sunlight on the

growth of Mexican Snowball.

H04: There is no significant difference in the effectivity level between LED, CFL,

and Sunlight in improving the growth of Mexican Snowball.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study utilizes the CFL and LED lights as an alternative to sunlight for

succulent plants, specifically Mexican snowballs that the researchers will compare

and observe for months. Mexican snowballs are also limited in the area of where the

study is being conducted. The study will also compare the effects of the different

colors of lights on the growth of different plots, since most related studies show

individual observations and mostly focus on chemical changes. Thus, this research

seeks the answers of physical changes, specifically on the growth of Mexican

snowball in terms of height, plant size, and weight.

The study limits to acquisition of the specific type of light to be used for the

set-up. The 6 lights (LED red, blue, yellow, green, CFL, and sunlight) that will be

used will utilize the same light intensity and manufacturer. Stem of the samples to be
used from Mexican Snowballs will be taken from the exact same plant and have the

same maturity. When fully developed, it can reach a size of up to 15cm to 20cm tall

and 30cm wide. There will be 30 pots with 5 plants planted on it per light. All units

will be treated with the same amount of water (3 times a week). Various plots will be

exposed to different types of light for six hours each day, including natural sunlight,

CFL, and LEDs. The researchers tend to conduct this study within the duration of 1

year. Within 1 year of conducting and observing, the researchers will obtain the

answers to the research questions of this study.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will benefit the farmers, plant owners, BNHS,

specifically, Research Department students, and future researchers.

This research will primarily benefit farmers, the effectiveness of this study may

lead to improvement in growing plants indoors. Thus, providing farmers with a long-

term solution in dealing with unfavorable rainy weathers especially in dealing with

climate change.

While most people have decorative plants inside their house, plant owners

struggle to bring their plants in and out of their house for their plants to receive

sunlight. The outcome of this research can supply a solution bringing a convenient

way to maintain plants.

This study will be utilized as a guide to students who are undertaking similar

studies.
 The output of this study will serve as a useful reference to future researchers

who plan to make a study in relation to identifying and comparing the effects of

alternative sunlight to plants.

Definition of terms

The following are the terms relevant to the study. They are operationally defined:

Mexican Snowball. A Mexican Snowball is a succulent plant that will be

investigated from the different types of lights.

Light-emitting Diode. Light-emitting Diode a type of artificial light that will be

used as a source of light for Mexican Snowball.

Compact Fluorescent Lamp. Compact Fluorescent Lamp is a kind of light that

will serve as the Mexican Snowball’s light source.

Sunlight. Sunlight is a natural light that will be used as a controlled variable for

Mexican Snowball as a source of light.

Growth. This term refers to the effectivity level that compares the data

gathered from Mexican Snowball from different lights in terms of, number of leaves,

height and width.