do the light requirements increase with s/h?

[let_it_grow]

I hear lots of plants grow bigger in s/h so does this mean they need more light? It sounds like such a stupid question i know

[Ray]

An interesting question, but one that I doubt anyone has an answer for!

My "gut" tells me "no", based upon the following logic:

Ignoring genetics and assuming similar other cultural parameters, it is true that growth may be limited by insufficient light, nutrition or water.

Semi-hydroponics (if done correctly) improves the last two by making more of those resources more readily available, so "allows" the plant to grow bigger and faster. That is not to say that the same cannot be done in a non-s/h mode, but it is more difficult, due to the air management complications of the root zone. In other words, s/h does not "cause" bigger growth, it allows it to happen, as it's easier to approach the plants' maximum absorbable levels.

The same would be true of light - there is an upper limit to what the plant can absorb, but s/h has no impact on that. Instead, heat and tissue damage results from excessive intensity, and interference with other chemical processes can come from improper light/dark periods.

[kenr62]

My guess would also be no.

I have grown extensively under HID lighting (HPS & MH) with similar plants in s/h (clay aggregate in pots), on cork or tree fern slabs and in mostly open baskets.

Optimal growth would typically occur when the conditions most closely resembled the plants native habitat.

I most often got the best results with many epiphytes on cork slabs with 8 to 10 heavy daily mistings.