Bioluminescent Plants

Imagine being able to add glowing plants to your plant collection. It sounds a bit crazy, but it’s actually a possibility because bioluminescent plants are the next big thing. We've seen a lot of houseplant trends come and go, but it seems like it's just the beginning for glow in the dark plants. “Bioluminescence is and always will be an eye-catching spectacle. Check out some of the glowing algae blooms in the ocean, some glowing fungi in our forests, or a swarm of fireflies on a nice summer night. Now imagine a garden that is self-illuminating at night. It’s true, you can't find bioluminescent plants in the wild, but being able to add some to your home is pretty special and a bit futuristic, too.

Bioluminescent plants have always existed but only in the imagination of science fiction enthusiasts. In the real world, various species of insects, fungi, bacteria, marine animals, dinoflagellates and so on can produce light on their own, but no known plant displays autogenic bioluminescence. Scientists have been trying to correct this unfortunate evolutionary fact for some time. Autonomously glowing plants, that do not need the addition of exogenous substrate with unpredictable diffusion, have been designed before. These rare bioengineering advances, often clouded by exaggerated marketing claims, silly headlines and unrealistic promises to replace electric light bulbs, started almost a decade ago with transplastomic tobacco transformed with a full bacterial lux operon.

What Kind of Plants Are Being Made Into Bioluminescent Plants?

Most of the bioluminescent plants we’ve come across are air plants. And while these plants aren’t genetically modified, they’re coated to create that glow. The trichomes help the glowing compound adhere to the surface of the foliage. It is made of silica-coated photo-luminescent nanoparticles. The silica bends the light around the nanoparticle and reduces its visible appearance. It is then mixed into a plant-safe sugar based liquid and is applied to the foliage. It then dries and sets to the leaf permanently. The coating is made to be slightly elastic to allow for stretching over new growth areas, though all glow plants mature and won't get much larger.

Does the Glow Last Forever?

If you’re wondering how long that will make your new plants glow for, the answer is for the plant’s life cycle. All you have to do is expose your Glow Plant to UV for a few seconds. The plant will then glow for about three hours before needing more UV exposure to “recharge” the glow. It’s a pretty spectacular thing to see and it’s just really cool to be able to see your houseplants glow in the dark.

Imagine placing these glowing plants in your bedroom and using them as a nightlight. Or you could leave them in your living room and as the sun goes down, your plant will glow and create a relaxing ambiance, similar to lighting a candle. These are just some of the ways you could add bioluminescent houseplants to your home decor.

The Impact of Bioluminescent Plants

And while spectacular, it’s also a bit novel. It makes people wonder, why are bioluminescent plants having a moment? Aside from being pretty, there’s actually a practical use for this in the commercial and industrial world. It can help identify pests and diseases on plants, allows us to understand how plants react to stress and stimulants, and so much more.

At home, bioluminescent plants add something special to your collection and are just as easy to care for as your other houseplants. Because the glowing compound is adhered to the plant’s surface, you can care for it the way you would a normal air plant. All you do is soak it in water every so often so it can rehydrate itself.