Maximising Growth: Understanding the Pianta 30 PPFD Chart

When it comes to indoor gardening, "brightness" isn't enough. To truly understand how your plants will perform under the Pianta 30, we need to look at the PPFD.

If you’ve been searching for the perfect light intensity for your indoor jungle, you’ve likely come across this acronym. But what does it actually mean for your Monstera or your herbs?

What exactly is PPFD?

Think of PPFD as the "delivery speed" of energy to your plants. While we see "brightness," plants see "food."

• PAR (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density): This refers to the specific type of light waves (400 to 700nm) that plants can actually use to trigger photosynthesis. If light is "food," PAR is the nutritional content.
• PPFD: This measures how much of that "food" is actually hitting a specific spot on your plant's leaves every second. It is measured in micromoles per square meter per second (µmol/m²/s).

In short: PPFD tells you the exact intensity of usable light reaching your plant at a specific distance. Too little, and your plant becomes "leggy"; too much, and you risk light burn.

Want a deeper dive? Check out our Grow Light Terminology Guide

How to use the Pianta 30 PPFD Map

Because the Pianta 30 is designed with a specific beam angle, the light intensity changes depending on how high you hang the bulb. To help you find the "sweet spot" for your setup, we’ve mapped out the light spread below.