Plants never cease to amaze: now, a scientific team has managed to get certain plants to succulents glow in the dark after a brief exposure to light. The discovery aims to offer dim, functional lighting without cables or plugs, focusing on fleshy species that tolerate this procedure well.
The research, developed in the South China Agricultural University and published in the journal Matter, explores a non-genetic route: instead of altering DNA, luminous materials are introduced into tissues to create “lamp plants” capable of being charged with light and emitting a gradual glow.
How to get luminous succulents
The mechanism is based on the phosphorescence vs. bioluminescenceThere are no continuous chemical reactions here; the particles store energy from an external source and release it gradually, creating that characteristic glow after the light is turned off.
To achieve this, the team used strontium aluminate (a persistent phosphor similar to that in glow-in-the-dark toys), prepared in micro-particles of about 7 micrometers, a size comparable to that of a red blood cell. These particles are injected into the leaves from the Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Energy, taking advantage of the anatomy of succulents to distribute themselves evenly.
After several tests, the species that worked best was the rosette Echeveria 'Mebina'. In other plants with finer leaves, the particles tended to get stuck forming spots, while in this succulent the uniform intercellular channels They allow for a more even distribution and continuous glow across the entire leaf.
The procedure, refined by trial and error, adjusts the particle size, injection pressure and substrate porosity so that the fillers are housed in the mesophyll cell wall (the photosynthetic zone). Each plant takes about 10 minutes to prepare and the material costs just over 10 yuan per unit (without labor).
Results: brightness, colors and range
Treated succulents reach a light intensity comparable to that of a candle in the initial moments and maintain a visible glow for approximately two hoursCharging is achieved through sunlight or indoor LED lighting, after which the plant emits light in a decreasing manner.
Depending on the formulation of the phosphorescent material, the team obtained a palette of colors which includes shades of green, red, orange, and even blue. This variety broadens the aesthetic spectrum and allows the light to be adjusted for more decorative or ambient uses.
At Echeveria 'Mebina', the brightness appears quickly and homogeneously: in seconds, entire leaves display a uniform glow thanks to the guidance of the particles by the internal ducts of the leaf. This distribution avoids saturated points and favors a more continuous visual effect.
As a demonstration, the researchers assembled a wall with 56 luminous succulents capable of illuminating nearby objects to allow reading of low-demand text. The test was conceived as a proof of concept for low-intensity applications in gardens, paths or interiors.
However, challenges remain. For succulents to function as practical living lamps, the luminescence would need to last considerably longer, and it is key to assess the environmental impact of micro-particles at the end of the plant's life. The team itself emphasizes that this is a test phase and prioritizes studies of long-term biosecurity before thinking about a massive deployment.
With this non-genetic approach, luminous succulents are positioned as a promising line of research: a soft light system, rechargeable with light and relatively affordable, which still needs to fine-tune its autonomy and environmental footprint to integrate seamlessly into everyday life.