African Violets and Gesneriads: Are you using artificial lighting?, 1 by GoldLeaf91011

GoldLeaf91011 wrote:
Your streps will do okay in natural light but like all plants with shorter days, they get sleepy. I've grown many pretty ones that way. I know Vermont gets very cold and keep a watch on the temp in the windowsill....50-75F. Try a light set up. I like the idea of the UFO's not emitting much heat but really the amount of heat that is produced on standard florescents isn't a major issue in the winter months and a lot less expensive starting out. I grow my streps on the bottom shelf of my light stands and not too close to the lights. Seems to me, your New England climate would be a great place to grow streptocarpus.

Culture – Light: Streptocarpus are part of the gesenariad family require lower light regimes to produce high quality foliage and high flower counts. Light intensities should be maintained within the 1,000 to 1,500 foot-candle range. Under summer conditions, the light intensity should be maintained within the 1,000 to 1,200 foot-candle range. Higher light accompanied with higher leaf temperatures can also result in a leaf “scalding”.