As temp. is getting cooler, we're bringing tropical perennials indoor. DPS is a perfect specimen for the home;
Dwarf Pink Singapore as Houseplant for The Season
...the location above is East facing, though the sun shine doesn't seem to linger for very long. Here West facing window; this won't get any direct sun until late in the evening. I've a feeling I'll have to use supplemental light for either location. Have you tried to make it possible to enjoy your tropicals over the winter months? Care to share your thought?
she's a beauty lily. i have used supplemental light but mostly i just put them as close to the window as possible. watch out for spider mites!
Thanks Tp, I surely will watch out for the pests. Thus far the spidermites seem to prefer brugs. more so than plummies or any other plants that I overwinter indoor.
Just to keep y'all update with the DPS plummie's adaptation indoor. In this particular spot; she isn't faring too well. The low light and lack of humidity is taking a toll on her. I'll need to move the plant to the makeshift greenhouse ASAP.
have you been watering her???
go to home depot at pick up the 68w 2700K fluorescent bulb. she will thank you for it. : )
tp, I understand the wattage, what's 2700K? A model number? Also, DH wants to know is it a T12 or T8? (beat me! have no clue what he's referring to. lol).
haha! it's neither of those. it is a self-ballasted compact fluorescent light. it's big! you can't miss it.
2700K refers to the color temperature. this light will give you that warm glow that we are used to seeing in the home. i had to order the 5100K bulbs online from HD supply. the latter bulb will give you more of the daylight look.
photosynthesis uses the orange and blue spectrum. hence, the two lights. however, the phosphor in the bulbs emit over a broad range. that means that the 2700K bulb has some blue spectrum and the 5100K has some orange spectrum. that being said, 2700K emits best on the orange end and 5100K on the blue end.
check out this link. http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/learn_about_light/pop_curves.htm?13&20 it is a comparison of the tri-phosphor colors for 2700K and 5000K compact fluorescent bulbs. mind you that these are spectra for GE bulbs. i am banking on the fact that the TCP bulbs are similar.
i can tell you that within one week of being under the 2700K light that my dormant plumie tips have sprang to life! another thing that surprised me was the root growth on a hoya cutting that i was water rooting.
you can see from this pic that you can put the light very close and not burn the plants. i have my light on for 16 hours each day. at 12 center per kwh, that's about $1 per week in electricity.
i forgot to mention that the orange end of the spectrum is responsible for flowering and the blue end of the spectrum is responsible for vegetative growth. so if you could only get one, it probably would be better to go toward 5000K - 6500K. i am seeing good results with the 2700K right now. however, it's possible it could make the plants leggy after an extended period of time. that's why i am getting the 5100K, too.
oh, so are you watering that plumie while it's inside?
I have to admit, I haven't watered that poor plant very often. tp, I've been away all day. Just returned and I'm so appreciated all the info. you've taken the time out to share. Will return and study all the info provided. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend.
LOL yeah, things were looking somewhat limp. just thought i'd ask. : ) have a safe and happy thanksgiving. don't eat too much turkey...haha!
hi lily,
this is what the 2700K did for kimo's two tips in 13 days. kimo started out with completely dormant tips. no sheen or wetness of which to speak. i think i am sold on the CFL's. : )
tp, sorry it took me a while to get back. The supplemental light is indeed very nice. I use ordinary florescent light in the basement, it seems to work out pretty good. In fact, it's good enough to support the development of Plummies' seedpods! Geez, imagine that!
Ooops, wrong pix, this is "Mystery" in bloom in the basement;
I took the centered pieace DPS downstair gave it drink and more light; it perked right back up.
The seedpods, these must have been pollinated outdoor, I didn't notice the pods until much later.
very nice set-up lily! looks like you already know what to do. LOL i am new to indoor lighting. i like what i see! : )
Thank you my friend, besides plummies, brugs too seem too thrive this time of year. These blooms fooled me to think it's spring inside while it's slowly becoming winery outside. lol.
the basement must smell nice!
do you get spider mites? i will be spraying my plumie leaves soon with horticultural oil for the winter.
Yes, spidermites is a persistent pests during the winter. Having them in the basement; I don't dare to spray chemical, for all the fume will tend to circulate into our living spaces....
But neem oil is a natural substance; I think I may try it. I will do some research on those. Thanks for the tip my friend.
the horticultural oil is like petroleum jelly and water. LOL no spider mites to deal with if you start before they've been inside too long.
how are you plumeria doing under lights? mine are fine. just fighting the gnats right now...aaargh!!!
Mine are doing just fine. Try hang some fly trap...you know, the sticky stuff will attract gnats and irradicate them. TP, do you know whether plumeria self-pollinate? I've more seedpods than I care to have while the plants are kept in the greenhouse. The makeshift gh.
hi lily - yeah, the plumeria can self-pollinate. lots of seed pods. that should be fun! :-)
Well, I found out the hard way. When I allowed the seedpods to grow and mature, it took so much energy out of the plant, thus less flower production the following season.....
you just need to fertilize more. as with anything in nature, pregnancy requires more nutrient intake. ;-) i must be eternally pregnant. LOL i always feel like i am eating for more than one. haha!
LOL, you're so much fun. Thank you, the indoor growing condition is somewhat different though, poor plants were impregnated in a non-conducive time. So to speak, lol.
All jokes aside, I'm thinking of wacking those seedpods--and sacrifice the inflo. along with it. Tough decision!
oh my lily! the visuals...LOL
i have my plumeria in the garage now. one of them is pushing out leaves. another one is holding on to its inflo. i would not get rid of the inflos if i were you. don't you want spring flowers??? ;-) seedpods would go first. i'd rather by a million known plumeria than plant bunches of seeds. however, once i figure out how to get seedlings to bloom in 12 mos or less, i might change my mind. haha!