Grow Light Source ???

No Sherry the lights don't keep me awake at night. I turn them on when I get up in the morning and off when I go to bed. I am going to get a timer though because I read where they only want 12 hours of light and I am giving them like 16 or 18. Not good. Plants get stressed too.

I bought a seed rack at a garage sale this summer so I took all of the plants that need to be in the bags longer and put them in that and then made room for my ones that need to come out of the bags to be under the light. Up close and personal. Here is a picture of my seed rack. You can get some pretty good deals at estate sales etc. Those lights for $7 sell at the garden supplies for $89.95. Jeanette

What is a bubble stone (I remember it being discussed but not what it is) and where to buy one. Also, did any of you put together your shop light?? My hubby cooks, I'm the maintenance man - so how do you get the S hooks, for the chain, to fit into the top of the light, duh, I know it's simple and I'm just missing it. I'm getting close to using those plastic ties I use with the blind slats for name tags on the brugs. Whew!!

Jeanette, looks like you got a real bargain!! I use bakers racks that were ten bucks at a dent and scratch sale.

The way the sun is shining, I'm not sure I'll ever need the light but I want to be prepared, just in case (I was a Brownie & a Girl Scout)...

I'm very excited, I got the S thingy in the shop light!!!!!

Way to go Sherry. We gals can be pretty handy when we put our minds to it. You will find the bubblers in the aquarium section at WalMart or other places. Easy to find and cheap to buy.

Way to go Sherry, I knew you could do it.

In the same area where they sell the pump, they have 'bubble stones'. Some are 6 or 8 inches long, mine is only about 1 inch. If I was home, I would take a picture and post, but I'm at work and can't right now. The stone pushes into the end of the air tube and makes lots of smaller bubbles than if they come right out of the tube. I think mine were 2 in a pack for about $1

great thread, just the info I needed.

I just got my lights set up so I can start, errr, greens. Of course this is the wrong forum, but I did a search on grow lights, and I always find such good info here, I will just sneak out the back door and lurk, I don't even know what a brug is...

great link Prism, thank you

I'm glad I clicked the 'watch thread' button. Several days ago, LindaSC, I FOUND the bleeping bubble stones, after having been to 6 WalMart stores without any luck at all. Well, thank you so much Linda/Brugie for sticking with me, wow!!! I emptied my water that had not been changed since I started it, soaked the bubbler stones, and fired her up. These loopy brugs are just so entertaining - I already had roots, but the bubbler stones threw so much water upwards, that they are now putting out roots in areas that are not even in the water. They are truly nutz for the bubblers and they, the bubblers, really do keep the water fresh(er)...

TamaraFaye, greens don't mind cold weather, we just throw the seeds in the ground and I'm in zone 8a, which is on the border of zone 7. I cannot wait to see what kind of green crop you get in your GH, which must be a biggie, huh??

...well, not a greenhouse, but an entry way which will grow green things...almost 8'x8', but not that much space after you take out for two doors and a window LOL maybe I will post a pic in propagation forum later...

I will be direct seeding some things of course, but it actually gets much colder here than what the zone implies, it was 18 last night. And the wind makes it worse. So I am giving some a head start. I will eventually also start flowers and tomatoes and herbs. I have not grown herbs before, but it appears some take a really long time to germinate.

I did a search for grow lights and found a TON of info. Will probably be building some stands this year. My free standing light is propped up on buckets and crate, because it is four foot wide, the shelves are three.

Tamara

Tam, be careful - don't burn up your plants, stacking stuff on buckets and crates, which could fall (not that I haven't done the exact same thing), but especially careful of a fire hazard for yourself, those who live with you and your home. This I say after having lost my office to an electrical fire, 3 years ago on Valentine Day.....

Sherry~ So sorry for your loss, fires are so tragic. And what a day too. :(

Thanks for the heads up, I made sure it was very sturdy. One bucket on each side, with crate on top. The entry way is void of all domestic and wildlife, except for some sow bugs in the corner LOL. It is out of the way, and nothing will be bumping it. I am going to find some three foot fixtures and bulbs ASAP, and get a four foot shelf for this fixture.
Now I will tiptoe thorugh the brugs, back to my usual forums. Thanks for letting me visit...

Come back and see us anytime TamaraFaye.

For your bubbling needs, go to the aquarium shop or ThatFishPlace.com.
Airstones if you really need one, in myriad sizes and shapes.
Balancing the load on an airpump can be managed easily as well.
There are things that can take a single input and provide multiple outputs from your airpump. They range from cheap 2 oulet plastic jobs up through multiple outlets (I've used 8 outlets with 2 inputs) and brass fittings.

So once you've got your airlines attached and ran to the buckets or aquariums, then you can adjust the individual valves for each outlet until you have the airflow balanced to your requirements. After awhile, the airstones can get clogged and create backpressure which will reduce the output as well. There are ways to clean them or just replace if you're using the little cheap ones.

Shoplights , timer and chains attached to the beams over the original table or the rack above on the metal rack. I've had geraniums, petunias and peppers bloom under them with abandon... in the unfinished basement in Jan/Feb. This winter is my first step into the world of Brugs and the cuttings I ordered have taken off. They're in their 2nd pot since received and have me wondering where I'm going to move them. I've also got my first seedling up.. finally. (Tnx Brugie)

Here's an example of the airgang valve: http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F03/Class/Fish+Supplies+Air+Accessories/T1/F03+0291+0033/EDP/8836/Itemdy00.aspx

Here's a link to their aquarium products page - how about 6 airstones for 1.89
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F03/PgNo/1/Class/Fish+Supplies+Air+Accessories/Shopay00.aspx


That spool of airline tubing for $20 can come in real handy. I've been working on the same spool for a number of years. Gardeners? Try it staking or training trees and tall plants!! It flexes, is reusable, allows light through to the trunk and is STRONG. I keep a couple of feet looped around the handle on my wheelbarrow and the dolly. If nothing else, I always have to stake up some monster sunflowers.

Amazing. I just wrote to you Blaine. LOL! Came here, and here you are. Hey, I'm glad you are finally getting some germination. I had some damp off with some of mine this year, so I'm starting more...as if I really need more.

How about a picture? I would love to see: Shoplights , timer and chains attached to the beams over the original table or the rack above on the metal rack. I've had geraniums, petunias and peppers bloom under them with abandon...

Sounds like my kind of gardening. Also,

Gardeners? Try it staking or training trees and tall plants!! It flexes, is reusable, allows light through to the trunk and is STRONG. I keep a couple of feet looped around the handle on my wheelbarrow and the dolly. If nothing else, I always have to stake up some monster sunflowers.

Jeanette

I'll take a wide angle shot of the mess tomorrow. The only shots I've got on the computer are my first brugs received 11-22 (sorry wilted lot) and them again yesterday in the background of an example of coir expanded. The one geranium I kept for stock this fall was frost bit and cut back to soil, so it hasn't got big enough to bloom yet.

These are my seedlings in my bedroom, lots of light from South window, shop light comes on at 4:30 pm untill 10pm, sorry picture is dark, too much light from window.

Here's the main table. I've gotten rid of most of the houseplants and stuff I'd accumulated, except for cactus in the back started from seed a couple years ago. They're permanent residents along with a few others who don't mind being neglected between Mar-Dec when I'm outside
Taller stuff or seedlings that outgrow the wire rack go here. I just moved a pencil cactus from here which was shoved in the back against the window. Didn't realize how big it had gotten until I extracted it a week ago and had been circling around and bunching up under the lights. I knocked two tubes out getting that thing out of there!
~~~edited
All fixtures into a heavy extension into a timer thats on from about 8am-10pm



This message was edited Jan 16, 2005 11:44 AM

This is the original wire rack. There's two, 2 tube 48" fittings on 3 of the racks. Rather than changing the rack spacing (which can be done) I just lower/raise the lights with hooks on the chain or set empty pots under the seedlings. I'm getting seed starting stuff together today and washing it all. Most of those pots on this rack are from not having the heart to throw away bannanas I left out in several frosts. I potted up what looked like good pups and low and behold they are starting to sprout. There was a 10" in the other pic that just moved up to the big table. On the bottom rack is the lone geranium I kept for stock. It'll move up to the big table today as well. Keep it a bit warmer and jack it up with fertilizer and I'll start taking cuttings next month.

~~~edited
All fixtures into a heavy extension into a timer thats on from about 8am-10pm


This message was edited Jan 16, 2005 11:44 AM

Thanks for the pictures. I love to see how other people are growing their plants.

Kareoke, it is hard to see, but it appears that you have a lot of healthy plants growing in your bedroom.

And 8ftbed, I was looking for the circuit breaker. LOL One thing about it, I don't think the florescents draw much electricity. What is the temperature where you have your plants? Are they in your open basement where a furnace is?

I was offered such a space but thought it would be too warm for the plants??

Jeanette

Looking good Doris. I tried a while ago to enlarge your picture and the site was so slow it timed out before it would load. You are going to have a ball with those this summer.

You need more plant Blaine, to fill up those shelves. LOL!

Jeanette this is an unfinished basement. Central air is down there and there's a register on the duct work but I usually keep that closed. I haven't taken a temp but I'd say it stays in the mid-low 60's year round and a little warmer under the lights when they're on. Once I get something sprouted, they grow fine down there with the light. BUT it's cool enough that I've cultivated tons of moss and gray fungus. Underneath the main table in plastic trashcans/bins are cannas and dahlias. Even sitting on the cold pavement in what I think is total dark... there'll be foliage all mashed up against the lids when I open them. I haven't taken my first peek yet this winter.

Well I smell like bleach from cleaning pots. Shirley, this may be the lone survivor from your seeds and he's looking pretty good now. He was from the unknown cross batch.
(the dates are from Birch trees started last winter. planted 12-26, sprouted 1-18)

Now that you have got one to grow, I think you need to try more. LOL!

What pretty eyelet on your window, healthy brug too!!!

What a fun room, 8ftbed! Are you tall??

Sherry,

That is Kareoke's bedroom window. Jeanette

Thank you Sherrymaybe I should try a picture at night

got one :)

too cool kareoke ... did you do your own walls too? rag?

sherrylike - 6ft and shrinking I think :)

I agree with 8ftbed, too cool!!! I love eyelet, when I was a child, my room was white eyelet, with drapes, cornice board, ruffles, etc, lined in PINK, which might be why I LOVE pink brugs...

Nice Picture Doris. Are you fertilizing those Brugs? What are you going to do with them when they get big and it is too cold to put them outside? My problem. I quit fertilizing so theywouldn't grow.

Jeanette

8ftbed, that is Feather painting, much nicer than just a plain wall.
Yes I give them a small amount of miracle gro every two weeks.
I have a spare bedroom, and a large basement I can use, I can't bear thinking of them going dormant, they are too young, and I am anxiouse to see my first Y

Maybe I've been dreaming again, but I believe Monika said one time that brugs need a resting period in Dec. and January, from fertilizers. For the life of me, I can't remember why, this morning. I slept late and haven't even had coffee. LOL!

I am using my computer room (smallest bedroom in the house) for my GH. I only have 1 window and it is a south window for putting my brug cuttings in. I got all but 1 of these cuttings from JJsgarden. I went to my local Ace hardware and purchased shelves and fixtures and mounted them at my window. This way I have two shelves to put plants on. If your plants don't get to tall you could always add 1 or 2 more shelves. They really weren't that expensive to set up either. And I did all the work myself without any help from my DH. I have 7 brugs on the bottom and there is 6 on the top. 3 of them I have used the bottoms of gal. vinegar bottoms for pots. About every 3 days I turn them around so they aren't just growing toward the sun. What sun we have been getting lately. I thought this might be a suggestion for some you who use there south windows and sometimes run out of space.

Edited to say as you can see from the photo my computer room is used for a lot of things, my GH, my DH has his gun cabinet and guns in there and he has his 6 ft. mounted black bear in there along with our pug dogs carriers and containers with there dog food and treats, and the container with the cats food. I have also converted the closet into my sewing room, if you can imagine. It may be the smallest bedroom in the house but it is the mightiest.

This message was edited Jan 17, 2005 9:09 AM

They take a rest at the same time in their native habitat Shirley.

Since this thread is moving this am, I need help identifying the attached plant. I bought the flower pot for $1 and the bulbs were in it but the lady selling them told me they were dead. I've been wallpapering in the bathroom where this photo was taken, and the plant was pushed aside and was covered up and it had been that way for some time - you can imagine my surprise when I uncovered it and found the cute little leaves. Do any of you know what it might be and how to take care of it?? TIA!!!

Sherry, if you don't get an answer here, and you probably will, the ID forum is great for getting plants identified. The tropicals forums is good too. I love to go to the ID forum just to see if I can learn something from time to time. Problem is....I can't remember anymore. LOL!

I like the ID forum, but I was hoping for a quick answer here because I called the place where I got them and they have no idea what they are but they still have three, on sale, with the tiny 'dead' bulbs, and I had them put back and will pick up today, a really nice bargain and if I can get the others to come up, I'll give them for V-day gifts to my hubby's mother, my son's wife and my aunt...I'm off to the ID forum...thanks, Shirley!!!

Linda, your plants look great. Wish I had a window with as much light. I have a south window but it is only big enough for 2 good size plants. You've given me the inspiration to go feed mine some more. You are right. If we don't feed them now it will take all summer to get any size to them.

Sherry, love the plant. It looks like a tropical. Judy Cooksey is good with tropicals.

Jeanette