I knw many of you have lighted stands.
I am considering getting some lights..any suggestion on where to buy?
Also what kind of light do I need?
Any suggestions would be welcome ;)
Grow lights
Look here.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/556131/
Plain old 40 watt cool light florescent tubes work just fine. You can get fixtures that take a pair of 4 ft. tubes for about $7 at Home Depot. You can also get fancy "grow lights" but I'm not sure they're needed to promote blooms & growth for AVs, and they sure are more expensive.
Here's a photo of the shelving unit I set up for seed starting. These are "Gorilla shelves" that we got at Sam's Club. They go together *very* easily with a rubber mallot, and I really like the fact that I can use quarter inch wood dowels through the adjustable shelf openings and simply place my florescent fixtures on the dowels. One word of warning though, do not think that you are coordinated enough to adjust the dowels while balancing the lights on them.... take the lights off, adjust the dowels, put the lights back on... I speak from experience, LOL.
This view shows the light fixtures being supported on the dowels. The lights get plugged into a power strip, which in turn is plugged into a timer.
Is that on the Space Station Mir or what?
Nice, Jill.
(Similar suggestion here with chains for hanging lights)
Kenton
LOL! I'd forgotten that Allison wrote that about "grow lights" being better than regular fl. tubes. My AVs seem to be doing better under "ordinary" florescent lights than they were with just bright indirect light, but maybe I'll treat them to a couple of "good" bulbs some day. I do have it on good authority (DeBaggio & others) that the expensive "grow lights" don't make any difference to garden seedlings.
Here's a photo of lots of little seedlings I started for last spring. I know, I keep promising to take my camera downstairs for some photos of the AVs & leaf pots that are now occupying the top shelf under these lights!
Ah, I see we were posting at the same time.... The lights over the top shelf are attached to a wooden crosspiece which in turn is hung from the ceiling, not with chains but from ropes tied with taut-line hitches so they can be easily adjusted (DH is an Eagle Scout).
It does have a "low budget space station" look with that attractive foil-backed insulation on the basement walls! LOL!
I think that Full-spectrum or "Sun" bulbs can be good (for colorful leaves). They often appear blue next to normal ones. (I use both.) Full-out "Grow Bulbs" can get very expensive.
It is an honor to cross-post with you!
I use the same. HD type 'shop' lights with two 'warm' bulbs. Actually some have 'cool' some have 'warm'
I use 'S' hooks and hook them to the metal stands.
no timers yet, because I get up at the crack of dawn and don't go to bed til late, so I do it manually.
The total light set up runs about 16.00 per light.
thanks so much EVERYONE!
I am going to try to talk my hubby into allowing me to take over at least one of the spare bedrooms LOL
Well only one since my parrots take over the second already..with the computer too that is :)
So lights would have to be involved :)
You guys are so great to share all this info with me :)
I do appreciate *and hang on* every word!
The thing about gro-lights the plants use 100 percent of the light needed for Av's to gorw, then with white cool the colors of light they don't need so they don't use it all. They will all work. In the long run Gro-lights give yu more bang for your bucks. In a way save you money :)) .
I got that article either out of an Av magazine or book ! Allison
The thread I worte does not just tell about what kind of lights to use, natural light to me is the best but I have too many babies. But it tells how different kinds of plants need more light. And African violets need more light say than Epsicas..and so on..
It also let you understand why light is the most important factor for growth of your African violets !
It also tells you Av's grown under floresant light fixtures require different amounts of fertilizer and so on. When I fount it in an AV book I thought it was so interesting and when I changed my light habits everything changed from leaf getting roots/babies faster, foliage healthy, big bouqets of flowers and so on.
This is about the different kinds of lights gro-lights....
Are Gro-Lux lamps expensive?
They cost twice as much as standard white fluorescent lamps, however with Gro-Lux lamps you get back in radiant energy usable by African Violets nearly 100 per cent of the electrical power you put into the lamp. From conventional white fluorescent lamps you get in usable radiation about 50 per cent of the power you pay for - the rest goes into radiation that plants do not need or use.
What can I expect if I switch to Gro-Lux lamps?
The first thing you will notice is the dramatic change in the appearance of your African violets! Every bit of flower color enhanced and foliage looks lush and vibrant and exceedingly healthy. Within a week you will see that they actually are growing better.
Where do you get grolux lamps? I will check them out also.
Do they use standard fixtures?
This message was edited Dec 14, 2005 8:22 PM
I use GE "sunshine 40" bulbs. On the packaging of the light bulbs, you can compare the light output (measured by lumens). I compared the "sunshine" bulb to the "grolight" bulb and found them similar. For example, the sunshine bulbs I bought have a light output of 2250 lumens while grow bulbs generally provide around 1650. Compare that to ordinary fluorescent bulbs that put out around 3150 lumens. The sunshine bulbs were about 40% less in cost than the grow light bulbs (I believe I paid about $8 a piece at Lowe's for the sunshine bulbs). I know this is still a substantial amount when you can purchase a regular bulb for less than $2. I just bite my tongue when I have to replace any and remind myself that they last a very long time!
Like Allison stated above, you get more in the long run if you use a bulb that puts out the proper type of light because the plant actually uses all of the light. As James stated above, the color of the foliage is more intense with "grow lights" so that greens will be deeper and variegation will be more intense. I've also heard that pink variegation will develop in plants under "grow lights" that may not otherwise occur under ordinary fluorescent bulbs.
Critter--that's an awesome setup!
Stephanie
It works for me, LOL! I start most of my plants for the veggie garden, lots of basil, a few flats of annuals, various perennials (there's a flat of daylily seedlings on the top shelf in that photo),etc. Last year, I think I had 2 dozen flats under lights, and I'm sure I gave away at least 6 or 8 flats of "extras."
BTW, if you want to see a really impressive setup, look for the photos Weezingreens posted last spring! Her whole basement is given over to light tables, and she has greenhouses (yes, plural) set up also!
Since the AVs have taken over a couple of shelves, I think I need to set up more light shelves, or I'll run out of room too quickly this spring. :-)
Lorry how are your lighted plants stands coming along ?
Oh it is finished!
I need to take pictures of it tonight when I get home from work.
We ended up taking an unscheduled trip to Homestead sunday to a palm tree nursery.
So I didn't get a chance yet :) But I will post some tonight
Yeah ! How exciting !!! Is it full already ??
*laugh* Yup..it has mostly been taken up by the leaves that I started for spring trading!
They fill up super fast !
Ok here are the promised fotos :)
and my lil friend Mac's stop sign!
Anyone know if this is a mini?
He sure seems to be!
ooooh way to go Lorry!
I mentioned this over in the hoya forum. I don't know if it will do any good or not, but on my light fixtures that take two bulbs, I am putting one of the expensive 'grow' bulbs with broad spectrum for plants, and one cheap not so broad spectrum.
When you start adding a light per shelf it starts getting costly. I figured at least they have one bulb doing it's very best to get it the right light and one doing a halfway decent job.
Anyone have any experience doing that?
Just watch how fast that shelf fills up!!!
(laugh) It is already filled up with leaves! Ones we hope will grow so people will have some spring babies!
Mine only have one light per shelf but thanks for the tip!
I have four ft. fixtures two in each one I bought a few at a time. When you replace them do one at a time. Nice stands Lorry :))
Mac's Stop sign is Semi-Miniature .
Not sure Begonia if you can see my fixtures abouve ?? My shelves are 24 " I have double fixtures going down each side and one down the middle :)) Allison
I wish I had the room you guys have for stands!
LOL we don't have basements here unfortunately :(
Though I may be begging to take up more house space soon!
Seems I have violets in every cubby hole already :)
Ok semi mini :) good to know!
I just love the flowers on it :)
kind of, but it's hard to tell.
what do you mean by replace them do one at a time? I don't understand...
When it's time to re-place old light tubes replace one in a fixture at a time, couple weeks later replace the other so your plants don't go into over does of light.