I'm wondering about the amount of light needed to grow av's

I was just thinking about how long I keep my av's under the lights. It's usually around 14 hours per day.

I was wondering why they need this much light? Because in their natural environment I'm sure they get much less than 14 hours of light per day.

Any of you have any thoughts on this?

The key is how are your plants responding to 14 hours? In my plant room, that would be too much. It all depends on your particular set up.

Oh my goodness, I more I read the more questions I have....
My assumption is that Snowrose may have halide lights or some mighty strong lights????
I just have mainly 72" high stands with only 2 40watt full spectrum lights on each shelf.....

The average light required is only 10 hours.

Does that 10 hours depend on what kind of light?

Does anyone know how many footcandles of light their plants are getting? I suppose that would be where the difference comes in. Is that correct?

you know I am not that smart, RainGazer!!!! (LOL)

It's in one of my books, but I've been too lazy today to look it up. They're older books, too so something may have changed since they were published.

You're very smart, Gail, you just haven't completed gathering all your information yet! ;o) I don't think any of us have, really. There's always something new to learn.

But I am running out of time, RainGazer!!!!!
I have a plaque hanging in my kitchen one of my kids gave to me.....as I am a big procrastinator (except for my plants). It reads:
"Destined For Greatness But I'm Pacing Myself"
I just love the way you put that.

This message was edited Apr 29, 2007 3:57 PM

So here's what I've found out. I bought one of those cheapo light, pH, moisture meters at Lowe's. A whopping $8.95 so you know it's accurate to the nth degree... Anyway, it shows that with my lights alone, they're getting 200 footcandles of light and with the window open and sunlight streaming in they're getting 1100 footcandles. I know 200 footcandles isn't enough. And it's the same on all my shelves. Some of the lights need to be replaced, but some of them are only about 3 months old. Shouldn't the newer ones be providing more light than the older ones?

Maureen, I haven't meant to hijack this thread, and I hope you find the information above relevant to your question. Fact is, I don't really know the answer, unless it goes along with what I've found on my shelves. Perhaps a small amount of sunlight is equal to a very large amount of artifical light.

I do know this....I ran out of space for standard av's and put tables under the windows on the east and north side of the house....they are getting ready to bloom....so, you are absolutely right, RainGazer.....evidently they are getting more light sitting on the table by the window...

Most of my AVs are only getting natural light. They are in a mini-greenhouse that sits inside a northwest-facing window with a miniblind. They get bright light all day and a little bit of diffuse sun in the late afternoons. I have some living in a large terrarium and they get fluorescent light, and a couple in small jar terrariums that get natural light in a west-facing window on which the miniblind is rarely opened (but the light is very bright and other plants in that window are also doing well). I don't have any way to set up any artifical lights.