I was thinking of adding lighting.....I have researched some and really like the UFO's, but holly markerel its is pricey, has anyone used it, or what is working for you?...I feel the UFOs after the intial shock of the price will pay for theirselfs in a couple years because of energy consumption. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks...Steve
Are you using artificial lighting?
Right or wrong, I just go to Walmart, buy the fixtures and the gro light bulbs..........seems to work fine..................
Some buy those super expensive carts with the trays and lights. They can get rather expensive! http://indoorgardensupplies.com/large-stands-lite-carts-c-106_144_105.html
Many folks do as Gessiegail said and go to the local Wal-Mart and buy the shop lights and use chain so they can be raised or lowered to different levels on the stands.
Now me, I just bought the metal stands when they were on sale and the grow light fixtures (all from Wal-Mart) and wired the lights to the underneath of each shelf. This is an old photo ... sure wish my stand had blooming plants that looked like this now! I'm not such a good gessie caretaker lately, I'd be embarrassed to show a picture of this stand today!
edited to say: Someday my dream is to have one of those nice all in one carts with the trays and nice lighting, but for now this is it!
This message was edited Nov 14, 2008 10:17 AM
Steve, is this what you mean?
http://www.hydroponicsfarming.com/product-612.html
I imagine these UFO lights put out some serious candlepower. Streps grow naturally in shady areas and my thought is these may be too much for them.
I use standard florescent fixtures with reflectors that have wide spacing between the bulbs. I try to provide provide both warm and cool light bulbs in each fixture for emitting both the red and the blue spectrum. A good combo is GroLux wide spectrum and a regular cool white bulb.
Streps need shade? Maybe that's one of my problems!
Yes Goldleaf thats the lights, I like the fact they are led with no heat build up at all, I shouldn't be to crazy, if its not broke don't fix it type of deal, I have 75 streps live in northern Vermont and the sun doesn't show its pretty face much in the winter....I have so much invested in plants, I didn't want at the last minute this winter to be scrambling for a fix, of a lighting problem gone wrong, Do you think the streps will continue to do great through the winter as they are now? ie the lighting thing, they are all in my massive 4 bay windows now.
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”.
OOH! That's a beauty! I been wanting a variegated leaf strep. Since my space is very limited, I have only a few streps.I grow all of them in the window and they do fine. They do slow down and stop blooming in Jan/Feb.
Goldleaf, Thanks so much for the info....Really appreciate all the input. Thats a super looking plant, thanks for the pic.
I have a light meter on order for my orchids, seems it will come in handy for my streps as well.
Plantladylin, your setup looks fantastic, you should be proud, very, very nice I have been debating about building my own display area, all out of ceramic tile and stone. I need to get my act together and do it, but because I do it everyday, its hard to do it at home, although my house is 70 ceramic tile and stone. Go figure huh?
I love the variegates too, phoebe, as they are pretty with or without bloom. Gessiegail just sent me one of my very favorite variegated streps that I used to have and loved...Canterbury Surprise. I sure missed that one.This is an old pic of the blossom of CS...
Wow! That is an AMAZING Strep, GoldLeaf! What's the name of that one? Not that I will ever have a Strep again, I haven't been able to keep them alive for more than a few days to a week! I sure enjoy seeing everyone's pic's!
Vermontdirt: I wish my stand looked so nice now ... that photo is from a year ago. Everything on that stand died when I had an infestation of mites or something from not isolating new plants that I brought in! I hope I've learned my lesson.
Now, a stand made of ceramic tile and stone sounds absolutely Wonderful! That would really be gorgeous! And would be the perfect place for showing off African Violet's, Streptocarpus and other gesneriads! Hey, winter's coming ... you could have a great winter project, but it is understandable if you do that type of work for a living. Sometimes it's not fun coming home and doing the same thing you do all day ... except that it would be for your home and a great display for your plants! If you do get around to making it, please, please post pictures when it's finished!
Steve...streptocarpus and rocks...yeah! With your talent, you could build something awesome.
http://www.dibleys.com/article1/index.htm
Beautiful strep!--Is it Trish? My name is Jan. Phoebe was my beloved shih tzu who died about a year ago. Two of my favorite streps are orchid lace and black___...darn...I forgot, but I mentioned it in another post recently. I hate getting old! LOL
Is it Black Gardenia, Jan? I love those little Shih Tzu's and I know how hard it is to lose a pet that is loved so much.
Lin, I forgot to answer your qustion before. The first strep photo is Iced Canadian Sunset.
ROTFLOL! No wonder I couldn't find the post! I posted about it on that other forum(GW)--It's Black Panther--It was my first...^_^
Now, that Strep Black Panther has to be the darkest bloom I've ever seen. Love it! http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=images+of+streptocarpus+black+panther&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title
Black Panther is a good one.
I think I am giving my streps too much light and too close..............going to move them right now............
here is snow plumb pretty, varigated streps thats always in bloom.
mrsbonnie
What a beautiful strep, mrsbonnie!
wowser! Bonnie.
Goldleaf thanks for the link, now I see what you mean, a stone wall with pockets for potting mix and some lighting, very faint enclosed on the outside by tile, I am feeling it, I will see what kind of design I can put together......this is going to be a great project, I will start a thread on how its constructed, biggest thing is I need to get the stone now, everthing is starting to freeze here!
Boy was I wrong MrsBonnie I thought all varigated streps were all about the foilage and not about the flower, yours and Golfleafs are very nice!
Oh, another pretty variegated one ... and she is Plumb Pretty too! Thanks for sharing your photo Bonnie!
If I ever get the hang of what they want and like in my house I will have to try the variegated ones! Gorgeous!
OK.........I have to break the monotony of bringing plants in.........it will be 33 here Sunday morning and it was supposed to be 45 until 2 hours ago.............
So...........I am going to find a pretty strep to share and leave the plants where they are until tomorrow.
sorry about the background........this was before I learned to look behind what I was photographing! Iced Pink Flamingo
Gail, what background? ^_^. All I see is a georgeous strep sitting there. She's a beauty.
I am laughing so hard I can't type...............thanks imadigger! That was the first strep I ever had.........lucky me!
wanted to mention that the site Goldleaf posted is awesome...............everyone go read it..........amazing that streps could survive and grow in that environment................
Now I am just playing with old photos.............
This message was edited Nov 14, 2008 7:50 PM
streptocarpus Ruby
strep Poochie.................I will quit for awhile anyway...................I hope you get your project started and come back and show us!
this is before I knew you could 'crop' a picture..........
I love IGS shelves. I have two sets. They are expensive, but I like the way they look and the lights they have. The lights are ajustable. They are large, wide and easy to keep really clean!
This message was edited Nov 14, 2008 7:27 PM
They are great shelves Sally ... I hope someday to justify spending that kind of money for at least one! I love the space it gives you and the adjustable lights and the shelves. Are yours on casters so you can roll them around? I've heard some are and I really LOVE that feature!
Yours are great and your plants look so lovely!
With 8 gro light stands I can't afford to buy those wonderful professional shelves...........I thought about buying just one for african violets and nothing else........since they are fussier about conditions than their relatives.................
always have to post any old picture...........
Love that pink strep, Gail ... I'm just a pink kinda gal, the darker pink the better in my book. I'm not real fond of the real pale pinks ... I like the nice deep pinks and HOT PINK!
These were the days I didn't label the pictures with the names so..........if I don't remember the name I will probably never know who she was....she is a hot pink mama isn't she!
Gail that picture is Franken Carolynn ann, i love that bloom
bummer, I don't still have her............but I do have your leaf thank goodness...........
Lin, yes, they are on casters, they roll. They are on one wall of our home office so they never get rolled. But, if they need to be moved to clean etc, they can be easily.
They are to the left here in this room.
Another pic.
They are tall. I am 5'9" and they are quite a bit taller than me, hard to tell in the photo, but they are. Love the size.
Sally, you have a great set-up for them. The room looks so inviting. Love your violet too. It's awesome.