I have been trying to find out information on grow lights or flourescents for maintaining and growing tropicals etc indoors over the winter months.I have spoken to a few people now,all with conflicting opinions. .Talking to a person who sells lights for this purpose,I have been told that flourescents are not suitable and that the plants will soon grow leggy after a few weeks...so who has had successful experience growing plants this way for more than a 'few' weeks.I would need to use the lights for probably 3months.I am only looking to grow vegative(foliage)growth not flowers.I will need to have this set up asap as we are nearly into winter.I am approx 2 hours inland from Brisbane QLD where we have up to 30 odd frosts in winter and as I have little protection in my yard for these tender plants this way seems to be the the best alternative
Thanks for any help. cheers
Grow lights for cuttings & small plants
I recently set up a small aquarium, that I am using for growing seedlings.
On a friend's advice, I am using a round work-light fixture (see pic). The store where I bought it had 60 watt grow-light bulbs, so I bought one.
I use the milk carton to mount the light fixture, because it fits nicely over the aquarium.
My friend has been doing this for quite some time. She says that the way to avouid 'legginess' is to get the light source close to the seedlings. When I try that, it burns the plants. The 60 watt bulb is too strong. My friend uses flourescent bulbs, so I'll buy one the next time I'm in the store.
Hope this helps - I wish I could tell you more, but I just started this.
Steve
Hey there Brical,
Florescent do okay for small plants and cuttings. I kind of suspect you may have some sizeable plants to overwinter?
This is my experience- Floresence like I said works great for small plants. I use a high pressure sodium light in the green house, and even at that, it doesn't broadcast as much as I would like it too. It gets about 3-4 foot section of the greenhouse. They consume noticeable electricity. I got mine from a police auction for fairly reasonable price, and they might have similar auctions there. They are always in supply of the lights because..well, they're used for "other" types of plants not quite welcomed in the herbs & spice section just yet, and the Growlux lights are often confiscated and auctioned. These however are probably not suitable for in the house albeit folks do use them, as they produce considerable heat.
LED, has now surfaced with spectrum lighting that works admirably, but again there is the broadcast range to consider, which generally means more lights for more plants. I've not tried LED yet, but it's on the top of the list.
As you know, I have the green house stuffed with plants, and truthfully unless I went "proffesional" with the lighting, I don't find it to be of much use. Of course, this may be different if I had plants stuffed in a basement, with no light at all..so it all depends on the over winter location you have chosen.
Ideally it would be an enclose porch, an area of the house with a large window or windows, cold frame greenhouse.
Some light is better than no light- florescent or otherwise, but you may be disappointed, or have greater expectations as I did. As always, we gardeners have to find the more economical avenues, as our investments are already vast in the garden.
This is a link about LED botanical lighting, and if your interested can pursue it there.
http://shop.sunshine-systems.com/product.sc?productId=11
Thanks Skaz and Rj for all your help,it is appreciated.I should have enough info now..I was all ready to use flourescents until store owner told me I would be wasting my time and that plants would soon grow weak and leggy.
Randy, that is hysterical about your police auction finds; I am going to start watching for their ads and see what I can come up with. Some of that good hydroponics equipment certain (busted) growers use would be a welcome find.
Here is the web site...they ship from west & east coast. It's the recovered/unclaimed/confiscated Police Ebay..lol
http://www.propertyroom.com/
OMG, that is funny; who would have thought they have so much "stuff". One light set up I looked at weighed 76lbs; the good price would probably be offset by the shipping charges.
true,