Grow lights
pmcaddis
10 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (45)
brandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomandolls
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Dwarf Papaya growing and blooming under grow lights
Comments (5)Nice papaya plants! I'd like to know about the growing conditions when they are indoors...what's the room temperature where they're growing, and how often do you water them. I've had difficulties keeping papayas alive in the winter unless I have them on heat pads and under grow lights, and there's a size limit on the table where I have the heat pad. And if I just set them next to a window (it's a cold house), they eventually develop root rot, even when I water sparingly. So I've like to know your secrets, if you'll share them. John...See MoreGrowing tropical hibiscus under grow lights
Comments (20)I'm in Oregon, zone 6b. I brought about 20 tropical hibiscus inside and am trying a variety of lights mixed with sunlight. I also have them in a room that's kind of closed off from the rest of the house and will stay very warm all winter. I have humidifiers going as well. So much information had my head spinning so I'm trying a bit of everything. I trimmed what seemed to me a lot while leaving plenty left on the plants. Almost immediately they all had new growth and blooms. I have rehab plants that have never bloomed before blooming. They all seem to thrive and it makes me so happy and proud! Unfortunately I discovered spider mites on a different kind of plant that I wasn't as careful about making sure I did what I could do to not bring pests inside. I know I have created a very comfy environment for bugs and diseases. Ugh! I hope I learned my lesson and can get the infestation under control. Overall I'm really looking forward to beautiful flowers all year round!...See MoreRoses and Grow Lights? Indoor Growing?
Comments (15)Is it possible to grow roses indoors? I'd say yes, with some major caveats. It won't be cheap and it won't be easy. I grow orchids, and I start rose cuttings with my orchids in orchidarium, which is indoors. I've grown those cuttings on, to some degree. The first hurdle is to provide enough light. When I mean enough light, I mean more light than even high-light cattleya orchids require. Keeping in mind that direct sunlight is 10,000 ft-candles, to grow a rose, you'd need to produce (my guess) at least 5-6,000 ft candles of light. This would be about 2 feet away from a 1,000 watt halogen bulb, which is about the size of a street lamp halogen. The new LED lights may be able to provide it at a lower energy cost. I tried one a few years ago, and it was a bunch of hype that didn’t work to grow even my low light orchids, but technology has improved since then. Okay, so this is roughly equivalent to shaded outdoor area, which as we know is enough to grow a rose (sort-of), but not enough to for it to bloom well. So you’d need to double that. I’ll let you figure out how much in your area that would be for electricity, because you’d want to run the lights at least 10 hours a day. Another thing to keep in mind is that the grow lights are of specific spectrum, so if you want normal colors you’d have to choose full spectrum lights. (Aside: this would include UV, which we know is part of tanning and promotes skin cancer and can damage the eyes, so you’d want to wear sunglasses and sunscreen, just as if you were gardening outdoors.) Then there is the issue of heat. The lights would generate heat, and the fans that are in many units help with that, which also would raise the temperature of the room. You might need some air conditioning in the room in the summer, or leave a window open in the winter, although you’d have to be careful not to let it get too cold at night. Having the days bright and warmer, and cooler and dark at night is good for orchids, I’m not sure if that is needed for roses. My roses seem to do best at temperatures lower, especially at night, than I typically keep my house and warmer during the day, like 50-60 F at night and 80F in the day. If you didn't want to induce dormancy, then you'd be best growing roses like Tea roses, which can grow in tropical areas. Something I’ve learned from growing cuttings indoors is that roses, like orchids, need air movement. Without it, too much light will burn the leaves, but perhaps most importantly they will be very prone to fungal diseases like mildew. So you’d want another fan to keep the air moving over the leaves. For a full size rose, you’d also need the space, and enough light units to cover the area of growth. Basically, you are trying to duplicate the conditions that the roses like, i.e. recreating the outdoors, but indoors. This would mean an appropriately sized room with full sun conditions, and air movement, enough root room (i.e. at least a 20 gallon container), certain humidity, watering and fertilizer. It’s doable, as you can see from greenhouse grown florist roses. You’d just have to have the space, energy and finances to create such a place....See MoreGrowing lithop from seeds with a grow light
Comments (1)HERE is a nice article about growing lithops, and HERE is an article about growing them from seed. Both articles provide a lot of useful info. To answer your question specifically—YES. Put the container under a grow light and leave it on at least 12 hours each day. Lithops normally grows in the shade of other plants, but fluorescent light is not as strong as sunlight. If you were growing these plants in a window you would want an east-facing window or even a north-facing window. Set your fluorescent light about 12 inches above the surface of the potting soil....See Moredigdirt2
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agorusty_blackhaw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodigdirt2
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodigdirt2
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMarshallkey
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoSouthCountryGuy Zone 4b-5 SE BC
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalameda/zone 8/East Texas
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalameda/zone 8/East Texas
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalameda/zone 8/East Texas
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomori1
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJonathan29
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomori1
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomori1
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agocugal
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomori1
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agocugal
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomori1
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTreebeard
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agosusanzone5 (NY)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agosusanzone5 (NY)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agojtmo67
8 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
8 years agojtmo67
8 years ago
Related Stories
PRODUCT PICKSGuest Picks: Light Wood Accents That'll Grow on You
Ditch the darkness with modern accessories and furniture in ash, birch and light oak
Full StoryTRANSITIONAL STYLERoom of the Day: Multipurpose Space Grows Up for a Young Family
A designer revamps a New York living-dining room with light colors, flexible furnishings and sophisticated childproofing
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESGreat Material: Glass Block Grows Up
See how designers are using the humble glass block for privacy, pattern and light
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Grow Vegetables in Containers
Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix
Full StoryHERBSHerb Garden Essentials: How to Grow Chives
This decorative and delicately flavored herb from the onion family is easy to grow indoors and out
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARD6 Things to Know Before You Start Growing Your Own Food
It takes time and practice, but growing edibles in the suburbs or city is possible with smart prep and patience
Full StoryHOUSEPLANTS10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors
Brighten a room and clean the air with a houseplant that cascades artfully, stretches toward the ceiling or looks great on a wall
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES6 Ways to Grow Edibles in Small Places
No big backyard? Join in the grow-your-own fun with these small-space ideas for planting vegetables, fruits and herbs
Full StoryCOOL-SEASON CROPSHow to Grow Celery
If you're up for a challenge this fall, try growing celery and celeriac in your garden.
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors
Define garden areas or borders without blocking the view, with these evergreen shrubs that take kindly to trimming
Full Story
digdirt2