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Can you grow a eucalyptus bonsai under a fluorescent light bulb??

perennialfan273

14 years ago

Hello

Recently, I moved my eucalyptus seedling (very tiny, only a couple inches tall) under my grow light. However, I think the light intensity is too much for them because the juvenile leaves seem to be shriveling up (not from lack of water, trust me) and dying. Now, soon I'd like to transfer them to individual containers with Al's gritty mix, but is now an ok time to do this?? I'm just trying to get them through the winter without them dying, and maybe even get a little growth going. I'd like to move them into my living room and place them under a lamp (do you think that that would be better). I just don't know what to do for these little guys...

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Comments (2)

brandon7 TN_zone7
14 years ago
It's very doubtful that the fluorescent light was too intense. I grow various seedlings under fluorescent bulbs spaced about as close together as I can possibly squeeze them to approach natural light. If your lamps are unusually intense and placed immediately above the seedlings, just back them off a little.

It's more likely that something else is going on. If you are sure that lack of moisture wasn't a problem, how about too much moisture? I have had more problems with too much moisture than not enough, myself. I've had cuttings in well aerated soil to experience rot because of excessive moisture even when the top of the soil looked like it was dry. Sometimes it's hard to judge the moisture levels in the lower part of the pot. Transplanting now might be a good idea because it would give you a chance to examine the roots and see if rot was a problem.

I would stick with the fluorescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are generally not well suited for use as plant lights for various reasons. BTW, check the wavelength (temperature) of your bulbs if they aren't specifically for plants. Something around 5000 degrees K is usually best. Some bulbs are too red or too blue for best plant response.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
anything can harm tissue if not properly 'hardened off' to a change.. dont you think ...

if otherwise healthy .. and mature enough to survive.. new leaves should come out.. and be accustomed to the new light levels ....

the theory would be no different than growing something in the house from now until june.. and then putting them out in full sun ..

ken
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Thanks everyone for the great information. It is a lot of information to take in when getting started with indoor gardening, especially when your gardening experience is limited anyways. I have been thinking about doing some spinach as well because my wife loves spinach on her salad and sandwiches and I love spinach period. I will probably plant some seeds in the coming weeks. I am planning on doing a blog and maybe a vlog to compliment it to record our progress with this. If just for me to be able to look back and say.. wow look how far I've come. I will let yall know when I get it started if your interested in keeping up to date with how things go. - Also if anyone is interested in co-blogging with me let me know. Might be interested to team up with someone on the blog who has an indoor garden too. I noticed one of my pole beans have sprouted already but I am still waiting on everything else. My 2 inch cut of rosemary hasn't rooted yet (crosses fingers).
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