skip to main content

Question about over wintering under lights.

16 years ago

I have two Zumwalt fig trees about 12"-14" tall and I want to put them under lights indoors for the winter. What I want to know is how many hours should the lights be on to produce the maximum amount of growth?

THISISME

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

figster2007
16 years ago
For maximum growth have the lights on 16-18 hours a day.
For ligthing system nothing beats hid lights but its cost more :)
I use 2 1000 watt systems on my 2 basement rooms

Here is a link that might be useful: sample of my system
thisisme
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the reply figster2007. Nice looking setup you have there by the way. Everything looks so healthy. Is there anything I should do other than water them and place them under lights 18 hours a day to grow nice healthy looking plants/trees like that? Any secrets or pitfalls I should know about?

As short as these Zumwalts are I was just planning on putting them under a 600w HPS along with a few other small fig trees and my blueberries and a large Pandan plant.
Related Discussions
Over-wintering question about shredded leaves
Q
Comments (11)
My garden is on the border between zones 5b and 6a. I have used shredded oak leaves for years to winter protect. I put rings around the roses and fill the rings with shredded oak leaves (10-12 in. high for large roses and 5-6 in. for minis). I don't use anything else to mound them up first - just the shredded oak leaves. I almost never lose a rose to winter or find canker problems. I do not have a soggy mess in the spring. My experience says it is a great way to winter roses if you are sure you are using oak leaves and you have shredded them somewhat before using. In my early years of growing roses I sometimes used other types of leaves, and often didn't shred them before using. That was not a good idea. One year I lost every rose in one bed, and other times I lost more than I was happy with. Just use oak leaves and shred them somewhat before using. They don't have to be turned to dust, just chopped up some. Turning every leaf into maybe 6 - 8 pieces gets the job done (no, I didn't use a scissors and count the pieces - it's just an estimate). :0)
...See More
what can i root under lights over winter
Q
Comments (2)
My brain will work. Ken you need a stronger rooting hormone such as Hormex #8, Dip and Grow, etc. A lot of people like Dip and Grow, but I use Hormex #8. Things off hand I know will root (but to varying degrees of success): All Thuja - (Oriental Arb. has given me problems) Chamaecyparis pisifera (This is a tough one) Chamaecyparis obtusa - haven't tried Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (definitely easier if grafted) All Picea glauca var. Albertiana (Sander's Blue, Rainbow's End, "any") All Juniper All Hemlock All Metasequoia - but I've given up (These I'll graft now) Maybe others I'm forgetting at the moment, (I'll check back in). For a media - the junipers like it dry between waterings, but not bone dry for extended periods. Straight perlite can be used; straight sand; or even a mix of 50/50 perlite to peat. The others, I'd use a 50/50 perlite/peat mix for. Too much water does equal rot, so be attentive. Definitely cover them until you see signs of new growth above, then remove the cover. White garbage bags seem to be my first choice, however anything else will work fine as well. Always use a cutting with hardwood for when you stick them. Never use anything but hardwood. Also, injure the bark making tiny slits (4 or 5 slits on a couple sides of the cutting) - then dip, then stick. Moniter the plastic bag for moisture build-up, opening it once a week or so and personally, I turn the bag inside out and shake off the large water droplets. Recover. Also, bottom heat speeds things up considerably. After advantageous growth is observed - Mist them often throughout the day (4-5 times minimum), but don't allow any large droplets of water to cling to the plant material. Commercial growers will mist every 1/2 hour actually. I hope you do well Ken. Best of luck to you. Dax P.s. I recommend you dust your cuttings or use some type of fungicide too. Adding a fungicide dust to your soil media as well is too another approach for your investment (and time)! Later.
...See More
Question about stroign geraniums over winter
Q
Comments (1)
Well, considering most plants need some light and air, I doubt that they would. Try this link which deals with overwintering geraniums. There are four parts to these little videos; they are most helpful. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Gate
...See More
Question on plumeria dormancy under winter grow lights
Q
Comments (20)
I received four plumerias last spring (in Minnesota) and planted them in pots and kept them inside in front a sunny East window until temperatures rose outside. Then I put them on the on the outside South patio. They leafed out nicely. When it started getting cold, I brought them and put them in my bedroom which faces south. I placed them there in the sun and added a small grow light which I left on 12 hours a day plus they received the sun on sunny days. I watered them well once a week. They have grown a lot and are full of leaves. They did not go dormant and I never had any bugs nor root rot. I am planning to put them back on the south patio in mid-June when all danger of frost is gone. Since they never had a chance to go dormant, I was wondering if that would hurt them? And, I was wondering when I should start fertilizing them? Should I start now (early April) or wait until I move them outside? The are very healthy, large, and beautiful. Many thanks for any help/answers anyone can give me.
...See More
figster2007
16 years ago
thank you
600 watt is fine, i use 1000 because i have to light 2 12x12 rooms and about 200 plants :)
keep the light about 3 feet above the plants...any closer and you will burn the leafs, dont let the soil dry out and fertilize regularly.
also cover the walls with mylar (reflects 99.9% of light) or the next best thing...flat white paint.
another thing you are going to have to keep under control is humidity...i use duck fans to suck the air out of the room and into my chimney.
FO876
16 years ago
figster, are those lights HID?

If so, are they somewhat efficient?
figster2007
16 years ago
yes they are Hid, right now i have the hps lamps in this promotes flowering and fruting, as we get close to spring i switch to metal halide to promote growth.
the reason i sart out with hps is if i used only metal halide the plants would grow 4-5 or even 6 foot till they hit the celling during the 5 months they spend in the basement.
thisisme
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all your help figster2007. Its starting to get cold here now. Today it was only 85deg F today. Even so with fewer daylight hours than needed to to keep these little ones from going dormant its time to bring them in and put them under some lights.

Thanks again

THISISME
figster2007
16 years ago
fortisi876 they are not the most efficient 1000 watt hid consumes about the same as 6.5x100 watt incandecent bulb, but
the main diference ia the light spectrums produced with hid plus my 1000 watt hps lamp puts out 155000 lumens, it would take many incandecent lamps to come close to that
figster2007
16 years ago
hehe it was 28 here today + 35 mph winds :)
its a balmy 80 in my grow room and no clouds !:)
thisisme
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi figser2007, My grow room is a lot smaller than yours but it looks like they are all happy in there. I still need to get a timer so the light has been on 24/7. My little Brown Turkey's and Zumwalt's are growing like mad. I bet they grow another 2'-3' before they go back outdoors March 1st. There are still a few Fall crop figs on the BT's. Will they continue to mature or will they die off because the light is on more like the summer time?

THISISME
ccc1
16 years ago
thisisme, they'll ripen fine. I also have a BT that I brought in this fall and put it under my 400W HPS. The figs that were left on it turned out pretty good. They didn't get as dark as they normally would if they were outside, but that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the taste.

I just brought my Desert King in from the frost and put that under my light too. Hopefully, I'll get an early breba crop out of it! mmmmm....
thisisme
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks ccc1, That makes me wish I could bring in my Patrick's Giant Fig that has 50-60 figs on it. The problem is that its in a 25 gallon tree pot and its to tall.

I'm hoping the Zumwalt's will grow a lot so I can take some cuttings and trade a Zumwalt for a Sal's in the Fall of 2008.
charity925
16 years ago
I have a 2 year old dwarf fig in a container and just moved to an apartment without a garage. The leaves fell off in fall and I took it indoors when I heard it was going to freeze outside. We have had 1 full week of freezing temperatures and I am not sure how to proceed. Keep it indoors where we keep it about 60 degrees and there is a window (I don't have any grow lights, I'm new at this!)? Allow it to be outside and hope it survives? I don't want to confuse it! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
thisisme
Original Author
16 years ago
I wish I had the answers for you Charity925 but I'm new to figs and I'm just learning myself.

Will someone who knows what they are doing come along and help Charity out?

THISISME

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

LIGHTING What to Know About Switching to LED Lightbulbs

By Karen Egly-Thompson

If you’ve been thinking about changing over to LEDs but aren't sure how to do it and which to buy, this story is for you

LIGHTING 5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Get your overhead, task and accent lighting right for decorative beauty, less eyestrain and a focus exactly where you want

REMODELING GUIDES Considering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First

By Sarah Phipps Design

Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features

CURB APPEAL 7 Questions to Help You Pick the Right Front-Yard Fence

By Matthew Ankeny

Get over the hurdle of choosing a fence design by considering your needs, your home’s architecture and more

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

MOST POPULAR 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer

By Kelli Kaufer Designs

Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Making Over a Rental for About $1,500

By Becky Harris

Fresh paint, new hardware, added storage, rugs and unexpected touches breathe new life into a Los Angeles apartment’s kitchen

KITCHEN DESIGN Stay Cool About Picking the Right Refrigerator

By KitchenLab Interiors

If all the options for refrigeration leave you hot under the collar, this guide to choosing a fridge and freezer will help you chill out

REMODELING GUIDES Survive Your Home Remodel: 11 Must-Ask Questions

By Mitchell Parker

Plan ahead to keep minor hassles from turning into major headaches during an extensive renovation

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

29 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

Hello everyone...

1

Spring is here and fig season just in front the gates

3

Winter Fig Tree concerns

3