Please HELP with indoor winter lighting for citrus trees

10 years ago

I'm sorry to have to ask with all the information on this forum, but I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out.

I need specifics on what to do for lighting and temperature for my 2 young Meyer lemons and a young Key lime, all roughly 2 ft tall in pots.

My options on where I can overwinter them are an attached, partially insulated garage with no windows, a 5'x6' closet with no windows in the basement or a 11'x12' spare bedroom on the main level which has 1 east facing window.

I would like to keep these trees flowering/producing fruit if possible unless that is too costly.

If someone can please tell me to go buy this, this and this, I would be so appreciative. I need plain words as this seems to be over my head.

I will post this in the Citrus forum as well.

Thank you so much!!

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Comments (6)

slimak
10 years ago
This should be sufficient for you

http://www.amazon.com/ft-F54T5-HO-Fluorescent-Spectralux-Included/dp/B003E7BBZO/ref=sr_1_3?m=A1OKQR6K61KBEK&s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1379557997&sr=1-3&keywords=grow+lights
slimak
10 years ago
I just noticed that you said you have three plants, that 4 lamp might not be enough. How wide is the foliage on these plants? I'd probably wold go with a 6 lamp to be safe

http://www.amazon.com/ft-F54T5-HO-Fluorescent-Spectralux-Included/dp/B002YXTBA6/ref=sr_1_38?m=A1OKQR6K61KBEK&s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1379558296&sr=1-38&keywords=grow+lights
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Hello, Shiraz! That one question is difficult to answer. Bare-rooting is best *IF* you're re-potting during the optimal time of year (Spring) *AND* if you're replacing all of the old soil with a very differently textured medium. If the tree is very, very rootbound and the old soil is compacted, some have suggested that you only remove a couple wedges of the old rootball during the first year. Then, you remove the other wedges in the second year to make the transition go more smoothly. If you're switching from the current soil to a mix that is bark-based like the 5-1-1, then you don't necessarily need to remove all the old soil. You can simply tease the roots apart around the bottom and outer sides of the rootball, rough off some soil, and then replace with the bark mix. Josh
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Thank you Chris and Steve for your help! I think this will be my plan for the winter: 4 ft 4 bulb t5 HO with 54 watts and 5000 lumens per bulb. These bulbs are all 6400k. Will I be able to replace one of the 6400k bulbs in the light fixture with a 2700k? I will get some mylar to put on the lower walls to use as a reflector. I will use a small fan for circulation and help prevent bugs. I will keep my trees on a tray of pebbles that has water in it for humidity, looking for about 45-50% humidity. I will keep the area around 60 degrees, or should it be higher? I'm still a little fuzzy on watering and fertilizing. I guess I will water them a little less often and perhaps cut down on fertilizing too? I also need to research preventative bug control, maybe a routine neem oil spray or safer soap spray? And, I need to figure out if/how I should be acclimating my trees to the inside conditions. Any ideas? One question about lighting. From what I understand light dissipates the farther away it goes so my trees need to be close enough to get good benefit without getting burned. My question is why does it matter what size room the trees are in? Please correct my plan as needed. Thanks so much!! I've really been stressing this. Still stressing, just not so bad.
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Hi Chops, I know how confused you are. The last 3 winters the more I read on the lighting forum, the more confused I got. I now have a 3 season sunroom addition with big windows facing south and a big table there with plants on. Neighbor has a big tree there but when leaves fall off, I'll get sun from about 10 till 3:30-4. I used to have 2 40 watt flourescents, 2 - 90 watt halogen spotlights and two of those blue plant lights (look like spotlights) 120 watts @. Now I only use 1 blue light (other burned out LOL) and New flourescent fixtures. One has 4 lamps & 2 have 2 lamps. They are T8 1" diam lamps at 32 watts each. They are brighter than the 40 watts! They last longer & all in all are better for plants (& use less electricity) You'll need to buy the special fixtures for them --you can't put lamps in those 40 flor. fixtures. All 8 lamps are 4' long & right above the plants on ceiling. I put them on timer switch so they go on from 8:30 - 10 & then at 4:30-- 8:30. I'm saving much more $$ on Elect. using only 240 watts & the 110 watts from blue bulb. Plants are also on a mirrored table. This is working just fine so far. I have healthy blossoms on my buddha! Last winter I also used one of those floor standing 2-lamp halogens at 500 watts each lamp! I bought it on sale & it frizzled out...broke. Anyway, you don't need all those expensive light set ups esp. if you have plants in a south window. Just use extra lights maybe 8-10 and/or from 3:30 till 8. Flourescent light is the closest to natural sun. What does your light meter read? I sure wish I had one. The few I've seen were real expensive. Can I borrow yours ?LOL I will have to put a pic on of my set up. Patty
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Not in Georgia, but here (zone 7A, NJ), I move them into a sunny, south facing garage. I just aim to keep temps from falling below freezing, but temps must average 40-60 over Winter. I used to move mine into the house over winter--they always ended up with scale. So, in despair one Autumn, I just decided to leave them in the garage over the winter. I just moved them outside yesterday as March was cold here. If you love Citrus, but can only overwinter in the house, I highly recommend KUMQUATS. They are smallish trees (an advantage in the house...especially as many true Citrus are quite prickly), and cope much better with the house over the winter being much less prone to bugs! Good luck.
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slimak
10 years ago
I just noticed that you said you have three plants, that 4 lamp might not be enough. How wide is the foliage on these plants? I'd probably wold go with a 6 lamp to be safe

http://www.amazon.com/ft-F54T5-HO-Fluorescent-Spectralux-Included/dp/B002YXTBA6/ref=sr_1_38?m=A1OKQR6K61KBEK&s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1379558296&sr=1-38&keywords=grow+lights
organic_flutterby
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you very much for your response! That kinda confirms what I was leaning towards.

If I buy a 4 bulb fixture I can always add another if I need to, right? My trees are about 2 ft at their widest.
slimak
10 years ago
Yes you can always buy additional fixtures if you need to :) but it will be more expensive that way. For example the 4 bulb fixture/with bulbs costs $128 ea so if you end up needing two of them you'll pay $256 or you could just buy 1 eight bulb fixture for $201. However having two 4 bulb fixtures is better than having one 8 bulb fixture in my opinion because you can effectively cover more area by spacing the fixtures few inches from each other. Also you have the ability to adjust different heights on each of the lamp fixtures. When using fluorescents for mature plants which normally grow in full sun for best results you want to keep the plants close to them about 2 inches and adjust the height of you lamp every day.

Now in your case you'll have to keep them a little further away because your foliage is 2 feet wide. Ideally you want all of the foliage to be directly under the lamp because you can be sure that all your leaves are getting enough light.

Your foliage of 1 plant is 24 inches wide. Width of the fixtures are:
4 bulb - 12.6 "
6 bulb - 17.3 "
8 bulb - 22"

So if you had only two plants that wouldn't be so bad because you could line them up under your 4 bulb fixture and have only 6" of foliage sticking out on the sides. These fixtures have reflectors which reflect the light from the top half of the bulb back down so your most effective grow area is directly underneath them. Sure you get light outside of the area but it's not as intense.

Having said that, that's why I recommended a 6bulb fixture as minimum because you have 3 plants that are 2 ft wide. It will be difficult to arrange them under the 4 bulb fixture so too much foliage is not sticking out of the prime growing area. You can either put them in line and have 1 foot sticking out on the ends of the fixture or zigzag them to cut down that distance a bit by having all the plants stick out.
The 6 bulb fixture gives you extra 5" in width so it would be easier. However if you can invest the money I would go with either to 4bulb or one 8 bulb.

Either way you go if your plants are sticking out , it's a good idea to turn your plants 90 degrees in one direction each day so overall they could get even coverage. Also since more intense light is in the middle of the bulb than on the ends you could rotate their places every few days. With three plants it won't be too hard to do
organic_flutterby
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you so much. I like the idea of having 2 separate fixtures and I think that is the best way to go, except for cost maybe.

There's so much to think about with the care of these trees, but I am happy to do it. I hope I can do them right.

Thank you for your help!

Please HELP with indoor winter lighting for citrus trees

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Please HELP with indoor winter lighting for citrus trees

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slimak

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