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Cacti & Succulents

small grow light for gifts - suggestions? advice?

Shawna (5a WI,USA)

5 years ago

I'm giving small succulents for gifts. I'll need to give lights with them for over winter. Perhaps something like this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C2QLP8Q

Any suggestions or advice? (At least one will need a timer since the new parent travels.)

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Comments (6)

Jeff (5b)
5 years ago
Those small ones are generally inadequate. They also have the weird colors, but if the plant isn't in a display area, that's fine. I've never used them, but if they were to be effective, they may need to be very close to a single small plant for maybe 16-18 hours a day. Do you have a cost limit? Maybe someone else will reply.
geoforce
5 years ago
I am using just a standard clip on reflector unit with a standard 'daylight' led bulb. The plants like it fine and they actually look real colors rather than that weird 'blurple' coloring. With a 100 watt equivalent ( 15W actual) I get 12000 lumens with lamp 6 inches from plants and no heat problems. This is nearly 50% of average winter daylight in my area. I'm planning to try a 'Night Chaser' bulb as soon as it arrives. 250 watt equivalent at 27W actual should gove at least 20000 lumens or near true sunlight intensity. Although a shade low in blue light, these daylight bulbs seem to have all the wavelengths the plant needs.
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Rob Blomquist
5 years ago
I have a 150w CFL in a standard shop light fixture over my seed trays, and it's quite bright. It was recommended by my local exotic plant store/halide light shop.
Shawna (5a WI,USA)
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the input. Some more info:

Re: "Do you have a cost limit?"

Not particularly, although I don't want to spend a lot.

Re: "...standard shop light fixture..."

This is just for single plants, so that would be overkill. ;-)

(I have lots of T5s for my own succulents.)

Re: "...plant isn't in a display area..."

I would like lights that would look good in a display area.

Re: "... weird 'blurple' coloring ..."

Well one giftee is a teenage girl so maybe she'd like that. :-)

geoforce, have your plants been under the standard 'daylight' led bulb long enough to confirm no etiolation?
Rob Blomquist
5 years ago
The shop light fixture only works with one bulb,it's not overkill for one plant.
geoforce
5 years ago
Shawna... Some have been there for about 6 months. I mainly use it only in winter or for seedlings.

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