Anyone here use LED lights successfully to grow African Violets?

3 years ago

Do you mind sharing what type or brand of LEDs you use? Also, the distance you keep the lights from the plants and for how long they’re kept on.

I recently bought some LED strip lights and tried to mimic the shelf set-ups I’ve seen online, but my plants don‘t seem to be doing well. None of them are blooming and they’re looking pale and rangy. My light meter app records 180 foot candles and I leave the lights on for 12 hours. Is this too dim?

Thank you in advance!

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Comments (4)

fortyseven_gw
3 years ago
Hi,

For complete responses, perhaps search this forum for info. There is a search bar or feature at the top. There is a lot of info on this forum regarding light. It is one of the main topics.

Thanks for your interest.

Joanne
damask_rose_zone9b
3 years ago
Hi Violets N Bunnies! I have an LED grow light that looks something like this. I couldn't find the exact one, but it's practically the same thing only mine has 3 lights instead of 2. I keep the lights on for roughly 8 hours a day, and the lights are about ten inches away from the tops of the plants. Are your plants stretching up towards the light? If so, they probably need more light. If the center leaves are crowded together, they probably need less light. Could you post a picture so I can better identify the problem? Thanks!

My little set-up

Have a lovely evening,

damask_rose : )
Violets N Bunnies thanked damask_rose_zone9b
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Violets N Bunnies
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for the detailed response, damask_rose_zone9b.

I love your little plant corner! I dismantled my shelf/ light set up and I‘m going to try to play around with the light distance some to see if there’s an improvement. A few of my AVs started to grow straight up and look stringy when I installed strip LED lights.

About how many plants are well lit under your lights? I did come across similar plant lighting on Amazon and I’m intrigued. Do your plants rely solely on artificial lighting? It looks like your plants get a nice bit of sunlight, too. Unfortunately, my townhome has no well lit windows and I’m going to have to rely completely on grow lights.
damask_rose_zone9b
3 years ago
You’re very welcome Violets N Bunnies! I think your violets may need more light. Are your LED strip lights grow lights, or are they regular LEDs? If they are regular LEDs, then they may not be producing enough light to grow violets. If they are grow lights, then they may be too far away. I’ve had good success with keeping the lights 10 to 12 inches above the tops of the plants. I have 4 violets, a pothos, and a bird’s nest fern under my lights, but I would say that you could keep 2 standard 4-inch violets well-lit under each individual light, or 4 minis per light. My plan was to have my violets rely solely on artificial light, but my windowsill was the only place where the clip would fit : ). My window faces east so the plants get a few hours of morning sun every day, but they could rely solely off the grow light as well. The light works very well for a small collection of violets, but the only problem is that it is an obnoxiously bright pink : ). I have the light on while I’m at school and turn it off when I get home. I got used to the color and the brightness after awhile, but I wouldn't recommend having it in a room that you spend a lot of time in.

I hope this helps!

damask_rose : )

Anyone here use LED lights successfully to grow African Violets?

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fortyseven_gw

damask_rose_zone9b

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Anyone here use LED lights successfully to grow African Violets?

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fortyseven_gw

damask_rose_zone9b

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