Adding supplemental lighting for houseplants

2 months ago

It has taken me a long time to realize my house is not ideal for houseplants! My front and back windows are large, but my front window is facing northeast and my back window is facing southwest. So the front window gets no sun (bushes block out the minimal sunlight) and the back window gets strong sun in the afternoon---but only until my very large trees leaf out in the spring!

I've come to the conclusion that even though my back window gets sun, it just isn't enough for sun loving plants and too much sun for plants needing bright light only. I have now put up a temporary sheer on the sun window to block the hot sun.

I want my plants to look better and healthy and want to add supplemental lighting!

My husband purchased this floor lamp for me to add supplemental lighting for my plants. The "arms" move left and right, not up and down. They only hold 5w LED lights. Is this enough?

I would love to hear suggestions on how to add lighting to my plants---so they will be happy---and so will I!

Featured Answer

iochroma

2 months ago

In a word, No.

Check out the book 'Gardening Under Lights' by Halleck.

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Comments (7)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
2 months ago
This depends on the plants in question. What do you have? Are you keeping them inside all year?
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
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Doesn't sound too bad at all, suppliamental sunlight seems to help a lot when growing under artificial light. We are growing under a 400 watt metal halide but also right inside of massive south-facing windows. You'll often notice plants growing in windows, especially in the winter, staying alive but in a sort of state of "stasis" showing very little if any growth. I think that even mild artificial grow lamps are enough to push them "over the edge" to continue growing indoors. Your shelf sounds nice (though pictures would be appreciated to get a better feel for your setup). Fluorescents work perfectly well but they have very little penetrating power and thus a rather miserable effective range. "about a foot away" is really too far, you want to get those puppies as close as physically possible to your foliage. Also, there is a way of getting more light energy from long florescent tubes where you want it. Get 2 inch wide foil tape with clear adhesive and very carefully stick it on the back side of your florescent tube which faces away from your plants and towards your reflector, directly on the bulb, be sure to avoid folds bubbles and wrinkles. Make sure the tape falls an inch or two short of the end caps as the bulb is hottest here and you definitely don't want the metal tape to create a short between the usually metal caps. If you got the tape on there nice and straight with a minimum of imperfections the tubes will be noticeably brighter on the side facing your plants. This works by reflecting the photons directly back out the front side of the bulb instead of them coming out of the backside, hitting whatever reflector you have and then making their way back down to the plants. The trick to a successful florescent grow is to keep the distance that the light has to travel as short as possible and this technique minimizes that distance by several inches. This is a reliable technique and has no apparent ill effects on the bulb, I have seen tubes so equipped run for years. Just a few tweaks and I think you will be blooming beautifully all winter. Good luck and happy gardening! -Zach
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I tryed setting up one light in the corner of the room and it really is odd on the eyes and is not the best. You may find it not such a good idea to put a light in every window, they are more trouble then it is really worth. Just trying to help you before you go out and buy lights. Now if you have a spare room then go ahead and fill it with lights and plants because the lights wont be hurting your eyes like they would if in the house. I just grow low light house plants :) Peace lily keeps me busy They grow so fast even 5 feet away from the window! :)
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I use those same bulbs with a 13 in clamp light (similar to the one above) with a dual socket adapter in it. I think it helps significantly, but I probably need to get another to cover more area. I keep my black Prince and others prone to etiolation under it, probably about 4 inches from the bulbs. I do rotate other plants under it too. With that said, on sunny days this room also stays pretty bright (photo taken on a cloudy day)also somewhere around here I posted a picture of my black Prince prior to getting it into good light and an after. Went from light green to dark purple. Took several weeks and then it was like it changed over night.
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newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
2 months ago
What do I have? I have a mixture of things: sansevieria, haworthia, phalaenopsis orchids, dracaena, calathea, pothos etc. I generally don't bring plants outside except for a few succulents and my cymbidium orchid.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 months ago
no link nor pic of the light you have ...

you said: it just isn't enough for sun loving plants

==>> most house plants .... if not all .. are very tolerant of low light levels.. that is why.. by definition.. they can live in a house ...

im suspecting you are growing things that stretch the definition of HOUSE plant ... and having trouble

and i presume.. before the shears ... the windows arent cold in winter.. in canada???

cold will slow down growth faster than lack of light.. they dont go dormant.. but they just go into slo motion.. especially if your furnace kicks down at night.. into the 60s.. or whatever the C equivalent is ... my house is set to go down to 66 .. aka.. 18.88888 .. that is tropical houseplant temps ...eh???

there are many variables beyond simply light levels.. ponder them all..

ken
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
lucillle
2 months ago
I have some houseplants and also African violets and streptocarpus. For the houseplants I use the clip on LEDs with 5 flexible arms For the African violets and streptocarpus I use 4 foot led lights and they are on shelves. That is definitely not a decorator look, but the African violets and Streptocarpus are blooming and very happy. Except for a few times a year, low temps near the windows from freezing temps outside are not a problem. Also potting mix is a huge variable, the mix I make has at least 50% perlite.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked lucillle
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
2 months ago
I have not written as my computer decided not to turn on. So I am now "borrowing" a computer that just isn't the same, I did take pictures so you could get an idea of my set up, windows and lighting, but I can't post them now. Hopefully my computer will be repaired this week and I will come back to comment further on this post!
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
2 months ago
I think Haworthia and orchids are the only ones that would need supplemental lighting. Maybe the room is darker than I think...?

Good luck with your computer issues!
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

Adding supplemental lighting for houseplants

iochroma

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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

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Adding supplemental lighting for houseplants

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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

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