New Growing Tip

[Tom]

Well its new to me anyway... There is a very nice lady who works at one of my local garden centers (she's also a tortoise keeper, of course) and she's always helping me learn to be a better gardener. I was telling her about having to move my new African Hibiscus seedlings in and out for sun, and she suggested that I just leave them in and put a light over them. I said I really didn't want to get into all those fancy plant bulbs and burning even more electricity, and she told me to just use one of those new CFL bulbs that every body is switching too. She says she just uses the regular ones over her indoor plants and they grow like crazy. I've been doing it for two days now, and they look great so far. They are a lot less wilty, and growth is good. Anyone done this before?

 

[kingskettle]

What is a CFL bulb??????

Valerie

 

[dmarcus]

Not me, we have the plant grow lights. I told my wife if we buy anymore someone is going to think we are growing something illegal, lol...

 

[Jacob]

haaaa

 

[Yvonne G]

What is a CFL bulb??????

Valerie

Stands for Compact Fluorescent Light. Its those new spiral-shaped bulbs that we're supposed to switch to from the regular incandescent bulbs.

 

[jaizei]

I use 4 foot shop lights over my plants inside, usually with 6500k lamps. The lights work best when they are about 6 inches above the tops of the the plants. I'll post some links or pictures later.

 

[DriveWRX]

I was telling her about having to move my new African Hibiscus seedlings in and out for sun, and she suggested that I just leave them in and put a light over them.

A lot of plants do not like to be moved around. So, your "garden lady" is giving you good advice, imho.

I use 4 foot shop lights over my plants inside, usually with 6500k lamps. The lights work best when they are about 6 inches above the tops of the the plants. I'll post some links or pictures later.

Color temperature is important for plant growth. Although not exactly the same, research shows planted aquariums do best with 6500k. I have a planted tank with a combo of 6500k CFLs and 5650k high output LEDs. Plants are doing great!

 

[dmmj]

Supposed to switch? No they want to force us to switch.
Sorry for OT

 

[jaizei]

I was telling her about having to move my new African Hibiscus seedlings in and out for sun, and she suggested that I just leave them in and put a light over them.

A lot of plants do not like to be moved around. So, your "garden lady" is giving you good advice, imho.

I use 4 foot shop lights over my plants inside, usually with 6500k lamps. The lights work best when they are about 6 inches above the tops of the the plants. I'll post some links or pictures later.

Color temperature is important for plant growth. Although not exactly the same, research shows planted aquariums do best with 6500k. I have a planted tank with a combo of 6500k CFLs and 5650k high output LEDs. Plants are doing great!

IIRC, blueish light stimulates vegetative growth and reddish light stimulates flowering & fruit production. Years ago I had a 'real' grow light, with 400w MH and HPS lamps. I want to try out LEDs at some point. But I figure the longer I wait, the cheaper and better they become.

---

The link I mentioned earlier, an easy to make stand to hang a 4' light:
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/10376/diy-pvc-grow-light-stand

 

[clarkrw3]

Yes, I use 6500K on all my chameleon enclosures specifically for the plants. Neal recommended I put more light on my Tort inclosure and now that I installed a couple 6500K's over that enclosure the tort seeds have been growing like crazy. I don't really think it matters CFL or tube but I have heard that LED's are even better, but not sure for the price. My experience with Hibiscus is that they need LOTS of light. I would say to keep them happy and flowering they need 4x48" 6500Ks. I have been also surprised that 6500K's from HD or Lowe's put out similar UVB as 2.0 UVB bulbs on my UVB meter.