Grow lights

[ZeroLT1]

Anyone help me out on this? I've never really used em so I'm not sure what or where to look. heehee

[Paul Ont]

Home depot, Rona (in Canada), Lowes, etc carry these in several styles and sizes.

I use the fluorescent ones but just put them in inexpensive 'shop-light' fixtures as opposed to the fancy plant specific fixtures (which are, BTW, totally unnecessary. If you want more reflection of light you can rig up some aluminum foil). Just make sure that the wavelength of light the bulb emits is correct for plants (the bulb will tell if it is). Oh, and in my experience the incandescent bulbs (standard light bulbs) are ineffective (not enough light) and don't last (they last ~6 months compared with 2 years for the florescent bulbs)...

[ZeroLT1]

Thank you. I did look at Lowes and a Menards, they have some grow lights, but it never says anything specific other than its a T8 bulb, I think I seen a T5? (Not sure which is better.) They did say full spectrum so I'm assuming thats good. Anything else I should look for? (luminaries or etc?)

[BILL MA]

I guess it depends on what your trying to accomplish with your lights? I use about 12 four foot double fixtures around the edges and 2 metal halide 600 and 250 watt in the middle along with a 430 watt hps light. They are working amazing but it's a lot of juice.

How many plants are you planning on lighting?

Type in grow lights on craigs list and you'll have lots of options. just make sure the lights are in good condition so you don't need to replace ballasts and bulbs. You can also look on ebay for a new fixture.

Just remember metal halide is for growth and high pressure sodium is more like fall lighting for fruiting.

Hope this helps, you can pm me if you have more questions.

Bill

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Here is a wealth of information on indoor palms and plants from a three years back on Palms North. Thanks Barb. viewtopic.php?t=1479. I would go with the metal halide bulb as Bill suggested.Maybe a light meter as well.


John

[ZeroLT1]

Alright, thank you both.

[ZeroLT1]

I am looking at something like this.

http://www.amazon.com/LED-Orange-Spectr ... _rhf_p_t_2

I am probably way off. Only place I can think to browse is amazon. Anyone know of a good company/website I could try?

[lucky1]

I've got one of those

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/427 ... 5b4892.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC03260" />

but the area they cover is pretty small...about 2 ft x 2 ft,
Two full spectrum fluorescents 4 ft long cover a much larger area.

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/522 ... fc5884.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC04156" />

The red/blue light "square thingy" would be fine for densely planted seeds in a flat, such as flowers.
But as seedling palms are potted up, it's way too small.

I didn't notice any benefit from red/blue lights versus the full spectrum fluorescents.

Barb

[ZeroLT1]

Thanks again Barb. I'll see what I can find. I need something to keep that Pygmy alive. Unfortunately its not getting as much sun as I originally thought.

[lucky1]

I don't think we ever saw a pic of your Pygmy's "situation"?

Scotty had a good idea (can't find the post though!).
He has a tall Foxtail in his house, in the corner.
Inserted a really tall 7 or 8 foot bamboo pole into the pot, all the way down for stability.
Attached a light bulb/grow light to the top, shining down on the palm.

Otherwise place it 6 inches from your biggest brightest (south) window.

PDPs don't need really high light, they're often used in offices because they're easy care.
Often 10 feet from a window there.

Good luck.
Barb