I got a light meter, and am surprised at the readings

[Leafmite]

I don't use a light meter, either. I pretty much have natural light figured out after all the years I've been growing plants. For those that need full sun, I know what they can tolerate indoors with minimum stress.
Now that I bought my first light, though, I find I am learning all over again. :|

[ALToronto]

Current light meters (and light meter smartphone apps) are too precise for our application. These devices are made for professional photographers, who need to adjust exposure and flash settings at the aperture, so they need point precision.

What we need is a meter that captures light over a much larger area, and we're not likely to find one.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

Sometimes just looking at your plants will give you a better idea of whether they're in proper lighting conditions, though the effects might take longer to show up. For instance, despite the low light readings, I could tell that some of my plants were in the high level of their light requirements because they'd develop red pigments/coloration in the leaves, or they were producing light green leaves (yellow/lime colored). Plants that aren't getting enough light may stop growing new leaves or slow way down, and the foliage will become dark green.

I agree. I know there are numerous ways of doing things... Some like to follow instructions to the letter and measure everything with sophysticated devices. Others use their senses, observations and experience. I know my plants are getting enough of sun light by observing their leaves color - light green and sometimes even being close to a sunburn if I don't use a sheer curtain.
And 80% of them are in spike and growing rapidly.

[blackvine]

Cambria, like you, my meter is either whacked out or my plants are getting WAY less light than they need. None of my phals have spiked and it is phal spiking season. Here is what I think I'm going to do: I have a huge bay window on the first floor that faces west, southwest, and northwest. I HATE the idea of putting racks of plants in front of it, blocking the light for ME, but I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm just tired of stressing about the light!

[Polarizeme]

Freaking.Awesome.Video!!

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Polarizeme

Freaking.Awesome.Video!!

May I ask what program do you use for recording the videos before dowloading them to YouTube, and how do you add arrows, etc?

Thanks! Really enjoyed watching the seria! The shoe string to support the spike is ingenious!

[My Green Pets]

Guys thank you so much for watching the vid! I'm trying to make a new one every week if you would like to keep checking in and see how my little green pets are doing Wild Orchid, the program I use for editing is Pinnacle Studio 15.

Back to the light issue, after some thought, I don't doubt my light meter's readings. I live at 48.5°N, right now the sun is only up for 8 hours, and is so low in the sky that it never clears the surrounding buildings, which means not a single ray of sunshine enters my windows from November to February.

My plants are alive, and even growing a teeny tiny bit, but the phals' spikes are just pitiful. They've stopped growing at less than 10 inches, and I think I'll be lucky to get more than a couple flowers on each one.

Still, this is very interesting to me in terms of seeing what happens under such conditions!

[SnowFalcon]

I just got my light meter and tested the light and received the same results but there is new growth on my African violets. I guess I have to wait for a sunny day to try again.

[GardenTheater]

The light meter app I use on my iPhone requires that I point the meter at a white piece of paper to capture most of the reflected light. Plant leaves absorb light and reduce the reading. White gives you a more realistic number.

I use the meter to find new growing areas in my house and outdoors. After the plant has been in the space for several months, I look at the color of the leaves and how the plant is doing.

Enjoyed your video!

[Paul]

Wasn't surprised that you were surprised.

I have often gone round and round with folks (on various plant forums -- not here but rather typically terrarium/vivarium related) who drive me nuts insisting that they "know" the plants are getting enough light because they can "see" there is plenty of light. Trying to get through to them that our eyes require far less light to see by than a plant requires for photosynthesis can be down right aggravating.

That aside, it is amazing how many plants can hang in there with less than optimal conditions.

Originally Posted by SnowFalcon

.... but there is new growth on my African violets.

New growth can and will occur even with poor lighting, SF. With your AV the thing will be for you to look at the growth as it grows and matures. The leaves of an AV should form a rather flattish, fairly tight rosette if the lighting is optimal. If the petioles are really long and the leaves are reaching up towards the light, you light is below par.