Lights

[Marty]

Just curious, do any of you have lights above your plants or are you growing your plants just with natural sunlight?

[waretrop]

Not me. I just have what God gives is in the greenhouse. Barb

[Oscarman]

Originally Posted by Marty

Just curious, do any of you have lights above your plants or are you growing your plants just with natural sunlight?

Under fluorescent lights and am lucky enough to have an over sized kitchen bay window that accommodates a few plants. Many of my larger catts are enjoying the summer outdoors.

A HID light garden room is in the works ~ I'll keep you posted.

[TeresaE]

Don't have a greenhouse. Boo hoo! :cry: I have most of my stuff under flourescent lights...I have pictures but have not posted them at Webshots yet....hopefully I will be able to this weekend. I have a bunch of dendrobiums in my upstairs computer room in an East window and a whole bunch of phal's in my living room, also in an East window. These ones bloom all the time for me! I have a few mounted in the basement under a flourescent light, but I am going to be moving them upstairs soon.

[Maria]

Hello All
I want to buy an indoor lighting system. Should I buy fixtures with 2 or 4 lights? Do I need special grow lights or are a warm light and a cool light ok? Any other advice?
Maria

[Oscarman]

I would always take more lights than less - I vote for 4 tube set ups. I use a 50:50 mix of cool white and grow-lux, full spectrum or aquarium gro-bulbs (whichever I can get a good price on). Lately I have been trying T-8 fluorescent tubes in the same 50:50 ratio. No opinion on them yet. I try to change my tubes after a year of use 16 hours/day - everyday.

[Maria]

where did you get your lights from? Lee Valley Tools seems to be the only company carrying them
Maria

[Oscarman]

Originally Posted by Maria

where did you get your lights from? Lee Valley Tools seems to be the only company carrying them
Maria

Because all my light areas are homemade jobs, I simply used 2 tube 48" fluorescent light strips (without reflectors) and wired them all together so I could use a timers to control the day length. Certainly they are not the showiest set-up, but it is very functional!

Lee Valley would be one of my choices. Since you are in Edmonton, have you tried The Root Cellar (167 st, between Manning Fwy and Zaychuk road), they carry or can order items from this next supplier.

There is a greenhouse supplier in Calgary called Garden Retreat, their website is http://www.buyagreenhouse.com/can/home.php

I do not know if their website shows the light stands, but they are in their catalogue . Toll free:1-888-298-7097

[bodaciousbonsai]

Hello maria, what I use is 4' flouresent tubes in shop lights. but the bulbs I use are for a reef aquarium I have 2 10,000k and 2 antenic blues. they seem to provide the rich color spectrum that one can not duplicate with regular cool white bulbs. If you go to your local fish store they will carry the bulb I am talking about. I like the blue bulbs because it tends to show the true colors of plants plus it helps for chlorophyl A & C. wich is in my reef tanks and orchids.
I hope this helps.
Clay, I replace m ybulbs once a year at $100 16 hr days