Reddit mentions: The best plant growing light bulbs

If you could post a picture of the whole plant and describe the potting medium, estimated hours of direct and indirect sunlight, and your watering schedule, it would be really helpful for making constructive recommendations for this guy.

The usual base line requirements for these guys are lots of light, temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and well draining potting soil. All three of these factors are indicative of these plants being native to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Enough sun means as much as you can give them, appropriate temperature means not letting the plant stay below 50 degrees for an extended period, and well-draining soil means adding amendments like perlite, pumice, or other small stone like bits. All of these factors combine to allow the plant to get enough but never too much water. Following these general guidelines will keep them from waffling in and out of dormancy (or worse, dying from either frost or root rot), and once you get a feel for what your plant needs, you'll both have a good time. Everybody has their own interpretation of these guidelines, and after a while, you'll be able to gauge the individual needs of your adenium by sight, touch, and other intuitive means.

Personally, I keep my adeniums in full sun for several hours a day from March until the end of October. I can get a way with this because I live in Florida. But, since we do get a handful of light frosts during the winter, I keep them in a makeshift greenhouse with growlights until the weather seems to have completely turned. My potting mix is a combination of humus, coco coir, pumices, and a variety of other bits of mineral substrate. Because my mix is mostly mineral, I fertilize using a product called dyna grow, using about half the regular dose every time I water, which is about once every 10 days. This works for me because of the climate here gets really hot in the summer, and despite being humid, the soil drys out pretty quickly. Like I said above, you'll get a feel for what works best in your environment, and for me, I usually let my plants decide when they need water by gently squeezing the caudex. If it is firm, I hold off on giving them water, and once it has a little give to it, I completely drench the pot.

To embark on your goal of making your adenium "bushier", you'll need to aggressively prune these two long branches down to the desired height. There are several helpful online guides for doing this without too much stress. Pruning will promote the growth of multiple new branches, and will cause caudex enlargement to speed up moderately. Owing to the fact that you're in zone 4b, I'd wait until late spring to do the pruning. After pruning, ease up on watering for about a week or two, and put it outside on days when the temp gets into the 60's. Be careful not to put the plant in direct sunlight for too long until it has adjusted to direct sunlight. To ease into this, start by leaving it somewhere with bright, indirect sunlight, and slowly move it into full sun for longer and longer periods each day. Since it probably won't get warm enough to set this guy outside full time until around June in your area, I'd suggest bringing it inside at night until summer really kicks off and the threat of chilly nights subsides. Alternatively, and what I personally would do in your climate, is buy a decent, but relatively inexpensive, grow light. I have have a lot of success with this light .

Be warned, adeniums are extremely dramatic plants, and often drop all their leaves for what may seem, to you, to be only slight disturbances. Such events include, temperature change, repotting, and sometimes for no reason at all. Don't panic, these are extremely resilient plants that, in a few years (maybe even less) will reward you with some of the most beautiful blossoms you've ever seen.

You're getting started on a really exciting relationship with this little guy, and I wish you the best of luck. If this leads you to the addiction most of us here suffer from, you'll soon want more plants. I have a ton of seedlings going right now, and if you decide you want to raise one, I'd gladly send one your way.

Hello all! I've been wanting to get one (or a few) succulents for my desk at work but I'm a noob and have lots of questions. While I've tried to do my own research, it's always easier for me to learn by speaking with others, so I look forward to hearing from more experienced members.

Sorry this is a bit long, I want to have a good new home prepared for my future plants. :)

Info about space (with lighting question)

Desk in an office with artificial light. Close to a north-facing window but due to cubicle walls, my desk does not receive much (if any) light from the outdoors.

Due to this, I am willing to provide extra light, but due to the office environment, it will need to be white light vs. the more colorful grow lights I've seen. As I'd also like to keep the light situation looking attractive, I was thinking maybe a bulb in a lamp would work. Would something like this lamp work with this bulb? That bulb also comes in a 10W and 24W.

The area I am thinking about placing these plants also has a built-in overhead desk light that is about 1 foot above the desk, sort of a tubular looking light so it would be over a larger area, but I don't have any other information about it. However, I can keep it turned on, as well for even more light.

If the options I've linked above will not work, is there another type of bulb I should be looking at?

For "soil," I was going to get the Bonsai Jack gritty mixture for convenience. Is it okay to put a top dressing on this mix, or will it interfere in some way with watering?

Plant questions

If possible, I am looking for one or two succulents that are primarily pink. I would also like a black succulent. Are there any options that would work with my situation? Preferably, if I can get 3 succulents, I'd like two pink and one black, so I'd like them to look cute together and be able to thrive with the same mix and lighting conditions. I don't plan on putting them in the same pot, so I am willing to adjust watering / fertilizing habits for each plant's needs.

Thank you to anyone who has read this!

Since I recently started tugging regularly again, I've been working on developing a routine that works for my schedule, yet has good growth.

I do MM3 & MM5 a few times at work during the day, but far more in the evenings and on days off. I also wear my TLC-X 1 to 4 hours per day in 1 to 2 hour cycles.

About 6 weeks ago, I got a redlight, and I've been trying to integrate it's usage at night before bed, after what is usually my most intense tugging session of the day, evening tugging whenever I can. So far, I'm only using it about twice per week on average, but I'm working on getting more consistent.

So far, my anecdotal evidence is that is seems to reduce soreness. I feel I've been making good progress overall, but it's hard to tell what is related to my actual tugging versus what is from the redlight. The reality is likely that they go hand in hand. The red light helps keep the skin healthier, thus it is more receptive to tugging.

When I use it, I pull my penis through tight underwear, but the scrotum stays inside the underwear. I then cover myself with a blanked, and use the red light within inches of my penis. Ever 30 seconds, I alternate sides, top, left, right, bottom, front. I try to do it some with the skin rolled forward, and some rolled back. In total, I'll do it for about 10 to 12 minutes. After which time, the heatsinks on the bulb get quite hot. That is my sign to stop, as this is the time I've read is pretty safe. Plus, I don't want to get burned by the bulb's red light or physical heat.

I'm just using an inexpensive amazon set one of the other members here recommended:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H2Y5U4M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J1LZA4A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I didn't buy any protective eyewear, though I keep it under a blanket the whole time. My daily glasses also have UV protection.

So far, I'm happy with it. Keeping the skin "happy" during tugging regiments is important. "Happy" skin is more likely to grow favorably. For $30 and relatively low risk, I think it's worth it for many.

The updated pic looks like an elephant bush (portulacaria afra), but IDK the other plant. They both seem to have very rich soil (not good for succulent plants), and I would recommend mixing in perlite to help with drainage. They also could use some more light. Grow lights are pretty cheap on amazon (I got these on amazon, 4 for $26 usd.), and will supplement the plants with the light they need. You should also get the 'leafy' one out of that glass ASAP. Succulents need pots with drainage holes, and soil that allows water to drain out of it easily. Water-retaining soils will cause rot pretty quick, and can cause overwatering easily. I recommend checking out the sidebar for more tips. I hope this helps!

My Monstera perked up even more throughout the day today, so I remain hopeful for both of our battered plants!

I'm still figuring out grow lights myself so I don't think I'm the best person to ask for recommendations. I've tried to "research" it on YouTube but the best videos on grow lights don't focus on household/LED use, the videos are definitely more for folks growing pot (which is cool, no hate, but they're talking about different types of lights, different scale production etc.). So I can show you what I bought that's been working but I'm far from an expert.

If you have a spare lamp, you can use this guy, this is what I have right now that I screwed into an old cheapo adjustable-neck desk lamp from Target: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NN6SVG6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It is not an attractive setup but my crown of thorns, Euphorbia trigona, Albuca spiralis, and my succulent bowl are all doing well under it. My succulent bowl has calico hearts, an elephant food plant, an Echeveria elegans, a blue barrel cactus, and a goat's horn cactus. So yeah they're all doing pretty well at the moment despite the average temperature in my house dropping 10 degrees over the past 6 weeks.

I just bought this and it arrives tomorrow. There are options that have built-in timers but I already had a couple of Ikea light timers floating around so I'm using those (and I 1000% recommend a timer so you don't even have to think about it--my light turns on before I get up and turns off before I get home from work, shit's mad convenient): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q8GMRWB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I tried to find a clip-on grow light like that made in USA (or at least not in China) but I wasn't able to find one. (I've been trying to reduce the number of products I buy made in China in support of the protests in HK/in protest of the Uighur imprisonments.. not that anyone will notice though!) Turns out American-made grow lights are out of my price range at the moment, and mainly of such a size they're clearly for commercial operations. When I'm earning more and buy a house in the next couple of years I'd like to treat myself to a couple shop-style lights though. That would be cool

I was actually just researching this week on all of this. There are very many studies. I've thought about all of these questions as I started to implement them into my routine.

1.) Looks to me that the optimal is 660nm. To answer the question about deep tissue/skin, know that red light at 660nm can penetrate sometimes up to 5mm into the skin, all depending on the intensity of the light and the distance to the skin. Infrared/near infrared can penetrate more, but at least from my research, 660nm is best for stimulating the mitochondria and thus the rejuvenation of the cells. Since red light can still penetrate so deeply, and since a pure infrared/near infrared bulb is so difficult to come by and expensive, I chose to go with a very intense 660nm bulb. I really do that this will be beneficial to the foreskin, since the rays will penetrate that deep; I'm not trying to grow my penis.

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2.) The length of application depends on distance of the light and the intensity. I read over a few studies. There was fastest cell growth was around 6.5 joules of exposure, but slumped off at 6.8 joules of exposure. The specific bulb I bought was a 660nm LED 25W bulb, which gave off 95mW/cm\^2 a second (0.095J/sec) at a distance of 2 in. That means at a distance of 2 in, you would get the upper threshold of effectiveness at 68 seconds with 2 inches, but I figured to put more space than 2 inches so the rays can cover the whole penis, so I do maybe 3-4 inches away for 2 minutes to the cells can become fully saturated. After about 6.8 joules, the benefits really fall off or are not as effective as a high intensity for a low burst of time. So I do 2 minutes of light on the top, and 2 minutes of light on the bottom. This is what is optimal.

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3.) And frequency? Another study showed the red light treatments to be more effective for cell repair and growth with 2 treatments a day instead of 1 treatment a day, so I do 1 treatment as soon as I wake up to "charge" my cells for a day of restoring, and then 1 again before bed, to "charge" my cells for repairs.

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4.) The use of applications with red can greatly alter the results. Can work together to intensify the effect/absorption, or lead to the opposite. I have not read any studies on what different creams do to alter the absorptions of red light.

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5.) The most effective light with the most intensity is this one:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071Z12H67/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Use LED instead of laser or those terrible halogen ones, as laser can be damaging instead of healing, and halogen does not actually emit the proper wavelengths in a cohesive frequency.

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I literally just started this this week. So I will post an update in a few months to let people know if it worked/didn't work. Another guy on this sub does red light and has for months in combination with direct air and manual. He has a very different approach than I. Hopefully he will post some answers too.

I’ve only ever grown with artificial lights (unique living situation) so here’s some I can personally vouch for and recommend.

Sansi bulbs. I have the 24W model (fits in any standard desk lamp) and the 15W lights. These have special lenses that focus the beam very strongly in one spot, like a spotlight so it can be raised pretty high and cover a large-ish area. Don’t underestimate these, I put a plant too close to center and it turned jet black in 2 days. He bounced back just fine but these are definitely strong.

Strip lights. I’ve since upgraded my Sansi’s to these with a dedicated shelf. These aren’t as strong, I talked to a user on r/Succulents that reported haw etiolation 9 inches away from the light. However, once she lowered it to 5 inches they said they get amazing stress coloration. To put it in perspective, they said they had a Black Prince that’s always been green but has since gone black like the plant’s supposed to be.
As a bonus, here are the shelves I use, they are exactly the same dimensions as the lights.

Both are very capable depending on your needs.

Edit 11/26/19: Sooo, the strip lights have shot up to $200 for some reason. When I linked them, they were only $49. It’s either a stock issue or the new price, not sure.

>It gets direct sun from like 3-6pm, so it has some natural light.

I notice it's developing a lemon rather nicely, so if you've had that plant in the location for half a year or more, then it seems pretty happy. However, if it's a new plant (or was newly moved to that location), additional supplemental lighting could be beneficial.


>I was looking at like 150-300 W bulbs because I had no clue. I was also looking at the blurple ones because I also had no clue

150W Bulbs are definitely overkill unless they're incandescent, and most of the energy from those bulbs radiates out as heat. I personally prefer full spectrum LEDs because I don't want the inside of my house to look like a nightclub (blurple is hard on the eyes) and LEDs are more energy efficient, outputting more light and less heat.

>Does the housing you put the bulb in matter? Do you just use one of those cheap metal ones from Home Depot?

Keep in mind that since you already have a red/blue spectrum grow lamp in that picture in addition to the window, so if you want more supplemental lighting, you probably don't need to go the full 36W that I linked earlier. The 24W version is probably sufficient. It's a pretty big bulb, so just make sure you find a housing that is big enough to fit it and is compatible both with its E26 Socket and its Wattage. I know some folks who use this sort of thing with it, and home depot probably offers something similar.

So this is crazy, but it sounds like you have almost the exact same setup I do. Is it this grow light (15 watt, white?)?: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Succulent/dp/B01NCVWFUE

I have mine 13 inches above my plant, 16h a day, it has been doing great. If you just got it recently, give it a few weeks to recover l, they have very sensitive roots. If the leaves a very green you could try acclimating it by starting with the light a couple inches higher and bringing it down gradually.

Edit: And for what it's worth I've had mine for a little under a year now, and it just started putting out its first mature pitchers in January. I did experience a signifiacant die back due to applying pesticides and transporting it. At one point I was sure it had kicked the bucket, but new growth eventually popped up and saved it. If it is dying, many reputable sellers will try their best to help you out so soon after shipping.

Also check it for mealybugs

Absolutely, I think it would really do some good for them! I recently got my grow lights for my winter / fall set-up and they've been working wonders. I've gotten 2 happy blooms in response and tons of compact growth and sun stress.

I've been using these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RTVD1HJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They're bright white like natural light and very strong and effective. They can be pretty close to your plants and not scorch them, and produce a moderately warm heat (it never gets to be too much from being on 16 hours) which I've found helps protect them from getting too cold since I keep my apartment kind of chilly!

I've also seen a cheaper option, used as a single lamp bulb by a reddit user in r/haworthia here. It's a lower price point and I nearly got it for a starter grow light. If you're wary of spending too much, I'd recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKT56T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4VprDbKA7T01X they've said a lot of good things about it!

Thanks so much! It's these ones: GE Lighting 93101230 9-Watt BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb for Indoor Plants, Balanced Full Spectrum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_t3ELDbT351RM8
It looks like they are sold out at the moment but I got mine from Target at the same price (:

They have a more powerful one called PAR38, but the ones I got are already pretty bright so I think they are best so smaller spaces. Although it is worth mentioning that I got three of the BR30's because I put them in my existing fixture in the bathroom (:

After a different LED bulb with terrible heat dissipation nearly caught on fire, I'm trying this one out:

https://smile.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Gardening-Residential/dp/B07BRKG7X1

The spectrum seems more toward the 5000k side, but I'm pretty impressed with the spread and intensity. It actually looks like my catlin elm is sitting in its own pool of sunlight. I have a fair bit of experience with lighting for a saltwater tank & macroalgae refugium and so far I'm happy with this for the tree. The LEDs are a blend of:

Blue (400-499nm) 19.46%
Green (500-599nm) 37.70%
Red (600-699nm) 36.23%
Far Red (700-780nm) 6.61%
PPF 98.28μmol/s

Heat dissipation seems to be great as well. Hope that helps.

I'm in SoCal and feeling you on the heat - we have some cool weather right now, but summer is rearing its head. :( My garden beds have been empty for the past 3 seasons because I just cannot for the life of me keep them from drying out!

If you are just going to use a clamp light...I highly recommend this style of clamp grow light on Amazon

In terms of bang for your buck, these are fantastic. They throw a lot of light, and its a nice warm white as opposed to the pink/purple that a lot of grow lights put off. They do get a little warm to the touch (like a dimmed down incandescent light bulb) on the back when they are on...so if kids or pets may be an issue, you might want to go with the long slender tube style grow lights you can find on Amazon as those don't get warm at all. They aren't as bright, but they don't get hot.

The one caveat with this particular light is it doesn't have a timer built in. But I actually prefer that. You can use a simple appliance timer that you can get at any big box home improvement store...or...you can use WIFI outlet plugs that are app controlled from your phone. These have built in timer functionality.

I prefer using the wifi plugs because it gives me more control. Like..say its the summer time, and you don't have your lights running all that much or at all. But, a big day of thunderstorms runs through. You can open the app, turn on the light, and set a countdown timer and the light will turn off after say 6 hours.

There are a lot of grow lights with built in timers on Amazon...but the way those work is say...you turn the light on at 10AM and set it to 8 hours. Well, every day its going to come on at 10AM and run for 8 hours now. That might be all well and good, but what if you stay home sick? Or it's the weekend and you want to use the room without a grow light blaring in your face. Or what if it's a holiday and you don't want the bright light bugging you?

Also...If you are ever in the market for an LED bulb style grow light, SANSI makes the best. This 24 watt grow light is bright as can be. I have one mounted on a tripod speaker stand that I can move around the house to add supplemental light should it be required.

Currently I have one pointed down at some oxalis bulbs that I have growing so that they get a steady 8 hours of direct light per day to help speed up the starting process.

I have a similar light to the one you are looking at. Seems like a good light and LEDs are quite nice on the power consumption front. I would caution getting that light however if you are going to have the tank in an area where you will be hanging out, like your living room or such. That light, like mine, does give of a rather purple light and it can make the room feel a bit off.

A florescent or White LED strip light may be a good option for your setup. Right now I am looking to try something like your setup and I've been looking at these lights.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCVWFUE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xU0DAbKZ45395

Hope that helps and good luck! :)

I’ve used a variety of bulbs screwed into lamp bases, both red-blue grow light bulbs, white full spectrum grow light bulbs, and high kelvin cold white CFL bulbs not specifically marketed as being for growing plants.

My experience is that all of the above definitely work...a CFL screwed into a task light and positioned 2” above an 8” pot gave me really nice, compact growth and gorgeous pink tips on my Echeveria ‘Bluebird’. These bulbs. Pros are that they are super affordable and didn’t burn my babies no matter how close they got. Cons are that I felt they reeeeeally needed to be super close to have a good effect.

I’m currently using these white LED grow lights screwed into a floor lamp that leaves the light positioned about 15” away from my succulents and my succs aren’t as compact as I’d like them to be so I’ve ordered some T5s to mount into the shelving instead. They are working great for my other light-loving plants like Pilea and Fiddle Leaf Fig though, where I’m able to position them directly above (~6”) the plants so clearly it does work, it just needs to be closer than it can reach my succulents. Pros are that it looks nicer than a red-blue grow light and won’t make your landlord think you’re growing weed. Cons are that they’re pricey.

I have this red-blue light positioned above my baby Monstera and the fat skank loves it and is going nuts, so Pro is that it works, Con is that the telltale magenta hue of red-blue grow lights is kind of fug (unless you really love magenta I suppose) and will probably make your landlord think you’re growing weed.

For large scale, shelving grow light set ups, I like the Durolux Led https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079GJ11ZC/ref=pe_2640190_232748420_TE_item but an LED bulb like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BRKT56T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 with an aluminum clamp lamp reflector is nice and adjustable for smaller (and cheaper!) setups.

You can also do yourselves a favor by picking varieties that tolerate low-light light like Crassula, Haworthia, and Gasteria: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/indoor-succulents/

Such a sweet idea. Good luck!

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You absolutely can use fluorescents! As you only have one at the moment i am assuming you mean a round-ish bulb type lamp, not a fluorescent fixture/tube type. There are both specialty bulbs, like this(Note that just because it is sold as a grow light, does not mean it is actually good at what it does - just like some celeb a while back sold game consoles that no one bought, because they were trash. Also this bulb is LED, not fluorescent), and normal fluorescent bulbs sold in stores like Lowes. Not all bulbs are created equal; but a bulb from Lowe's is often sufficient.

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If you plan to upgrade to many plants, you may wish to switch to tube-type bulbs, in which case you will need to take into account the output of the light. 6500K(Kelvin) is the color temperature generally suggested for succulents.

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Feel free to reply if you would like more information or if you would like someone other then me to respond. Also, cannabis growers have a forum where they test light bulbs for their effective light output - they've been doing it for years! This might be informative for you.

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Edit: Also, i would like to state that i am not dissing the bulb i linked. I have never used or purchased that item and cannot give a review on it.. Its just an example.

I stick to about 15 minutes (or all of the time in shower not spent washing myself) of manual tugging or on occasion go until my penis "tells me ive had enough." Youll get used to titrating the duration thats right for you. Many on the forum support more frequent shorter tug sessions if possible.

You can do the "ok" tug at the scar line but it took me a while to have enough inner skin to get a grip on the inner skin hand. Try not to get to much rub on the skin with sliding of the fingers but insted get a good seal and make sure the skin is being stretched maximally. I had less upper inner skin than lower so i would move across the scar line laterally and pinch a bit of skin in each hand ( index finger and thumb) and then move over a cm and tug the next spot.

For me, once i went fot dekaritinziation i could go back so only do it when you are ready. So yes that meant wearing sonething 24/7. I did this about 10 months in.

Most people use a bulb like: https://www.amazon.com/HIGROW-Flowering-Fruiting-Spectrum-Enhancement/dp/B0744GY7TP/ref=aw_pd_cart_vw_crc_2_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0744GY7TP&pd_rd_r=C7T21W30VB41GTC5TD5Y&pd_rd_w=VOkho&pd_rd_wg=5H5JC&pf_rd_p=5ea965bb-cb8e-4bc6-a7c1-9a542c380b15&pf_rd_r=C7T21W30VB41GTC5TD5Y&psc=1&refRID=C7T21W30VB41GTC5TD5Y

Its a bulb attached to a cord. I shine it on both side for about 10 minutes each while tugging. Depending on the wattage can be quite bright and avoid shining in your eyes.

Yes! They pretty much all fit any lamp that could feasibly fit a flood light, so most desk lamps will do the trick. I use IKEA Ranarp lamps because aesthetic and they aren’t too expensive and come in different sizes and colors. I also troll Facebook Marketplace for vintage lamps of a similar style, because again, aesthetic

As far as bulbs go, I’ve been using the standard GE grow lights that you can get just about anywhere that sells lightbulbs (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QxujDb0276PFA). They’re a little too pink hued for my liking even though they claim to be full spectrum, so I’m trying out a Phillips bulb (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JBPYBNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bzujDbNBYPPT9), but I just got it so I can’t attest to whether or not it’s worth the extra ~$10. So far it looks way brighter and way whiter (no color hue that I can tell), so I’ve got it on a croton that hasn’t had new growth for a while so I think that will be a fair test, lol.

I hope this helps!

While I'm blessed with sunny southern exposure, I put my citrus plants under lights during the winter because they throw a fit and drop most of their leaves in protest otherwise. I've tried a couple of types of lights, but the link below are the brightest so far. I'm sure there are much better solutions out there.

crazy bright bulbs

I've always thought it was pretty junky... I've wanted to get lights to put on the tops of the shelves, so they're directly above the plants and maybe find a new shelf. But these have worked out since November of last year! I started using really cheap LED lights from Walmart, highest wattage equivalency with the highest color spectrum(usually 5000k).

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I now use these:

• Top Row, Left, Directly on Succulent Nursery
  
• Top Row, Middle and Right, It keeps a String Of Pearls happy AF.
  
• All white middle and bottom lights are these.
  
• The only pink light.
  
  The pink light is ok, it keeps the unicorn planter happy, a picture is in that gallery up there, it has lots of pastels. But I personally wouldn't have purchased it. It was a gift. I was *really* impressed with the cree lights, especially the 100watt equiv. light, as my string of pearls has gone absolutely insane!
  
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  Edited to add: This is the lamp I use...

Always happy to share knowledge. :) All my lights are diy pendant lights so I don't have personal suggestions for clamp hood setups but here are a few suggestions:

Clamp light fixture - No personal experience with this one but it's a broader clamp hood to accomodate larger LED lights but they may poke out of the bottom of the hood. Ymmv


LED Light suggestions:

• Sansi - This is the light I use and I really like it. I have no useable windows in my apartment so all my plants are under 4 of these lights and they're all pushing out new leaves all the time. The monstera uses 2 bulbs as its become quite large. Sansi also makes this bulb in a couple lower watts if this one is too intense but you'll have to move your plants closer to the bulbs.
  
  
• GE - No personal experience with this one but the specs are really similar to the Sansi above. Btw/fyi, PPF/PPFD is a more accurate measurement of how much light is available for photosynthesis.
  
  
• iledlight - Again no personal experience but this looks like a super bright light, brighter than the Sansi or GE. I might consider buying this one to try on my monstera... 🤔
  
  Hope this helps and good luck! 🌱☘🍀

I just purchased two Phalaenopsis philippinensis and I'm already in love with them. I want to test out if growing them under LED lights would be good for them.

I currently have one Sansi 15W LED Grow Light placed about 2 feet away from both plants. The light is scheduled to be on as the sun rises and off as the sun sets, so the time under the lights will change along with the seasons. At the current sunrise and sunset times here in Boston, they will be getting 10 hours of LED light.

My question is a general: Is this good for my Phalaenopsis philippinensis? I know that plants are less likely to burn under LEDs rather than actual sunlight. Even under an entire day under these LED lights, the orchids' leaves are cool to the touch. Might the plants simply be overwhelmed by too much light despite no heat? Or could this be the best thing to ever happen to them? (I hope so!)

So I bought this strip for my office at work, it's been there for a little over a week now. Plants seem to be happy. The red & blue can be hard to made to look intentional though, but if you do it right it can look nice. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DK6M6X6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And then this bulb I put in the lamp on my desk, and the philodendron sitting under it is thriving. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

What I haven't been able to find is like a set of string lights much like the G40s you have there, but made for plant growth. I'm wondering if I should patent the idea lol

Here are some led options from Amazon that i use and like. These are white/sun-like instead of the ubiquitous blue/purple lights.

--This one's a panel-- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T28YHTY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

--This one's a gooseneck-- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FM4X64W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

--A bulb i haven't tried but plan to buy next-- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4p93Db3D0KKDZ

An Amazon search for led grow lights will turn up tons of great options. Read the reviews and go from there. Good luck!

Succulents require too much light. I suggest peace lily, snake plant, pothos, or ZZ plant. They’re low light plants, easy, hardy, low maintenance (water every 2-3 weeks), and good looking. Then for around $15 you can get a grow light bulb and set up closely to the plant (If you don’t want those purple or pink grow lights in the office, there’re LED grow lights that mimic bright and warm sunlight, or fluorescent bulb/tube that has cooler tone). 8-12 hours of grow light is enough. You can turn it on when you get to work and turn off when you go home.

SANSI LED Full Cycle Grow Light, 15w Full Spectrum Ceramic LED Light Bulb, Hydroponics, Indoor Farming, Greenhouses https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCVWFUE?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I use this grow light for my tiny windowless bathroom. All my plants there are happy with lots of new growth.

The link address of my item of choice: cfl's for my new grow

The reasoning behind my want for these bulbs are: 1.) im expiermenting with indoor growing of plants. 2.) I lost my job and cannot purchase these on my own 3.) They are energy efficient, which make you a contributor to a greener earth 4.) They are just nice lol 5.) Simply because I'd really like to have them
My version of a cfl, lmao... pretty darn close hahaha, even added the different spectrums of light

So I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure that's your issue. Something more like this should help.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/UNIFUN-Growing-Hydroponic-Aquatic-Indoor/dp/B01F53LP46&ved=2ahUKEwjB46yk2PbjAhUDYKwKHYwkDc4QFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw29-UTKrimvXmqkoMoM_IJm

Although I would recommend something even stronger depending on your $$$

Hello! As another succ-loving college student, I invested in a couple of grow lights for my friends. I have this one and this one on roughly 9-10 plants. No etiolation, stress coloring, and they don't get hot to the touch (slightly warm, but that is to be expected).

I leave them on anywhere from 12-16 hours a day and my plants love them! The're a very vivid purple, fair warning. Alternatively, there is the grow light/winter thread that might be helpful to you. =)

I am using a 138w UFO in my first grow. The plants are doing nice, I am sure more watt would be good but it suits its purpose of being a cheap intro.

UFO

Strip Light


I would say this intensity is suitable for seedling. The strip lights are between 0.1 inch and 5 inches from the leaves and the UFO is about 7 inches from the canopy right now and its fine.

I will be buying stuff for a second bucket and refining my technique and I will opt for a brighter UFO, thinking whether I should reorder the LED strip or not though as it seems like its good.

I've seen on Amazon, as I did some light searching, these LED grow bulb setups. 45W grid of LEDS that are used for growing, at least from seed, indoors. I know you've recommended the flourescent tubes but what's your opinion on these? If it's similar to what you are saying where they keep growing all winter I could see it being a fair replacement to the tubes.

I only used the basement as an example as I do not have a garage and the only south face window which would get enough light exposure is right above a heating element which I have read could interfere with the plants. It also happens to be my dog's watch post, therefore I think the basement would be the best compromise. I will look into setting up the shop lights or perhaps if you are able to recommend, that LED setup.

I don't think any LED would do and unfortunately the ones I ordered a year ago are no longer available. But I bet you get better bang for your buck now.

I'd be happy to offer a couple humble suggestions if you can answer a couple questions.

Are you fine with the light being purple, or would you rather have white light shining on them? I went with red/blue LEDs but now I kind of wish I had gone with fluorescent lighting to better enjoy my plant's natural beauty.

I'm thinking about expanding my grow area and I'm seriously considering going with fluorescent and putting my "prize" plants there and using the LEDs for cultivation.


TL;DR- You can compare something like this to this

First is $19 and could probably do the job for a couple plants. Second is on sale for $29 and could probably do 3-4 times the area but I'm bad at math.

I don't necesarilly recommend those models specifically, but with the links others have provided and these examples that should give you something of an idea of where to start comparing.

If you're interested, I highly recommend this light. Its perfect for just a little closet grow. I built a space bucket for my plant and use it and its perfect and pretty cheap.

I'm tempted to try this. As far as I can tell there are no human studies, but the rat studies look promising. The lights specifically marketed towards this cost up to almost 1000$ though. Do you think something like this would be safe and effective?

Check out Sansi lights:

Sansi-Amazon

The link is to their 15W light which is fine for a little extra boost. I have 15, 30, and 40 watt bulbs and they all work amazingly. My plants love them and its finally brought out the variegation in my marble queen pothos.

You'll notice that higher than 15W is a considerably bigger bulb so you will need to take that into account when buying a lamp for them. The reasons i like Sansi:

• Full spectrum so it won't turn your room into a night club
  
• Heatsink on the bulb works VERY well so it can sit in a desk lamp above your plant with 0 risk of burning the leaves with heat.
  
• LED so the cost is upfront in purchasing. It will use less power than some other non-LED lights
  
  Downsides:
  
  
• The larger bulbs will like stick out a little from a normal-size desk lamp, meaning you can see the bulb from the side if you look at it. I would recommend a lamp with a shade where the bulb points down, or you can DIY a small shade extension onto the lamp to hide it.
  
• Made in china if that matters to you

I have a larger echeveria that is much happier under the full spectrum light. I can see new growth, and for now it is as healthy as it was in full sun. Only time will tell, but so far these seem to be the best indoor solution!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AKKUZ7I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_j2fMBbY0WRHQP

here’s the fanny pack! I’ll also add that pretty much everything I own is chartreuse. It’s my jam.

And yes! I have two types of grow lights for my plants.

This onemy plants seem to really love just for the coverage it allows.

And I have two of these on another cabinet that do all right but aren’t as powerful. I like them because they have clips and are usb powered so I can save space on plugs with a dual port brick.

For a very wide palm, I'd use 2 grow lights, each angled at it from above. However, if you hang a strong enough light up to 24" directly above, it should still benefit. The lower fronds would naturally receive dappled light anyway. I'd monitor it for etiolation, then maybe decide if I want 2 lights instead.

It's true that the bulbs must be quite close to the plants. 24" is as far as I would go. LED lights can be a bit farther away than fluorescent. I use 40 watt LED grow lights to supplement sunlight. Even my plants that sit over 24" away appear to benefit. The closest plants grow the best, though. My lights are in a clamp light and a normal lamp.

I use this one, as I prefer white light:

https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=31BY0GSV495O8&keywords=sansi+grow+light&qid=1556076681&s=gateway&sprefix=sansi+grow&sr=8-3

Edited to add: light reflection makes a huge difference. A silver or white reflector would reduce wasted light. My clamp light reflects the light with its aluminum shade. My lamp has a white shade interior.

First, be sure to check the specs of your lights. They should be around 6000K (6500K is an ideal color temp) and draw ~30 Watts of power. Also aim for like 2000+ lumens. If your bulbs aren’t close to these specs then getting another light may not help much; you’d be better off just replacing them with something that meets these specs.
Here’s an Amazon listing for a 5-pack of bulbs that sounds really good
VIVOSUN Grow Lamps 5 Packs 4FT/46IN 6500K T5 Fluorescent Grow Light Bulbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01731MM90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L0Y.zb6BP2H3Y

The purple led grow lights are actually a mixture of the spectrums. You can do it with cfls but its very hard, a lot of energy, and heat. Ive used anything from cfl, to 150w hps, to a 300w ufo led setup. The led setup was the best and yes it was purple.

Whats the spectrum of those bulbs and what phase of growing is it?

This is 50$

https://www.amazon.com/Rolledro-Lights-Indoor-Spectrum-Hydroponics/dp/B00RWYCRB2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1541798543&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=ufo+led&psc=1

Combination of parts from Amazon and ebay. Not all of them are necessary, fittings and Brute trashcans and such are from Home Depot.

• 12v, 20A power supply ($17)
  Runs the lights, pump, fans, and other electronics. Kind of excessive. 5A would be enough.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6S0JS4
  
  
• Check valves, x2 ($10)
  Don't cheap out on these. Crappy plastic check valves really screwed me early on.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZOCQMA
  
  
• Shutoff valves, x2 ($12)
  Needed for priming the pump or flushing the nutrient reservoir.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018HMFG7O
  
  
• Mylar ($10)
  This was roughly 4x what I actually needed.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8PAAJW
  
  
• Leca ceramic substrate, 4 pounds ($18)
  Transplanting the sprouts into this was weird, but they took well to it.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IAM29K
  
  
• Vinyl tubing 25ft ($12)
  Everything I chose was 5/16 inner diameter.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CGVJ9QG
  
  
• Net pots, 5in, X20 ($13)
  Hydroponic pots, specifically for Leca substrate.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N9AE9BE
  
  
• Air bubbler ($13)
  I think that dripping from two feet aerates the water naturally, but this can't hurt.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L17IPEO
  
  
• Warm white LED strip ($11)
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01339F5ZO
  
  
• Cool white LED strip ($11)
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01339G2F6
  
  
• 270W UFO Light ($60)
  Wait for sales on these! The 270W light is $80 now, but I got it for $60.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RWQ4B50
  
  
• Sealing foam ($8)
  To make the door airtight.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011CXIPO6
  
  
• Nutrients ($33)
  This will be enough for a bunch of grows. A little goes a long way.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017H73708
  
  
• pH Control Kit ($18)
  Will also last a long time. Only takes a few drops to balance a gallon.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY
  
  
• Activated carbon filter, 4 inch ($40)
  This thing was bigger than I anticipated.
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E582DV2/
  
  
• Barbed T splitters x10 ($10)
  For making the irrigation loops.
  http://www.ebay.com/itm/302176243137
  
  
• 12v PC fan ($3)
  Loud as heck. Ended up using a quieter fan I had around.
  http://www.ebay.com/itm/272508816366
  
  
• 12v pump ($15)
  Quiet as heck. Rated for 2.1GPM. It's enough, but I think that a 5GPM pump would have been better.
  http://www.ebay.com/itm/272403296601

I use a few different ones: first is a Root farm LED which gives me AMAZING results. https://www.amazon.com/Root-Farm-10101-10135-1-All-Purpose-Light/dp/B074SG33M2 - they’re pretty pricey so I also have this one that’s more affordable and it’s been doing amazing too!! ACKE LED Panel Grow Light, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076B1W99T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_S8VwCbH2S70VS

Not ZC related but highly recommend trying a 660 nm red light on your spine

It's incredibly cheap and the research is growing. I use it for my spine daily (spondylosis) and the improvements and relief are a damn gift.

My apartment has pretty terrible lighting and with fall/winter coming on strong in the Boston area, I decided to put together a little home gardening station to help with lighting and movement of the plants for watering. I went into this with the goal of having my setup accommodate most of my small collection of plants and to allow for easy movement without having to mess with the grow lights. In the end, I decided on a cart-based design composed of the following items:

Bror Utility Cart 33 ½” X 21 ⅝” X 34 ⅝” ($99)

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/bror-utility-cart-black-pine-plywood-60333850/

Bror Add-on Shelf 21 ⅝” X 6 ¼” X 5 ½” ($10)

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/bror-add-on-shelf-black-20402001/

Koppla 3 Outlet Power Strip 19 ¾” ($4.99 for two pack)

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/koppla-3-outlet-power-strip-grounded-white-00086428/

2x Hemma Cord Set, Black 15’ 5” ($7.00 each)

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/hemma-cord-set-white-10175810/

(IKEA site only has white showing up now, black was available in-store)

2x Luftmassa Lamp Shade 10” ($17.99 each)

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/luftmassa-lamp-shade-rounded-70462648/

Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini HS105 ($21.75)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K1JVZOE/

Relassy 20 Watt Dual Head, Gooseneck, Full Spectrum Grow Lamp ($27.39)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C68N7PC/

2x GE 9 Watt BR30 Balanced Full Spectrum Bulbs ($9.98 each)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6/

4x 3M Command Utility Hooks 3 lbs ($8.99 for nine)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0751RPD3V/

2x Velcro Thin Ties 8” X ½” ($9.70 for 100)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/

Total Cost (pre-tax): $234.76

The buckets I used are 20l (5gal) buckets, which I glued milar sheets to the inside and duct tape to the outside.

For lighting I bought a cheap Ufo light off amazon with "150 W" (something like this.

The exhaust is done by an inline duct fan (240 m^3 /min or 4 cfpm) that I fixed to a carbon fliter with duct tape. The duct fan is probably far too strong for my build, but this way I don't have to worry about a fan to circulate air inside the bucket with an additional fan. My fan is similar to this and my filter to this.

I opted for a passive intake for my build, just making holes twice the area in sum as the exhaust and made them lightproof.

Additionally Im thinking about making a second spacer and adding some side lights this week. Hope this helps :)

https://www.amazon.com/UNIFUN-Growing-Hydroponic-Aquatic-Indoor/dp/B01F53LP46/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1535832383&sr=8-13&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=45w+unifun

Think that’s the light that’s hanging in the middle, then 4 9inch reflector clamps in the corners with “100w Led Bulbs” - GreatValue brand- that only pull 14w each from the wall.

So 56+45 =101? That was my basic workout of it in the beginning, or something close to it. Think I have wrong spectrums for flowering with the reflectors, no nutrients to boost them (do have foxfarm coming), and I’m aware middle light isn’t strong enough for several plants, but it’s doing pretty good on the one far as I can tell, there is a second in the room it’s just further behind/bigger/different strain/not getting enough spectrum from reflect lights so not flowering normally.

What a world to live in :-)

First of all, any light will sort of work.

But you get a significant effect only if the bulb produces a wide spectrum of light, something that approximates sunlight. Look for "full-spectrum" or "6400K" bulbs; these are bulbs that produce a very wide spectrum of light. These 13W CFL bulbs ($23 for 4-pack, or $5.75 per bulb). CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs last for years, but you can also look for LED, which should last even longer. Both CFL and LED have the benefit that they don't hot, so that you can put them close to plants without burning them.

The next level up is a dedicated LED grow light, which concentrates the light in the range that plants like for photosynthesis, including infrared. Galaxyhydro ($77) is a well-respected manufacturer. These light boxes are generally designed to hang from the ceiling; they typically have heat vents that need to stay uncovered.

[The original 2' T5 fixture] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006856EQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1RrFAbKNAEJ2M) I bought. I still use the green frame but it took some extra work to get it to support the weight of my new light.

My current 8 bulb light Not cheap but zero regrets. It's amazing.

Two pack clamp fixture - better deal than if you buy them individually.

Four pack of red/blue LED bulbs

Oh I've got you covered!

I made a detailed comment a few months ago summarizing and reviewing all the LED grow lights I have used - many of which are white and won't mess with your decor (I too don't like the prospect of living in a Disco).

To summarize the post in case it is TLDR, here are my two favorite white-colored grow lights. Both of which I think could work well in your space.

​

Here is my favorite bulb type light

And here is my favorite goose-neck style lamp(It could work well for your plants on the shelf)

Ok, here is my build list minus a couple things that I bought locally.

Century 24 Hour Plug-in Mechanical Timer Grounded https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVFF59S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_e3IZi2JQyzkoT

ON Smart Solution Household Power Strip-4 Multi Outlets with 4 USB Ports-15.5W Universal (100V~240V) Charging Station-600J Surge Protector Power Bar-6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EWSU32U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_ZxNnKD3WD1MXo

Roleadro UFO 138W LED Grow Light for Home Grower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWYCRB2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_gk82nAf13MTzV

AC Infinity MULTIFAN S5, Quiet Dual 80mm USB Fan for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ2J2K0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_SCXe7KPU8uBsq

Plus a roll of black duct tape, roll of reflective ducting tape, and a 3 gallon smart pot

Edit: Oh yeah, and 4 Ace Hardware 5 gallon buckets

Fan: I want to implement a fan but don't know how. I need a solution that is close to quiet and also low on energie consumption..

Links: sure but only if you promise me to post a picture or send me a pm. I'm curious!

https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/socker-gewaechshaus-weiss-drinnen-draussen-70186603/

https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Succulent/dp/B01NCVWFUE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=sansi+grow+light+15w&qid=1563368891&s=gateway&sprefix=sansi+grow+light&sr=8-3

I heard sansi did an update to the 15 w lamp design. If you want to know the difference, a guy tested them:

https://youtu.be/XhUWM8biOLA

I had a look on Amazon.com and the "Amazon choice" one at $49.99 would be sufficient for 1 plant in enclosed conditions like a spacebucket.

https://www.amazon.com/Rolledro-Lights-Indoor-Spectrum-Hydroponics/dp/B00RWYCRB2

Then you will want to get a 5630 led strip for side lighting. Like this:

https://www.amazon.com/LEDMO-Flexible-Daylight-Waterproof-brightness/dp/B01339G2F6

Although I wouud recommend searching on Amazon for "5630 led strip" and looking for one that is both waterproof, adhesive backed and has a usb connector for easy installation. The one I linked is just the LED strip on its own.

What you really want to ask is how many Watts per square meter (or square foot). If your garden bed is large, you'll need more light. And light that doesn't hit the garden doesn't count.

Something like this covers about 4'x4' with pretty good brightness. With all the LEDs pointing at the plants, this will be far more effective than a LED grow bulb in a typical household lighting fixture.

True full spectrum. So a nice daylight color, not blurple.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RZwYDbRPT0PK7



More expensive. Same bright daylight color. More powerful.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T47G2L2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_z3wYDbJABYHY8

Yeah I've got so many more ideas for next grow, whatever I get out of this ill be happy but next time i hope to really get a good yield much faster. I just ordered a new light the qb260 watt kit. Replacing these junkers:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01F53LP46?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd

At 8ft high, the light would do very little to help the plants achieve growth. Try to get a smaller lamp, preferably with a scissor arm and buy one of these. I have a 2' bird of paradise in my bedroom that has eastern facing windows and use that to supplement it later in the day when there isn't enough natural sunlight. Hope this helps.

I just purchased this pack of 4 CFL bulbs for $20! I was looking into LEDs, but I needed multiple bulbs and LEDs are a bit more expensive. They can be used in regular lamps and has pretty good reviews on amazon!

If your succulents are stretching, I highly recommend getting a lamp. I used desk lamps for supplemental lighting at first, and they work great for if you have only a few succulents. Just remember that the light needs to be 8-12 inches away from the plant and that will help you to see how many plants it can cover.

Once the desk lamp wasnt cutting it for me, I used these LED lights. They are purple, which a lot of people dont like, but they've given me gorgeous blushing on all my plants.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01F53LP46?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Just discovered the Space Bucket method for growing and I'm super excited to try it out.



I'd really appreciate it if someone can answer me this; I'm planning to grow around 3 plants. Can they all be put in the same pot inside the bucket? Also, what's the LED wattage required for such a small crop?


Would these lights work: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RWYCRB2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl1&tag=spacbuck-20&linkId=a1a9a1b958abb9ee0dee2e5e7a9dc31f&th=1

What plants are you growing? What are their light needs?

I use grow bulbs like this:
grow bulb on amazon

For my tropical flowering plants, like hibiscus and also for palms. Not all tropicals need high light however, some burn very easily because they are found under the canopy- like some ferns.

I run the grow lights between 10-16 hours a day, depending on the season and how the plant reacts.

The big one is about the size of a quarter (~2.5cm) in diameter, and the smaller guys are about the size of a dime (~2cm).

If they're already etiolated, I was thinking I should get this desk grow light to keep them happy. I am assuming the ones on the right are growing slower since they're right next to each other, but not sure if they're too young to separate :) Feedback would be amazing!

I'm looking for some grow lights for a variety of succulents that have recently sprouted from seeds (mostly Echeveria with some Pachyphytum and some Sedum varieties). I live in an apartment with decent lighting and east facing windows, and currently am supplementing light for 10-12 hours a day with a cheap Amazon LED (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PYFTHMW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).


However, I know as I get into the winter that I would like the option to use blackout curtains to maintain the heat in my apartment and would like some recommendations for primary grow lights. Currently, I'm using the pedestal arrangement because the plants are not in any sort of shelving, but rather on one large counter.

I am willing to get shelving, but would rather not mount anything into the ceilings as I live in a rental currently. I live in the 6b hardiness zone and will be using a bottom heating pad in the colder months as I'm not sure how warm I'll be keeping my apartment.

Any help would be appreciated :D

I have some grow light questions (I know, sorry!) and I've already gone through the overwinter thread as well as a bunch of threads going back a year or so.

I live in an apartment with east facing windows and have about ~50 succulents (mostly 4'') sitting on a table. They get about 5 hours or so of direct light, then indirect light for the rest of the day. They're doing alright, but I want them to thrive and get back their stress coloring.

If I kept them on the table, I definitely want a clamp light. I'm also open to getting a shelf. Ideally, my budget for the lights would be about $30 to have enough to cover those ~50 plants. I'm considering these bulbs or these bulbs for 2 clamp lamps on opposite sides of the table. Would either of those work? Open to any tried and true recommendations as well!

45W LED Grow Light, UNIFUN New Light Plant Bulbs Plant Growing Bulb for Hydroponic Aquatic Indoor Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F53LP46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9CbxDbE6MEX57
This is the one I use cuz I'm a cheapskate. Full spectrum is a lot better for actual viewing/ photography tho. I think it's about 6 inches from the plants and on for about 12-14 hours. I would check out the overwinter megathread under the about tab for r/succulents for grow light into tho. They are way more helpful :)

thanks for your help !!!! I'm almost convinced to get Fluorescent... It looks like T8 fixtures are cheaper than t5. There is one for $18.48 but then then the bulbs only come in a two pack.. if I buy a set of warm white and a set of cool white then that would be about $20, at $10 per double pack. So if I have just one 2 bulb fixture and 4 lights, i may as well get another fixture so I don't have any leftover lights. So - 2 fixtures and 2 packs of lights it comes to about $57.

Now these LED ones I found are not as strong as the 300W ones, and seems that people use them for house plants. They are about $30 for one But there was another seller offering 2 for $55.

My only concern is judging from the grammar errors on the amazon listing, these LED seem to be from foreign manufacturers and they don't say anywhere on the page if they are UL listed like the Florescent lamps are - so I have to assume these lamps are not and reviews say they get hot so I really don't want one of these to burn my house down.

So, knowing they're both the same cost what would you do??? Florescent or LED? Or can I just get 1 pack of full spectrum bulbs and one florescent light?

I've been lighting my 20H walstad tank with two strips of 5630 Leds for almost 3 years. I've had Amazon swords, Ludwigia Repens, Anacharis, Anubias in there that do really well, but I tried some lower growing stuff like S. Repens and dwarf hairgrass and it didn't really take. I don't have a light meter, but I suspet the PAR at the substrate is too low for them. I was thinking a third strip, or like two of these led grow lights in clamp-on gooseneck lamps would be about right for carpeting. I think both of these solutions would fit your budget.


https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Succulent/dp/B01NCVWFUE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1537455114&sr=8-3&keywords=sansi+led+15w

​

I have this giant one for a tree I’m overwintering indoors

SANSI 70W Daylight LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKKG8Q3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BteYDbYG795KM

These are the ones I use for most of my other plants

SANSI 24W LED Plant Light Bulb Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Plant Lights for Indoor Plants, E26 Grow Light Bulb for Hydroponics Greenhouse Houseplants Vegetable Tobacco, Sunlight White UV IR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKT56T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0CeYDbH3P8EP2

40W Daylight LED Plant Light Bulb Full Spectrum Ceramic LED Grow Light Bulb, E26 Plant Bulb Sunlight White Grow Light for Indoor Garden Farming Greenhouse Grow Walls, UV&IR, 90-132V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N1WVVW7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.DeYDbPG6RHVW

They’re pricier than some others, but last way longer and are much more effective. They haven’t burned any of my plants that sit very close and are still effective a few feet away.

From what this sub has to say (comment replies in this post included) I'm looking at 50w per square foot of what I'm assuming is canopy.

Pretty easy math there when the majority of cheapo LED bulbs are 15w each.

I am curious about the LED grow bulbs on Amazon. They have them for about $20 for a 4 pack of 28w "Full Spectrum" lights.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Lights-Hydroponics-Greenhouse-Organic/dp/B01L74WDPW/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=LED+grow+bulb&qid=1558646859&s=gateway&sr=8-8

Thoughts?

This is the LED that I used: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RWYCRB2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Using a UFO LED is pretty great for a spacebucket since it fits well in the cover, and they're not too expensive. I would use this with the blackout guide that is stickied.

What you are interested in is red light, not infrared. Infrared light has a longer wavelength than red light and is invisible to the naked eye. For an article explaining the effect of red light on wound healing, see this paper.

As far as I know, no one has scientifically proven that red light therapy accelerates foreskin restoration specifically. However, papers such as the one linked above suggest that it might be beneficial. Personally, I believe that it does help at least slightly, and that this small benefit is worth the time and money investment required. Ultimately you will have to make that judgment yourself.

I use this light. This light is simply a bulb. You must use a clamp lamp or socket with it so that you can turn it on and/or mount it . I purchased this clamp lamp, which allows me to easily mount the right light to my desk for hands-free sessions.

I do a 10 minute session twice per day, one in the morning after waking up and one before bed. I divide each session into four parts of 2.5 minutes each during which I irradiate the the dorsal, ventral, left, and right side of my penis. I keep my testicles covered by my boxers during the entire session so that the light only hits my foreskin. I remember reading somewhere that red light might have an impact on the testicles, and I see no reason to take the risk when covering them is so easy.

Hope that helps !

Haha - here is some additional information.

1. It's a 45 W LED Light - https://www.amazon.com/UNIFUN-Growing-Hydroponic-Aquatic-Indoor/dp/B01F53LP46/
   
2. Window faces south gets half days worth of direct sunlight
   
3. It's a bush tomato plant (Bush Boy)
   
4. It's standard miracle grow potting soil
   
5. Using miracle grow plant food - mixed into water once a week
   
6. Watering every other day, when top of soil is dry-ish
   
7. Yes, there is a hole at the bottom of the container but it has never drained.

Yeah you can but you're better off buying a LED panel or ufo, you'd need at least eight of those bulbs for a nice small plant, look into socket splitters if you go this way but check these other options out too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IVQ96KY/.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00RWYCRB2/

I used some of these for an indoor setup with good success. Like u/LilPineapple69 said, maybe you could use a few in your greenhouse.

I would look at (link) https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Houseplants/dp/B07BRKT56T/ or similar. My preference is for a natural look instead of the purple lights most places sell. 30W with good PAR for plants will be perfect for that one plant over winter

I use this mix: https://www.amazon.com/Quarts-Bonsai-Succulent-Cactus-Gritty/dp/B0194E9RW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524862302&sr=8-1&keywords=bonzai+jack

It is pricey, so I mix a little cactus/succulent soil into it(just the regular bagged kind that's cheap) to make it last.

Using this grow light 16 hours a day(it also goes over a few other plants): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074SG33M2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can probably find a better value grow light honestly. The reason I got it was because my husband was tired of the pink lights in our living room, and I didn't want to deal with getting too into other types of setups. This one is unobtrusive and pleasing to the eye.

This is the same light I purchased off Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ABI-Booster-Flowering-Spectrum-Enhancement/dp/B071Z12H67/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1550382224&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=red+light+therapy&dpPl=1&dpID=51B-cpH2YYL&ref=plSrch

Make sure it’s the 660nm option.

Good luck 🍀

This light is the light that is a light ! . If your plant is in a place with little to no sunlight. Or you would like to put it somewhere like that. I recommend using a grow light to keep it growing well

The one I used is https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Succulent/dp/B01NCVWFUE

I prefer led because it doesn't use much electricity . Also don't like red and blue it looks crazy. Haha

I emailed the producers of this lamp that I have: https://www.amazon.ca/HIGROW-Flowering-Fruiting-Spectrum-Enhancement/dp/B0744GY7TP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=660nm+red+light&qid=1553526139&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-1

They say that you don't need protection glasses but before emailing them I had ordered these glasses: https://www.amazon.de/Unico-Graber-Zhi-1-7-Infrarotschutzbrille/dp/B074Z648LC

which help a lot because the light is very bright.

Amazon

The Red Light:
HIGROW 36W All Deep Red 660nm LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0744GY7TP?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The light Stand I Use:
LEPOWER Metal Floor Lamp,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R9JJYW8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The red light bulb is heavy so I have to work with the lamp angles but is really great.

Easy answer: Purchase a daylight 42 watt CFL bulb for bigger/more plants or a 23 watt CFL if you're growing smaller/less plants. The standard bulb you have wastes a lot of energy (money) on creating heat.

Complex answer: If you are trying to grow plants that flower, you need both red and blue light. Red for the flowers to grow and blue for the vegetation/leaves. You'll want to purchase an LED grow light bulb that emits both forms of light. These are the most energy efficient bulbs converting nearly everything into useable light for the plant. The only downside is they emit an ugly purple color and it can be unsightly in the home when it's on.

I don’t think so: I had a pothos under a weak/small grow light [like this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CE7CTGY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_R-iKBbSKB75PR
) and it burned. The bulb was a good 12” away too.

You could try, maybe a weak cfl would be better, just pay close attention. Good luck!

That is actually a REALLY fair point. I wouldn't have considered that it was likely damage from before the reviewer got the light. Once I figure out the lighting situation and my plants start to normalize I do plan to behead them all and start over in smaller pots. I have them all crowded into two large pots and really want to separate them all into their own pots. I can't even remember now why I thought it would be a good idea to put them all into larger pots. I think I will buy one of the Root Farm lights when we get paid Friday. Hopefully I can get it to hang from the shelves alright until I get all mine repotted since their pots are somewhat tall. Is this the same one you have?

I use this: it's really cost efficient and great. https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Houseplants/dp/B07BRKT56T/ref=sr_1_12?keywords=led+grow+light+bulb&qid=1557776569&s=gateway&sr=8-12

honestly pay a few bucks more for a higher watt growlight, as remember the cheap growlights (all of them) are only about 1/2 or 1/3rd of what they are rated as. for instannce

https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Plant-Light-Spectrum-Generation/dp/B01HI3AFYM
or https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Hydroponic-Efficiency-Indoor-Greenhouse/dp/B00RWQ4B50/

should be MUCH better light vs what you got, this is something i really wish i knew before i got my first ufo

I would suggest you give it a try and see if those t5s cut it, especially if you've tried LED's. The good LED's are expensive, but can really boost growth. The lumen loss on the maples may be too much for the height, but look like they would do well on the juniper. If the plants are struggling you may try to add some vertical lighting on the sides. Cheapest option may be some porcelain bulb holders in a wood vanity style box held vertically on the sides. The 150w/100w led grow bulbs up the sides could provide an adequate amount of extra light.
t5 grow lights are 5,000 lumens

These LED bulbs are 10,000 lumens each.
https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Succulent/dp/B01NCVWFUE/ref=sr_1_197?keywords=150w+led+grow+light&qid=1564356874&s=gateway&sr=8-197

I have the above bulb but my Thai Constellation seems to respond better to the Sanis, I am starting to see new growth after switching to it. https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Houseplants/dp/B07BRKT56T/ref=pd_nav_hcs_rp_1/144-0843245-2944213?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07BRKT56T&pd_rd_r=5fce0d48-7daf-40c0-ab93-eadf4cb347e1&pd_rd_w=TherE&pd_rd_wg=wU4ur&pf_rd_p=daa7e66b-818b-4621-80ba-2a91681cf840&pf_rd_r=M7ZA62YV2A52J9Z63P3Q&psc=1&refRID=M7ZA62YV2A52J9Z63P3Q

Not with an LED grow lamp. They run nice and cool and do not take up too much energy. I run mine for about 15 hours a day. I'm using this one I purchased on Amazon: Root Farm 10101-10135-1... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074SG33M2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I have been growing a bunch of different plants at my cubicle desk at work - which means nowhere near enough sunlight even for a spider plant - and that includes quite a few cottonwood seedlings who are all doing very well.

I use an LED grow light at home and and the office desk that does a lot for plants.

>Bulb: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1/
>
>Lamp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HX2EVPS/

It is a full spectrum light that is in the same range as natural sunlight. It has been perfect for me, every plant I have put under it has started putting out new growth almost right away and bends toward it just like they do with the sun. (Which is how I am getting interesting curves in my seedlings.)

You do need to keep the lamp about 16 to 18 inches from the plant to get the full amount of light for it though, but it will not put off any amount of heat worth worrying about.

I use a 30W SANSI Grow Light for my succulents and a 15W bulb for tropical plants on a different shelf. They fit into a standard lamp socket. The light is very bright and white, which I prefer. It was pricey but my plants are doing a lot better since I started using these bulbs a month ago.

I have a nice Sansi 36W link. My current setup uses 6 13W daylight Jungle Dawn LED. They are about a foot from my phalaenopsis orchids and pings. They are about 15” from a massive nepenthen that’s loving them. 36W should be totally fine or even on the low side.

That's awesome. I'd never heard of this until a few days ago and now I'm seeing it everywhere. I'm curious to read what results guys have with it.

I ordered mine tonight from here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071Z12H67/. It's described as "25W / 660nm" and cost $34.95 USD. This particular Amazon listing has been referenced in a couple of other reddit threads so I went with that one because I didn't feel like I knew enough about the nuances to price hunt. It should be here on Monday.

I am late in the game for grow lights. I have read just about every thread on grow lights and I just want to make sure that this setup will be okay.

• My succulents will be on 2 metal wire shelves that is 4’ long (the basic shelves from Home Depot).
  
• I read that you can buy a T8 fixture and then buy an adapter to change it to fit T5 bulbs.
  
  I’m thinking of buying 4 of these (2 on each shelf) fixtures: Shop Fixture
  
  And these T5 HO bulbs: Vivosun Bulbs
  
  Would this work for my 2 metal shelves?
  
  Or .... go with these and put 4 on each shelf? Barrina T5 LEDs
  

I have mine currently on my laundry room shelf with an LED light. Ha. Nice setup. I don't have any reflective insulation right now since I will be moving mine outside soon. But next year I plan on it. Would you say it's cheaper to do that or just get a tent?

Anyone curious, this the LED and hooks I have:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F53LP46

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098R0600

I just grabbed these and they work fine. They fit into most standard lamps (I got adapters to fit them into some wall mounted sconce lights from Ikea), and I set mine on a timer so I don't have to think about them. You can also get similar colored all-in-one (lights/fixture/timer) lamps on Amazon too. I just chose the bulbs for a more customizable aesthetic.

Is this something that would be more appropriate? It seems to be on sale for a pretty good price and it's about 4 times the advertised wattage of my current lamp

I have this one as well. Not entirely sure which one is better, if any of those are good for weed plants at all. But it’s what I have and what I’ve been working with thus far

You have a lot of VERY tolerant plants. All of the snake plants, the rubber plant, prayer plant, and ZZ are fine where they are. Like the other commenter said, put the fig right at the window.

Don't get a lamp until some of the plants start proving that they need it. If you do need one, go with this bulb in a basic clamp light setup. This can be kind of an eyesore though.

This $40 ufo worked wonders for me
Make sure you get a high speed exhaust fan for ventilation and a low speed intake fan to stimulate trunk development
Use smart pots to hold the soil and plant - you should start in a small pot and graduate up to larger ones, but you can also just pop your seed into the big one. Be sure not to overwater.
Amazon brand power strip for 4 dollars

Buckets and reflective tape from Home Depot

>https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07BRKG7X1/ref=psdcmw\_14252951\_t2\_B07KXBY2YH

Thanks! This might be what I've been looking for! I have a few lamps without shades, so this may work. Thank You!

The urchin keeps the sump pretty "clean" I have a mangrove and cheato ...some hair algea but nothing major that is out of control.

The light
UFO Led Grow Light, Growstar 150W Full Spectrum Plant Light with High Par Value Cree COB and Switch for Indoor Plants Bloom Flowering and Growing https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07312WKX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FUPRCb4TMB2JA

The one on the right is this GE bulb which is super heavy and expensive-ish but it’s doing its job. I have like ten of these ones that are cheaper for the rest of my apartment.

I’ve been using Sansi grow lights off amazon and I’ve been really happy with them. I’ve only had one burnt leaf, and that leaf literally grew into and was touching the light for an entire day before I noticed, so that was my fault lol. I’ve had them as close as three inches without any burning!

SANSI 24W LED Plant Light Bulb Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Plant Lights for Indoor Plants, E26 Grow Light Bulb for Hydroponics Greenhouse Houseplants Vegetable Tobacco, Sunlight White UV IR, 90 132V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKT56T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6dGhDbQ4Y7GQZ

Even the lower end LED grow lights are going to be far superior to CFLs. A UFO style light is about $50 and perfect for a five gallon bucket grow.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07312WKX2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You'd be much better off with one of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWYCRB2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_k01RAbFQG9WXE or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07312WKX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E01RAbJSA85FE

Depending on how close they'll be to the plant both are the cheapest to the most efficient par

I watched this video
Someone took the time to test multiple lighting setups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHWf4Hfi3hA

I purchased 2 of these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCVWFUE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a long drain pipe setup so this did not work for coverage for me.

I see low cost led setups in flashlights etc have gotten brighter /better and many of the ropelight setups are available on ebay etc.
I'm interested to see what you come up with as I want to do something as well.

Yes it is. I got it off amazon for $14 last year, and it can fit a standard bulb socket.

If you really can't put it outside, I'd place it in the sunniest part of the room and install something like this above it https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Ceramic-Vegetative/dp/B07BRKG7X1

I'm using a Sansi 15W LED Grow light in a reflector.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCVWFUE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05__o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

My plants love it, I've trimmed quite a bit of plants and put them into other tanks.

GE is the best! I have so many.

GE Lighting 93101230 9-Watt BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb for Indoor Plants, Full, Balanced Spectrum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sJ3ZDb2NX6ZW5

GE Lighting 93101232 32-Watt PAR38 LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants, Full, Balanced Spectrum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NNT3G7J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QK3ZDb65S42K7

That is exactly what I have. 48" T5 6500k fluorescents. The brand I use is Sunblasters with the reflector.

And I just use those cheap vivosun bulbs from amazon.... these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01731MM90/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_6exJDbGHB722K

Mine absolutely love the 6500k light color.

I’m using this one!

Grow Light Plant Lights for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PYFTHMW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

So far it’s been great- plus you’re able to set it for red/blue/full spectrum light, and it has dimming/timer options.

Northern Lights

Soil: 2:1 EcoScraps potting mix and my own compost with 2-7-4 granular mixed in at 1\2 cup per 5-gallons.

I chose this soil because it's what I use in my other container plants. It was a known starting point.

Light: Roleandro UFO LED 270w

Nutes: Fox Farms Schedule for the top 3, kelp, and mackerel. I repeated some weeks when I topped and waited for some outgrowth. All nutes were delivered with compost tea.

The large plant was the real plant in this first grow. I chose Northern Lights because I read it was easy and bushy. I opted for topping with SCROG training because it was the smallest learning curve, though I'm not a stranger to pruning and training.

The smaller plant was also Northern Lights. It was grown for a short-lived idea. I attempted to give it away and was shut down on this subreddit. I had a few personal connections but no takers. I opted to leave it in and see what happens. It hasn't been topped at all.

I had the #5 nursery pot already, so I went with that. My next attempt will be #3 pots. #5 is too big for the tent, too big to move, and too much water retention.

My next grow will be a mix of 2:1:1 of Potting Soil:Compost:Perlite. I want looser soil, better drainage, and a lighter pot so I can use less water. Instead of any granular fertilizer additions, I'm going to add earthworm castings, for a total ratio mix of 2:1:1:0.5.

This way I can use the fertilizer schedule in full for reg. plants and half for autos without worry of burning anything.

Back in January whenever I only had an Aloe Vera, I bought this little light from Amazon and it’s held up really well. I’ve got these moonstones and 6 others under it! I’m definitely going to have to upgrade for winter.

These lights and unfortunately atm i cannot get an approximate distance but i can recall the tops of the plants are maybe 3 spacers away from the light ? ik they are starting to get close and i planned on making more spacers next weekend. other than the main i’ve got this strip along the halfway height of the plants.

Reddit seems to have a particular hangup with calathea but so far mine have been behaving.
I get fairly good light in my apartment but being in the Northeast I wanted to supplement for winter. I actually just use a balanced spectrum grow bulb in a hanging lamp I built with parts from Amazon. I didn't like the look of anything so made my own.
Rustic State Industrial Retro Style Mesh Wire Cage for Pendant Ceiling Lamp (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0786X9FBH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ahGTDb6PWDP3M

GE Lighting 93101230 9-Watt BR30... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6?

You can always supplement with full spectrum white grow CFL lightbulbs, I have a couple and plants love them especially my props and seedlings. I got them on amazon

Thanks!


It’s called “Root Farm” and can be found here on Amazon: Root Farm 10101-10135-1 All-Purpose LED Grow Light, 45W - Broad Spectrum Grow Lamp, for Indoor Hydroponic Plants, Energy Efficient https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074SG33M2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8j2YCb4E9WNNJ

Its expensive, but works like a dream, and you can raise and lower it as needed. My one complaint is that it doesn’t come with an automatic timer, so you have to plug and unplug it every dag.

Here's a close up of the plant! It doesn't look fuzzy in the middle though.

As far as sunlight goes - I live in the Pacific NW so we don't get much sunshine/light, especially during the winter months. I have them in my room right now and actually got this light for it. I have a timer that leaves it on for about 5 hours a day, do you think it'll be a problem for that darker plant?

Thanks for all your help!!

South facing windows don't provide even light, you need to rotate the tree to keep them from leaning too heavily. This means they don't get as much light as if they were outside. This means health will be compromised over time.

Grow lights of sufficient power are not ridiculously cheap. I have this one and this one. The first I use for seedlings as it isn't powerful enough to provide enough light to developed tree. The second I use seasonally if it gets too cold as I don't have room for a greenhouse.

You may be able to find cheaper used equipment, especially older stuff like CCFLs and MH/HPS. But those have a whole host of problems from heat management to spectrum and intensity issues.

Depending on where you keep the light, you may also need to worry about temperature and humidity. I use a small grow tent to help control both temp and humidity, but this also adds additional expense.

All this, just to mimic conditions that are generally readily available outside.

> Never said it was just as viable either but to deny like everyone preaches in this sub, it is what then?

You originally said

> you will come across many people who have grown years or decades indoor. It's an elitist opinion that it can only be outdoor.

This presents a view of indoor and outdoor as a choice of little consequence. aka they are equally viable.

> Moreover, stop referencing horticulturists unless you can quote one chiming in on the topic of bonsai, else that's just talk.

fine, here's a bonsai professional with a degree in horticulture:

> So there are clients that have found situations where they’re capable of cultivating these indoors, but it’s an extremely challenging thing to do. We also end up potentially designing the space in which their trees are held.

You probably won’t know till you buy it. I would try and group your plants under it. If you notice your plants might need more light (leaf drop) then pick up a second one.
This is the one I use, I have two of them set up in two bunches of plants, they work great.
grow light

Hey thanks for the advice! I might just keep it outside. I did some research and found out I'm in a 6a Zone. I may just keep it outside while it's warm. Also what do you think of this for a grow light?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CE7CTGY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-yvazbZV4TF0F

Here it is just prior to harvest, showing the 3 buttercrunch plants, the lamp, and the 3 romaine ports covered with foil. I may have re-positioned the lamp a bit because I was trying to move things around in there, but that is how close it was. There is another light off to the right over my carrot "crop."

​

Here it is in early April (first pic).

Buttercrunch on the right, Romaine on the left (I rotated the tote at some point). Color a bit washed out due to lamps. The little lettuce plant off to the right in dirt was sprouted the same day as the others and was watered with same nutes, just plainly not growing as fast as those in hydro. I still have it and it is still pretty sad.

Romaines were harvested twice before they started giving up. I removed them, covered up those 3 holes and let the buttercrunch have the whole thing for the last few weeks.

​

Here is the tote.

Hope that covers everything!

Just updated the flair, thank you for the heads up can't believe i missed that.

Here's some photos of the Ficus and my setup. (the window is always open and north facing, just closed for the photos)

https://imgur.com/a/wOTyHy9

I also bought a cheap grow light from amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PYFTHMW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So.. as I was looking at more I came across these. They have great reviews, seems like I can get 3 of these and that should cover all of it. Would that work? Sorry for these noob ass questions.. just wanna be sure with a second or third opinion
new led light

https://www.amazon.com/UNIFUN-Growing-Hydroponic-Aquatic-Indoor/dp/B01F53LP46/ref=sr_1_9?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1511118706&sr=1-9&keywords=led+grow+light

I just bought two of those after having the 15w version for a while now. The 15 watt one is enough for most of my plants but it doesnt quite bring out the nice colors of most of them and my e. prolifica is still etiolating like crazy. The 45watt one will be enough though I think.

Oh do you mean like this?
VIVOSUN 4FT 54W 6500K T5 HO Fluorescent Tubes Cool White Grow Light Bulbs Pack of 5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01731MM90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Vxz8BbM8N1XBE

Hmm, I don't think that's the kind of bulb you want.

CFL stands for compact fluorescent light, which basically means it's those long fluorescent tubes (office or shop lights) made into a smaller bulb.

Something like this might work better: http://amzn.com/B00AKKUZ7I
I'm no expert though!

I have one of these in the lamp https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L74WDPW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s03?ie=UTF8&th=1 and it seems to be helping! I have a Monstera Adansonii sitting to the right of that deliciosa, and it puts out a new leaf every week even though we have had a few weeks of rain. Before I got these lights, I was using a 5000k LED bulb (100 watt), and it seemed to be helpful as well, but I couldn't find the 6500k version in stores so I just went with the blue and red ones it seems most people use when I "upgraded" my bulbs.

Last watering was 2 days ago, soil is dry now. Was holding off just in case it was over watered. Current temp is 79F w/ 35% humidity. It's hard to get it to go past that humidity.


Had it about 6" away from 138W Roleadro and it was doing great. Dropped it down to about 10" away after drooping.

Swiftrans LED Grow Light... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GFWK69Q?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

This is the single bulb I bought off of amazon. It's full spectrum and does a good job for the succulents I have.

Thanks! This is the light I’m using.


GE Lighting 93101230 9-Watt BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb for Indoor Plants, Balanced Full Spectrum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN6SVG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Yi2LDb7YVX9YM

I’ve only had my office garden for about 3 weeks (I have a bunch at home but this is my first work garden). So these plants are all straight from the grower.

Grow lights are expensive and intimidating and can be uglayyy!! I didn’t want all my plants shoved in a corner under some shop lights so I got this Sansi bulb and put it in a cute lamp and foliage plants have been thriving

For my succulents I use philips 100W CFL bulbs, make sure they are 1600 lumens and 6500K!

Amazon has cheap growlights that clip on to a surface and can cover about 1mx1m area. I recommend https://www.amazon.com/Light-Lights-Indoor-Plants-Spectrum/dp/B07PYFTHMW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=grow+light&qid=1567350611&s=gateway&sprefix=grow+li&sr=8-3
Or
https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Dimmable-Spectrum-Adjustable-Gooseneck/dp/B07PXP7DW5/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=grow+light&qid=1567350611&s=gateway&sprefix=grow+li&sr=8-5

I have a 24W LED grow light with red/blue wavelengths that I bought from Amazon (see link here). Since my plants are babies, I keep it about 18 inches above them and leave it on for 12 hrs a day. It is big, gaudy, bright and purple, so not the most aesthetically pleasing, but seems to be getting the job done.

Extremely interested. I am preparing for my first winter here in colorado.

I am looking at the following

• 15W led bulb
  
• 40W led bulb
  
• strip led

This isn't the exact model I have, but actually looks a little better than mine.
https://www.amazon.com/Growstar-Spectrum-Switch-Flowering-Growing/dp/B07312WKX2

Started germinating seeds Feb. 24th using two 45W LED grow lights and some plastic pots. I encapsulated half of a Costco garage storage shelf and mounted the lights to a 1x6 for easy height adjustment. The plants sit on two seedling heat mats and lights run 16 hours/day. Here is a list and picture of Group C at one week.

thisor this would be good lights for not too much. Or you could go bigger still.

I have these light bulbs that are white and are full spectrum. I have it in a pretty hanging plug in pendant. SANSI 30W LED Plant Light Bulb Full... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKT56T?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Just set up this grow light today

Grow light

Any advice? It’s my first winter with succulents. Normally they are in my kitchen window however that window is pretty drafty and it’s getting cold at night now

I went with this one.

Hoping it works!

It looks to be only affecting my jalapeno, cayenne and crosses of the two.

The light was probably 1-2 feet away, maybe they got burned?

I have noticed that the soil is taking forever to dry. I'm suspecting my light source is an issue?

I have the light on from 6am to 10pm, fan running, 2 of 3 flaps open. Room temp is 68F, no idea of the inside temp of the tent.

Using this LED light and this fan

A week ago I shaved the top of the soil, it was dark, hard and just not drying out. That's when I added a fan to the equation.

Am I right in thinking it's the light? I am thinking of grabbing this one

Yes indoors. In a booth I built. Overhead Roleadro 600W LED Grow Light 3rd... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P7MBNPD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share and additional side lighting is Grow Light Plant Lights for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PYFTHMW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share ripped apart to suit my needs.

Thank you! I use these two products:

LED Grow Light for Indoor Plant,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C68N7PC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Grow Light Plant Lights for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PYFTHMW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

You totally don’t need to use both of them, the first one would be good enough. I bought these two for different uses but ended up using both of them at the same time. I leave them on for at least 12 hours a day.

Thanks. Stage Mito light is also very expensive. Why can I not just use these

I would go for a daylight LED plant light that focuses the light downwards. Still might have to be closer to the plants than what your existing light fixture is located though.

Maybe something like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Houseplants-Commercial-Hydroponic-Horticulture/dp/B07KXBY2YH/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=sansi+grow+light+15w&qid=1566911876&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I use this high quality, organic soil that you only have to add tap water to (no nutes or pH - this is NOT the case with all soils, however).

You could literally just throw some of that in a pot in a closet, then hang a light like this from the clothing bar that you would normally put hangers and whatnot on and just add water whenever the soil gets dry.

You should get some high quality bud from that setup for pretty cheap. Wont yield much with only that light, but you can add another light on the next grow or when you have more $$$.