Grow lights

[Hardypalms]

Hi

 

I did search this forum as i need to set a grow light setup this winter for about 40 various seedlings.

One thing i keep reading is people trying to grow their palms indoors so they run the lights 10-12 hours and some 24/7.

I don’t want to grow my seedlings, i just want to keep them alive during the 2-3 cold months.

Do i need to run the lights that long?

To note in my 7b zone even in the dead of winter they go out once or twice weekly during warmer spells for 2-4 hours.

They will also be placed in front of a normal sized south facing window.

Thxs

Pat

[Newpalmguy2769]

In my winter growing experience, I’ve used t5 lights at 6000k on the spectrum. You won’t need to water them as much or feed them. Get a timer for the lighting and do 14/10. Hope this helps. I’m also 7b😣

Edited August 19, 2023 by Newpalmguy2769

[Aceraceae]

If the lights are big enough and far enough away for a better aspect ratio through the plant height, you can use big rectangle LED panels that are now barely 100$ for a good one. To save the wasted light around the edges etc smaller houseplants like spider plants or container garden can be placed around it instead of foil drapes. Wide spectrum yellow are now believed to be the best again, so the off colour intense blue/pink unsightly blurple lights are less common. With strong and broad enough light, the timing can be reduced to 10/14 or so adhering with dawn to dusk time in the mid latitudes so they're not blaring at night. $200 can get at least an off brand high intensity large square 3x3 coverage which is sufficient for more like 5x5 for houseplants and efficient vegetables fading down to spider plants at the margins. 

[Hardypalms]

13 hours ago, Newpalmguy2769 said:

In my winter growing experience, I’ve used t5 lights at 6000k on the spectrum. You won’t need to water them as much or feed them. Get a timer for the lighting and do 14/10. Hope this helps. I’m also 7b😣

Thank-you

[Than]

I don't think 24/7 light is a good idea for any plant

[steve617]

I'm in 7a and this past year I kept about 50 Trachycarpus seedlings inside. A few older plants like in 1 and 2 gallon pots. All I had led lights and heat mats. My room temp was in the mid 60s during the winter. Some I pushed more keeping their heat Matt's in the high 70s and some low to mid 70s. Always timed lights around 12 on and 12 off. Have a Bismarckia that's I think about 3 or 4 yrs from seed that I just keep on lights and no extra heat. It stays inside from late Sept till mid May. Only water it about ever 10 days and I mist it a couple times a week. If I'm lucky I get 1 frond in that semi dormant state. 

Edited August 23, 2023 by steve617
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