What is the aquarium for? Seems pretty small for growing big plants like Red Savina and Bhut Jolokia. I guess that means you're really pruning them way way back...

I just use a 1000w high pressure sodium lamp hanging from the low ceiling in the basement. I don't bother measuring humidity, and I only keep an eye on the temps if I'm germinating seed. As long as your temps are above 45f, the plant wont stall.

The plant already knows how to grow. K.I.S.S.

Shelbyguy,

Thank you for the response. As far as the Aquarium,
I guess I was anal about controlling the environment.

The Aquarium is in a nice size closet so I will just use
the closet.

Is the light setup I have sufficient?

I would use the fluorescents as side lighting and scare up an HID lamp for above the plants. I'm a huge fan of HID (metal halide, high pressure sodium) for cranking out the lumens per square foot. A 120 watt halide will put out about twice the lumens as 120 watts of fluorescent tubes.

That having been said, you can put the fluoros right on top of the plants without worrying about burning them. They also don't have the surge from the draw when the lamp turns on, and don't need a ballast the size of a shoe box and the weight of a bowling ball.

I'm not at all saying it can't be done. Give it a try with what you have. See what works for you and what doesn't work for you. What works for one person in one situation doesn't necessarily work for another person in another situation.

And people who do more with less are cool! :)

The worst that would happen is the plants get stretchy/leggy. They'll still grow...

I think it all depends if you are overwintering or winter growing. If overwintering you won't need much light.

if you are just trying to keep them alive, then you won't need much light, we use cheapo shop lights with cheapo generic light bulbs

if you are trying to get actual growth, production etc, then you need much much much more light and intensity. i.e. the metal halide lights or something similar mentioned above.

Remeber if you have pots in soil you will have bugs especially aphids that will have to be controlled (no natural predators inside). Ladybugs will be your best bet inside.

I don't worry about humidity either just keep the temps comfortable and the plant will be fine. The fan is a good idea, the air circulation will help keep disease from spreading and keep temps regulated in that space.

kendra

Thanks for the feedback. Looking into HID's now.
The setup is to grow over winter then transfer back out doors in the summer (I live in Colorado) Hab's and Jal's do awesome
in the summer out here. I really wished I would of over wintered my Orange Hab... So with the over winter set I hoped
to keep the new plants for a few years (you get kinda attached to them)

Now we are just waiting for the Red and Bhut to germinate.
got the seeds from reimer so wish me luck on this....