Solution to unadjustable shelves: how to reduce light?

begonia2015

10 years ago

I recently realized that my AV-s were probably getting too much light.

Between receiving bright window light (with a bit of direct sun at certain times during the day) and some hours of artificial light with the grow lights only 7 inches above, the plants were getting a bit stunted, curly leaves and tight centers.

I have made some changes for now by turning off the supplemental artificial light altogether, drawing some shutters (where possible) and pulling the AV-s closer to the edge of the shelf and away from the window.

That being said, I still wonder how I should deal with the artificial light once the cold season comes and I will have to start using it as we will have mostly cloudy, dark days.

Because I cannot set the lights any further above the plants than 7 inches (which is too close to the plants, base on widely accepted rules), neither can I place them anywhere else other than on this stand with non-adjustable shelves...I wonder what the solution will be.

For now, I am not using the grow sticks but I will have to start using them soon again.

Should reducing light hours do the trick, even though the plants will be only 6-7 inches below the lights?

For example, are 12 hours of light placed at the correct distance above the plants (10-12 inches) the same as fewer hours (say 6-8) placed at a smaller distance (6-7 inches)?

I just don't want to continue to get curly, brittle plants with tight centers as they just started to relax a bit after my most recent measures (which clearly indicates they WERE getting too much light).

Thank you all in advance for your advice.

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Comments (3)

Karin
10 years ago
depends on your light fixture... i had a fluorescent with a diffusing cover, and i just painted the inside of the cover with acrylic paint - solid in the center, then stripes and then nothing at the ends. it worked, but the paint did not come off when i decided to use the light fixture for something else.

other (possibly smarter?) people, use parchment paper that they stick to the underside of the light. - i just always worried about it catching fire.... i use it on the window side of fish tanks / terrariums i have on the window sill.
Rosie1949
10 years ago
If you let the parchment paper be in a U shape, and tape it just to the outer rim of the light fixture it would not be in contact with the bulb. It would also be open on each end of the fixture for air flow. AND you could run just a small cheap fan to insure air flow and coolness.

Another idea would be like the greenhouses do. Figure out a way to suspend a piece of plexiglass (white opaque) just under your light. This would be like them whitewashing their windows. Would let some light through but not all. There are a lot of ways to cut down light without making a fire hazard. Rosie
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terrilou
10 years ago
Old timers remember cheesecloth which was used for light reduction. I suspect today's solution would be a semi sheer fabric stretched under the lights.

I don't know the science of fewer hours & closeness to the lights but you could run them for a shorter time & see how they grow.

Also, consider growing minis. They need more light than standards; the 6 to 7 inch distance would probably be acceptable to many of them.

Terri