Thank you, Irina. I saw this post on Streptocarpus, and may have gotten a little overly ambitious. I always thought AVs and Streps grew under very similar conditions. Time to make a return! Can someone please link me to some appropriate 2' grow lights for AVs? Reading all of the difference in opinions on lighting makes my head spin.

I finally got some time to watch the video. I have pretty good results growing under t8s both Streptocarpus and most AVs, and use t5s on Kohlerias and Sinningias.

In this video the grower is talking about full spectrum T5 (probably Hortilux AgroVeg - the price she quotes is $50 a tube - which is outrageous - but these tubes actually less harsh than regular t5HO)

She uses 3 shelves per shelving unit - about 24" between the shelves - makes sense for tall plants - but waste of light for low growing AVs. And we do not know for how many hours per day a day she has her light on.

If we are looking at 48" shelves - these lights are excessive for AVs and almost too much for streps. I think these special AgroVeg lights are softer - that's why streps are not bleached.

Regarding 24" long shelves. The shorter tubes are much less efficient than full lenghts tubes. So 2 t5s will work on these shelves on regular and dark leaves AVs. Light leaf AVs and species Saintpaulias need less light - so you either use 2 T8s - or increase the distance between the shelves to 18-20". You can play a bit with the time - if the leaves start hugging the pot - decrease the time. If they are reaching towards the light - add hours.

Streptocarpus actually needs twice more light than AVs.

I.

Miles, I'm probably the person that you got an answer to your question from Amazon. I love my Sunblaster T5 lights & they have only 1 bulb not 2. At 18" over sprouts then 20' to 24" above my med to large plants 8 to 10 hours a day I've had great success. My stand is by an east window that gets about 2 hours of filtered morning sun then the lights are set to come on to supplement the filtered light the rest of the day. Let me know if you are the person from Amazon.

PS: I get my Episcias off to a good start on these same shelves, too.

Firstly, I would like to thank you both for responding to this post. I can say that my Streps, for sure, absolutely love the HO lights, as well as my sinningia speciosa and carangola. I have spaced my AV's two shelves down, and they seem to be doing fairly well. Tabb, I was wondering if you added on a lower spectrum light for blooming. What's bizarre is my Streps decided these lights made them want to explode in blooms, while my AV's are being a bit bloom shy. Once again, thank you both so much.

On another note, I will have some sinningia speciosa cardoso babies available soon if anyone would like to trade!

Miles, most of my AVs were started from leaves April thru May 2015 & are just blooming for the 1st time. They have been under my t5 Sunblaster lights from the beginning 8 hrs. a day after 4 hrs. morning filtered east sunlight. Now that they are old enough to bloom I will note their bloom cycles under these same conditions. I've never grown sinningas & I'm sure someone will want to trade, but would you have Episcias to trade? That's my other collectibles that grow so well next to my AVs. Trudy

Guys - just watch the weather before shipping anything. Episcias do not take chilling at all. Sinningias - as long as the tuber is not frozen - will come back.

I got a Sinningia speciosa "pink Mutant" at the convention - I suspect it is actually S."Cardoso Moreira". Kinda thick silverish leaves, pink slipper type flowers. Right now it is put to rest.

Mies - can you post the pic? I would really love to look at the leaves.

Irina

Just a quick update-

These lights were a bit tricky for my violets, but, they are amazing for Streptocarpus. I have them on a 12 hour timer, and am in full bloom with almost all of my plants.

Irina,

I will take some photos of it, as well as Carangola, which grows next to it one day this week! Thank you all so much!