new t5 lights & transitioning my AV?

9 years ago

Over a year ago, I chopped up a old triple crowned AV with senimental meaning for me. I used a 2' T5 light with 4 6400K bulbs & was very successful. No problems with blooming under these lights for me, but researched & learned more about light. My husband knew I was wanting to upgrade my basement violet project, & thought he'd surprise me with a new stand he built. :)

The stand is any basic wire shelving unit. He put the current 2' light as my top shelf & added a new T5 4 foot with 4 bulbs (6400k - he bought same bulbs I already had for smaller light) as my 2nd shelf. He also wrapped the cart (3 sides) with reflective insulation.

For my new shelf (4' light), I want to replace 2 of the 4 bulbs with 2 warmer/red lights. What temperature range should I look for? for now, I took 2 of the bulbs out.

and how much should I reduce the time for the new bulbs & longer fixture? I currently have the 2' lights on for 12 hours.

Any advice appreciated!

Featured Answer

irina_co

9 years ago

One 4' light gives a bit more light than 2 2' tubes attached end to end. Let's say the ends do not give enough light - you will have a break in a middle. But they are comparable. So for 4' shelf - you need 2 parallel 4 feet tubes for comparable light, not a 4 tube fixture. You can load it with 2 tubes - one cold one warm light if you wish- something like 2300-3000K to add to your existing 6400K. Live other 2 tracks - empty.

Do not use high output bulbs - there are something like 54 wt a tube - they are way too bright.

I would try 10 hours - but if you see bleaching - you can keep the dark leaved plants on a bright light - and pale leaved - need to be moved to the edge - or somewhere else,

What else is in play is the distance from lights to plants - the taller the shelf - the less light they get.

Just do not use 4 tubes.

If you err - better err on the low side -you can always add more. But if you bleach the leaves - they will stay ugly.

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Comments (6)

irina_co
9 years ago
Ouch! You will have problems with too much light. T8s are better. I use T5 on 2" stand - but on 4' ones I use T8s and T12s for low light plants - species, pale leaf AVs.
betinaegg
Original Author
9 years ago
Unfortunately, I didn't have the grasp on lighting that I thought I did.
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betinaegg
Original Author
9 years ago
Irina-

Why are 2' t5s ok but 4' gives too much light? My rationale was get a 4 footer to extend the full length of the stand.

Thanks

~Betina
betinaegg
Original Author
9 years ago
Will bleaching be the first sign of too much light? Or will the leaves hug the pot? I'm increasing the distance, reducing the time, and only using 2 of the 4 bulbs. I will err on the dark side, but I'm curious how my AV will do. The new fixture with new bulbs worries me the most... I'll see how it goes. :)
irina_co
9 years ago
Hug the pot or stretch the leaves up - it is all adjustable - but bleached leaves are permanent. Take one plant - for test - and stick it under your new fixture - and watch. It won't get killed - but if you see what the plant is doing - you can tweak it before moving the rest. Burned leaves are not the end of the world - but it will take time to grow out of it.