Question about winter lighting

10 years ago

I just moved all my violets into a southwest facing window for the winter. Now the window is shaded by a large maple tree, but once the leaves fall in a few weeks, I will get filtered (through the limbs of the tree). The violets were happy there but didn't bloom all last winter. I have a 2 shelf stand sitting on the chest that is by the window. It is about 15" by 23". I am thinking of puting two 22" lights over the bottom shelf using one cool white and one warm white bulb. I wonder if I turn them on for 2 hours before good light in the morning, and then again for 2 hours when the light starts to dim at night if that would maybe get some blooms over the winter. I only have 8 mature violets and they have just been repotted and groomed a bit, so should be able to get them all under the light. I will have my shoe boxes on the top shelf with just sunlight. Thoughts?

Thanks, Susan

Featured Answer

irina_co

10 years ago

The guy who is an expert on it is Hector Wong - he is hanging on a facebook. Ask him. Here is a quote form his advice:

using LED strips, of a combination of cool white or warm white.

the fine details are:

1- all strips come in rolls of 16.4 ft (5 meters)

2- be sure the ones you get are 2835 SMD and also 600 leds. 2835 refers to the size of each diode (do not get 3528, do not get 5050, these are outdated technology, too dim). 600 leds refer to the total number of diodes per 5 meter roll, or 120 leds per meter. If you get 300 instead of 600 leds, it is too dim!

3- per shelf, you will need to run 2 strips of cool white and 2 of warm white.

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Comments (6)

Leon Ash
10 years ago
That's an interesting observation. You say that they didn't bloom at all last winter ?

Mine did. I've got them at a window facing west.
YOLANDA
10 years ago
Leon, that's interesting. You do not live that far from Southern Ontario, Canada. I do not think I had many blossoms last winter, although it was a warm winter. The windows in most of the house have not been replaced since the house was built in about 1958, so that's part of the problem.

Yolanda
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irina_co
10 years ago
Great idea... Regarding leaky windows - I remember being a child - we made a starch glue - just "gravy" with water and startch or flour - and used them to glue couple inch wide stripes of paper to the window seams. Cuts down on the cold air coming significantly. Comes the spring - just spray them with warm water - and they are off.
YOLANDA
10 years ago
Irina I think we should replace all the windows. The ones in the front of the house, both the main floor and the basement, have been replaced. The other three sides of the house have to be replaced. You can seal the window seams, and it's better, but the glass is old and the whole window should be sealed, which impacts the amount of light.

Yolanda
Kim
10 years ago
I saw someone's post in a facebook AV group about using LED tape as supplemental lighting. His violets where beautiful, and I have plans now to outfit all of my display windows with them eventually. Seems pretty low cost too, going to start with my North window and go from there.