It might be but no telling. Did you get this at Lowe's? I got something similar 2 to 4 years ago. It was almost black with the red spots when I bought it. That winter after it dropped almost all its leaves and put some new ones on a few weeks later the color was different - probably from the light intensity.

new Nov 2014

later Feb 2015

I often see ones like your Nov 2014. Yes, I always check the rack at lowes.

I think it is so interesting how much different they can look. But I really prefer the Feb 2015 coloration. What lighting got you that?

Thanks so much for the info, and the pics!

So you have the plants 6 inches below your T8tubes? Mine are at 12 inches and I am using T12s, I wonder if I should move them closer?

Any idea how they'd like T5HO?

Some plants are growing into the lights and others are far below the lights. It all depends on where I put them when I bring them indoors since I rarely move them once they are placed. I used to take them off their shelf to take photos but I don't do that anymore either - too much trouble.

If your plants are doing well, then there is no reason to move them. You can lower your lights if they are on chains or put some kind of props under your plants to raise them closer to the light.

If you wanted show plants then I think T5HO would be pretty good but be warned - they are hot, cost more, use more electricity (hence the heat), etc. The choice is yours. Some are saying the future will be LED lights - last a lot longer, run cooler (and the energy costs will be a lot lower) but the initial outlay will be $$$. I doubt most begonias need the extra HO though. Some canes might do better but at what cost?

Here are a few of my messy shelves that I took pictures of Saturday.

This is one of the wooden shelves I built out of 2x4 and plywood. The bottom is just the floor and this is one of my rarer lighting set-ups - four lights instead of two.

steel shelves work great since they are four foot wide which is ideal for the shop light fixtures.

The shorter shelf is four feet high - just buy extra legs from a steel shelving place and use the extra four shelves from two units I buy from Sam's Club. PS - I think four shelves is the optimum number to use on the units you buy from a place like Sam's for spacing. The unit comes with six shelves and casters.

I often put 3 shelves into a U configuration to maximize floor space.

Large pots (and canes) will have to go on the floor close to a shelving unit.

Photo #5 showing 3 large pots on floor. Take note of the last photo in this series showing the growth in the middle straight edge pot (off white pot).

These two steel shelves show how close the top shelf is placed to the lights for starter plants and low growing plants.

Even plants placed next to a lighted shelf can do pretty good despite lower levels of light.

This large pot of mixed canes was cut back hard mid November before being brought indoors. It is the same pot shown in photo #5 that I mentioned above.

What a large collection you have, I'd love to tour through there and take in all the eye candy :)

Twros,

Come on down. I have had many folks come by and often leave with hands full of cuttings. HAHA!

It is a lot of work and ties me down in winter. I don't think I could leave more than 3 days without something going into severe wilt. At least in summer I can set up a sprinkler on timers and go away for weeks and hope I turned the water on and no connections break while I am gone.

I can keep small plants in terrarium like containers (a kale container in this case - lid removed to show the inside.

Here is Queen Olympus with the lid on

lid off

The problem is the plants start pushing off the lids

The nice thing is these can get by for a week or more without watering.

Some need watering every other day like this diadema in a clay pot

nelumbiifolia is showing lots of new growth

Mrs. Ludwig - 3 pots

What a nice virtual tour!

I really know what you mean about not being able to leave them untended for more than a few days; I am the same, even in summer. Haven't worked out an automated watering solution for mine.

One of the first houseplants I had ever acquired was a cane begonia, that's going back over forty years ago. These days, I keep very few indoor plants, as they unfortunately receive severe neglect during the summer months ... but, that's why it's great to come here and see someone's large and beautiful collection!

hc mcdole

You have the most amazing collection! Thank you for sharing such an in depth tour of you winter grow space!! Amazing. Starting cuttings in lettuce containers is such a great tip.

Thanks Danielle!

Try the mini-greenhouses that come out in spring (already out here) for starting cuttings too - pretty easy.

Burpee's Coir cells are kind of good too but make sure the pellets are vertical before adding water.

Amazing!!!!!