Laura,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Coming from you I have a bit more confidence in what I'm doing. I'll keep to the plan of 1/2 dormant, 1/2 not and keep fingers crossed. I think I'd go bonkers without at least some of them to baby.

I have a several inflos right now, and should I be adjusting the light too? Right now have the T5HO's on for 14 hours.

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

i think 14 hours of light sounds good to me.. Do you have the Blue ( white for foliage ) bulbs or red ( orange) for blooms?? I took out two bulbs per set and replaced with the orange bulbs for blooms. This gives more heat for the inflos development and to help with coloration. They want and need the heat while growing under artificial light.

Here is a picture of how I have my bulbs set up!!!

My pleasure to help you.. :-)

Laura

Yes to the blue and red lights Laura, and thank you for the picture. I have two 4ft x 8 lights and and five 4 foot x 4 lights. And all have half red, half blue. My room runs 86*-88*. Worried it was getting too hot but guessing it's ok? Thinking about getting one more 4'x8 much to husbands distress. But no more room so it should be the end- unless I take over an adjacent basement room which is a possible. (But haven't told my loving husband about that idea yet. I'll have to do something like roll the garbage out to the curb until my death to ply him.)

Thanks again. Hope your mum is well :)

Nancy

i would defer to an expert with artificial lights as all of my experience is natural light But I would reference the typical hours of daylight an ideal place like Honolulu may get during the Summer and during the winter. At Lower latitudes I dont think it varies more than a couple of hours but probably is between 11 in Dec and 13 hours in June.

You could do a peak summer of 14 hours and systematically slowly back it down to about 11 to see if any need to hibernate. Then systematically bring it back up after a few weeks. Basically do your best to imitate natural light conditions.

Thanks K. Makes good sense. And can let the plants themselves call the shots instead of guessing what they need.

Nancy

I have been using my lights during the winter fir the last five years and it certainly helps with the seedlings and first year trees. I'll always use these every winter..

as far as hours, you could try what K was mentioning , but I just leave them a certain time and just leave them. But I do Give them time off during the day. I set the timer to turn on late at night so it's not pulling at a high peak time for energy!! Then it turns off in the morning before peaks rise again .

Nancy, you crack me up about your " loving husband" I'm sure he could figure out something that will make him agreeable.. maybe the trash part you could leave out.. ;-)

Taking mom out to lunch tomorrow and to get he hair done... it always makes her feel better to go the to beauty shop and have someone wash and blow dry her hair,...lol. It's the little things! Thank you for always asking about her. You are always so kind.. xo

take care and keep me posted !!

Laura

Hi again Laura,

Hope you had a nice time with your mum. Always lovely to have our daughters spoil us with those little luxuries :) I have an angel of a daughter-in-law who never lets me leave without taking me for a pedicure. (Hoping it's because she loves me and not because my feet stink.)

Thanks again for another point of view about light planning for next winter. Hadn't thought of arranging my lights on and off times to avoid peak energy consumption hours. Very cool.

You mentioned your friend from Alabama who keeps his plants wide-eyed all year long. If there is any chance he might entertain me asking some questions, would be grateful for the opportunity.

Getting ready for some more gale force winds to blast through here tonight. But I've got an Elsie bloom ready to blast through maybe tomorrow so things are looking bright.

Nancy