Succulent Grow Light Critique

9 years ago

Hello everyone! I am new to this forum, as well as the succulent / cacti community in general. I bought my first E. Elegans at a local nursery on April 19th, and I've been addicted ever since :)

Since then I've acquired a few new friends, and by "few" I mean 11 lol. However. I live in Montana, Zone 4B, and we truthfully don't get enough sunlight for the babes. We will get 2-3 days of partly sunny, maybe 78-80 degrees, then cloudy and stormy, and repeat. So for the most part I keep them inside in my spare closet under a grow light.

I'll attach a picture of my current set up.

Current setup: 1 SunSystem 125W CFL grow hooded light, at 6500k and 5000 lumens. Currently on for 18 hours, off for 6. I just increased this a couple days ago from 16. A small fan to blow on the light to keep it cool just incase. Plants are sitting on top of aluminum foil, which is all I had at the time, I plan to paint a piece of a cardboard box or something flat matte white for better reflection.

Plant specs: I currently have a E. Elegans, Fire Sticks, Graptoveria Opalina, Baby Toes, E. Rainbow, Crassula (not sure which one), a few random Sepums, E. Blue Curls, & Aeonium Kiwi. They're all planted in Terracotta Pots with Black Gold cactus & succulent soil, only watering when soil is completely dry, measured with a moisture meter, and watered with distilled water. Light hangs about 5 inches above the plants, just recently moved it down.

So what do you all think? Anything I should change? My plants are doing OK, but not super thriving, colorful or blooming like I see so many others this time of year and I am feeling sad and left out. Not only that, but I've lost a couple random babies and I just want them to flourish!

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions welcome and thank you so much! Happy gardening:)

Featured Answer

socks

9 years ago

Nice plants. Good for you for knowing their names. I'm new to succulents myself but will share what I have learned here. Reading other postings is very helpful in learning. I assume that larger front pot has a hole in the bottom. I like the aeonium pot best because it isn't too tall. If pots are too tall, there is too much soil in the bottom where roots do not reach.

Most established growers here are not fond of commercial cactus and succulent mix unless it is heavily amended with perlite or pumice (often available from places which sell the potting mix). For your plants to survive, you will have to be very cautious and use that meter judiciously because the commercial mix you are using holds more water than the preferred fast draining mix.

Even though it looks very nice, personally I am not fond of top dressing as you have done with the sand because I believe it keeps the potting mix damp longer.

As for the plant on the far right, aeonium kiwi (a favorite of many here), it will be dormant in the summer heat. Not sure how that will affect it for your conditions since it is inside, but keep in mind that they are looking to rest in the summer.

Have fun with your new plants!

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Comments (6)

User
9 years ago
What color is the emitted light?
Danyell Ferda thanked User
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Much grittier mix would help; I also would suggest not using sand for top dressing. Gravel or even rocks are likely better for that. Pots could be smaller for plants.

Semps should grow outdoors, your climate should be OK - just make sure they are in gravely mix. They could grow in containers or ground, and I would plant them on mounds, in well draining bed if in ground. Semps are hardy to z4 and many even lower. It will also free up space for more plants :)

IMO, 18hrs of light is not needed. 12-16 of good light is plenty, plants like some sleep too :)

The light sounds good (6500k; is that 5000L/foot? - how long is the light/how many tubes?)

You mentioned closet - that is OK, just remember that air circulation may not be that great. Using small fan will help with that.
Danyell Ferda
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hello everyone! Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to my post with such awesome suggestions.

Firstly, I agree the sand was a bad bad idea. I regretted it as soon as I watered them the first time. I panicked and bought some Bonsai Jacks (extremely expensive) 2 quart succulent #111 mix, and it came in the mail today. I mixed it with the BG cactus mix I already had so it wouldnt go to waste and it wouldn't have been enough on its own anyways. New picture I will post. Now the soil is SUPER gritty and coarse. Hopefully now I can just leave them the h*** alone haha.

The grow light is 6500k, which is full daylight spectrum for the user asking about color. It's 5000L/foot, yes. The light bulb itself is gigantic, probably 10-12 inches. I will move the light timer back to 16 hours. Any more suggestions are welcome and thanks again! :)
Danyell Ferda
Original Author
9 years ago
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I thought the light has fluoro tubes, that's why I asked about length (light will diminish slightly toward ends of tubes).

Did you consider keeping Sempervivums outdoors as I suggested?

I think I see a new plant...did you potted Baby toes with the Semps? - I already killed Baby toes some time ago and didn't replace so I could be wrong, but that planting may not be very compatible...hopefully experts on growing it will chime in :)