Fluorescent bulbs definitely work. I use a few CFLs myself. The important thing is the color temperature. You want 6500K bulbs. I like to use 100 watt equivalent bulbs (~23 real watts), but you probably shouldn't use any wattage lower than that.

In terms of LED lights, I bought this panel last fall and it has preformed well. Cheap, high power, and so far it has lasted.

Yes it will work I have mine under a standard led light you get at home depot and they fat and happy, I also turn the light on for 16 hours and 8 hours off. Hope this helps

Mesembs and whisst:

Perfect answers....short and sweet. Thanks for the quick replies. Cheaper is good provided it works. Apparently, by the answers, it does.

mesembs:

I had the idea of placing two of those square panels at 45 degrees to each other....like the roof of a house....over the plants, the tallest plants being under middle, i.e. closest to the "peak" and the shorter plants towards the bottom edge, or the "gutters". Then, all the plants can be closer to the full brightness of the lamps. That's my theory. Some sort of lighting has to be better than no lighting. These Adenium will not do well with a 6-8 month dormancy period. If I can keep them going thru the winter, I'll be happy.

Thanks for the suggestions and recommendations, kelvin colors, etc.

Frank

NYC/7b

I have the same problems as you Frank, months of cold,snowy and cloudy winter, I have been trying to figure out a lighting solution also without spending a lot of money.

I’ve tried.... my first “adenium” winter I had all kinds of lights going... LED grow lights 120 and 45w, two fixtures LED full spectrum aquarium lights that I have left from salt water fishtank, and I also used full spectrum fluorescent spiral bulb. What I’ve learned from it is that it wasn’t really worth it. Sure it kept my adeniums alive, but growth was minimal, couple sets of skinny leaves and couple of scrawny blooms, but overal wasn’t worth the effort and electric bill. Those new winter grow tips were cut off in spring anyways. Oh, forget to mention that I put them all in spare bedroom, temps were 72-77F average. Babies under 1 y.o did ok but not great; baby minies that I kept under the dome on a heating mat and under 45w LED did great, grew like crazy! And baby Dorset Hornes from our last year grow out did great under the same set up as minies and then crocked all but one from dumping off disease. I wanted to cry!

So... back to my second “adenium” winter.... All plants were overwintered by the west facing windows and two Fluorescent lamp bulbs for the whole room. Plants under 1 y.o. were miserable, growth tips dried and they had a really hard time to get going in spring, and adults on the other hand did great, woke up in a spring happy and strong. What I’ve learned from it is... Adult plants will be fine either way, some even bloomed in Feb on a windowsill with once a week watering and nothing else. Babies and yearlings need lights and preferably heat mat, but if you want them to grow well through the winter, you should have grow tent set up with temps at least at mid 80s, air circulation (esp for babies) and light. All those lights I had going my first year could illuminate half of my neighborhood but adeniums did not grow much, they needed warmer temps. This winter my set up is minimal: babies will get heat mat and lights, adults will get... nothing, lol. I’ll be busy fighting with aphids and mites and I’m not looking forward to it. I’m sure other people are more successful with overwintering adeniums but for me - less is more, it’s too much work to go against Mother Nature. Happy growing and overwintering!