I have a question for people who grow with Flourecents have you or is there reason to use or not use Those four foot Halogen shop lights. Maybe as an additional source of light mixed with the normal flourecents They seem so much brighter I know they are probably the wrong color but any other reasons.

for the first two years of growing paphs all i used was shop lights hung 12 inches away from the plants and i got good growth and everything bloomed for me. now i am using a 400 watt MH only because i felt bad for my plants(i want the best for them :D ) i never had to use the halogen bulbs

Same with me Ray, I used warm and cool flouro's and now I have a 400 watt MH. I hope to see a jump shortly. I will take photos soon...

Do any of you use the 400W MH or HPS systems to supplement light that comes form a South facing window??? I'm using flourescent lighting as a supplement to the natural light. It is too soon to tell whether my set-up is working.

I'm tempted to buy a MH or HPS system. but am not sure that I need one. Once the leaves fall off the tree by my growing area, the light will get very intense. I would love to have a MH of HPS system, but am not convinced that I need one.

Susan That's all I use is flourecents to supplement the light I have from a three sided sun room that dosen't get any sun but with all the glass I have it lets in plenty of light and with the flouresents I have been blooming a mixed collection. I only asked about the halogen shop lights because I just saw them on sale at a local store I know they are brighter but didn't know if they would do any good on the plants . I thought I had read somewhere once that it put out the wrong color light and was hotter. I probably shouldn't change somthing that has been working for me. hope this helps you out I often thought of using MH before but I don't think it necessary. It may give them a big boost but they seem to do fine without

Thanks Ray,

Last Winter, I just grew them without any supplemental lighting and the South facing window was my only source of light. Actually the sunlight would get too intense and hot: especially in March. I burned several plants and virtually "toasted" a bunch of very sensitive babies with that window. Now, I'm learning and have put up a gauzey curtain to filter some of that sunlight. We'll see what happens. I use a combination of full spectrum and aquarium grow light bulbs. I'm so tempted to get a HID or HPS system with a light mover, but do I really need one with a window that is so intense that it already can burn plants?? Maybe what I have is enough. I guess the only way to tell will be to see how the plants do this Winter.

Best,

I use a combination of full spectrum and aquarium grow light bulbs. I'm so tempted to get a HID or HPS system with a light mover, but do I really need one with a window that is so intense that it already can burn plants??
Hi Susan:
I'd say you answered your own question! If I had a South window like that I'd throw my HID lights in the garbage!

Just one comment - The only reason for the aquarium grow lights would be to get more red light to promote blooming. You'll already have lots of red from the sunlight so they're a bit of a waste, and probably expensive too, aren't they? You'd probably be just fine with plain old cool white fluorescents and the only reason for them would be to get a bit of supplemental light on cloudy days.

Cheers,
kpb

FYI - Susan - I noticed over the weekend that the sunlight seems to be about in that "spot" it was in in Feb/March (I burned a few then too!). I don't know about the exact angle of the sun, but my window is now getting pretty intense sunlight from 8am to 3pm. So, keep an eye on that window of yours. I didn't really notice any problems last year at this time, but I had many fewer plants so could move things around more easily. This year, I'm keeping a close eye.

I have to agree with kpb as for the cloudy days. I also use them to lengthen the days. I keep my lights on from 14 to 16 hours. and I seem to be blooming everything except a few stubbon guys and It's not the light keeping them from blooming.

Even with my southern exposure window, I got lights for a number of reasons:

1. Last winter in DC sure seemed cloudy. We had to so many days without sun that I was worrying about the plants. The lights obviously are on every day.

2. I only have so much window space, it was totally out of control trying to fit the plants in on the various ledges, and a lot of them weren't getting enough light, I think. The plants, so far, fit so much more efficiently on the shelves, and the shelves are WAY deeper than any normal shelf I had the plants on before (thus more plants now)

3. Consistency. I like the idea of having the same light every day so, hopefully, I can better manage humdity, watering, air, etc. this year. Last winter I had a few plants die.

John, you're so right! The sun doesn't shine every single day especially here in the northeast where there are many cloudy and short cold freezing days during winter, so supplement lighting is very important for plants to grow and bloom to their full potential. I grow mine with only HPS light and no sunshine at all and they love it!

How is your Super Grande doing? Has it bloomed for you yet?

Thanks kpb!

Actually, one of the aquarium lights died on me today and I replaced it with a much less expensive full spectrum light. There's another post by Tadd on the forum about a grower (I think his name is Leo?) who just uses the regular, inexpensive, cool flourescent bulbs and he has 1300 plants in his basement. So, it's definitely been a learning experience for me.

Heather, yes I've noticed the light intensity changing. Fortunately, I do have the gauzey curtains for shade and I keep two fans going for air circulation and to keep the heat down. Also there are some locust trees in front of the window that diffuse some of the sunlight as well. I'll have to keep to keep an eye on things as the leaves start to drop later this month.

I also have another small growing area where I have some of my low light maudiaes. They seem to like it, although the humidity is not as high as it is in the big growing area. Still some are in bud, so it can't be too bad..... :D

Peter, the Wossner Super Grande bloomed about a year ago or so, but nothing yet this year. It's outside enjoying the temps (had it out since summer finally hit in June) and letting it enjoy the night temp drops. I have several new fans, it's growing well, and has good coloring (lime green), so I'm knocking on wood.

Hi John,

Nice to know that your Super Grande flowered and doing well! Post pics if you can. :D