Minimum Light Requirement?
 

Hey all,

It's just about time for me to move my nanners into the basement. Hoping to keep them under lights this winter, but really don't want to pay too much for energy. I have oodles of plants - 3 ensetes (2 feet tall), 3 ice creams (2-3 feet), 3 truly tiny (1-2 feet), an unknown, and a 3 foot patio lime tree among others.

What's the minimum amount of light to keep these alive until Spring?

I'm not even looking for growth, just life. Lost too many last year - I don't have any place under 60/65 degrees in the house, and everything outside the house is too cold. They'll go in the basement with 2 small windows under a 2X4, 8 bulb T5 system - more if needed (trying to avoid breaking out the 600W metal halide). Hours a day? Any ideas? I was hoping to match the daylight hours with the hours of sunlight we have this winter, but would love to do less. Thanks in advance.

Re: Minimum Light Requirement?
 

Like you I have a number of tropicals that I bring indoors for the winter by putting a few here and there in the basement etc. My orange trees and some flowers seem to require the most light so they are closest to the window light source. In my experience my various type of bananas make it through the winter in a relatively dark area which I supplement with energy efficient lights equivalent to 60 or 100 watts which I have on for 4 hrs/daily only during the dreariest part of the winter.I find all my bananas survive very well in light conditions that is experienced at dusk and require headlights to be on in order to drive safely.
My area is around 55 degrees so my plants are just in a holding pattern till late spring.

Re: Minimum Light Requirement?
 

dpren,

Thanks. I worry about that much light since my basement stays so warm. With the light on right now, it's 64. I feel like they'd shut down more if it was 55 like your basement. I've got everything jammed in and crowded right now, and will keep on eye on them for a while to see what happens. Not looking forward to the annual spidermite battle though. I've got my timer to follow the natural daylight hours here. They're in a 4X5 area with the 4X2, 8 bulb T5's.

Re: Minimum Light Requirement?
 

I have successfully over-wintered a musa sikkimus with light from a south facing window alone, so anything equivalent to that or better should be good. I would however recommend perhaps a 100 watt metal halide since they have more of a full spectrum light which is required to keep plants from stringing out.

I find that the 26 watt cfls will work for some low light requiring houseplants, but bananas seem to demand more. If you can, I would suggest getting a stronger light, and have it on for a shorter period of time, so perhaps a 400 watt metal halide with a timer for 6 hours each day would not kill the electricity bill and it will keep your bananas healthy.

I keep my bananas outdoors, or by south facing windows so I don't even mess with lights that often however I have observed greenhouses, and the full spectrum metal halide, or hps type seems to promote the most bushy, short and healthy looking growth.