Want Them All

I have my light set up to run 15 hours/day, from 7 PM to 10 AM. I'm curious about the effect of having the plants exposed to light in an "abnormal" cycle. In nature, they get light during the daylight hours, but now when it's supposed to be dark, they get light, and the rest of the time, it's dark in my garage, when it's daylight hours outside the house. My reasons for having my light on from 7 PM to 10 AM are twofold:

[1] From 6PM to noon, my electricity rates are the lowest, I'm on a tiered arrangement with the electricity company, not a flat rate.

[2] At night it's colder, so the grow light, in addition to providing the light for growth, also keeps the plants warm (78-83 F)

Do you think the plants will have trouble adapting to the natural cycle of day & night once springtime comes and they go outside?

Thanks,

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jwmahloch

I dont think it will harm your plants to have the grow light on at night. I have my grow lights on during the day on a timer set for 14 hours. I think the most important thing in the spring is to gradually move plants back to the sun outside (harden off). It depends on the plant. Banana plants really dont seem to mind the change from inside light to full sun outdoors but some palms and tropicals plants need to be hardened off. Good luck

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Jeremy

Want Them All

Thanks Jeremy,
the plants in queston are plumerias.

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Dean W.

Great question! I don't think it will harm them either.

I bought a couple of grow lights today. Maybe I can keep my Caldomin leaves green and use the other to start some seeds in a few months (haven't decided yet).

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jwmahloch

One thing I have learned with the grow lights is: get the plants as close as possible to the light. and it doesnt harm banana leaves to touch floressant lights.

I actually have 2 banana plants that are up to my ceiling in my basement, taller than the grow lights. I have been just guiding the leaves in the right direction and they are ok for now. The 2 plants are still putting out new leaves every 2 weeks about 3 feet long. I have backed off a lot on the water.

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Jeremy

Want Them All

You're OK to have your plants close to the light because your lights are fluorescents. Mine would burn, I have HID light, quite hot to the touch.

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serial_killer

If you had it in a cool tube with proper ventilation it wouldnt be to hot to touch the plants. I have a 400W HPS in a 6 inch cool tube with a 250CFM exhaust fan and I can lay my hand on the glass directly under the light, its warm but at no point does it become uncomfy, I could hold it there all day if I wanted. Bigger light = more CFM.

jakesebastin

I do not think it will harm your plants. Generally each and everyone have the grow light on at night. The most important thing in the spring is to gradually move plants back to the sun outside.

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Long lasting Grow Light easily

cincinnana

Now's the time to set those timers.

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paulorph

Sad but true. Took plants in at Moms house into basement with grow lights and time. Do a 11 or 12 hour cycle. They will miss the outside....

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Hi from cold Ann Arbor,Michigan! Go Blue!

cincinnana

bump...

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cincinnana

Time to turn on the lights.........get ready...

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Snarkie

It depends on the brightness of your grow light, if they are on the "just barely" end, you will want to use them during the day to add to the weak sunlight. This will also allow the natural cycle to stay in balance.

If you get some really strong lamps, like growing under your house types, you can use them to extend your day artificially, but they will still need some hours of darkness.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




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