Begonia,

Got to Home Depot, get a 4 foot cool white florescent bulb and a 4 foot day light bulb. The daylight is a warm white but it is labeled day light. Get a 4 foot fixture at Lowe's with a reflector. For some reason, HD doesn't carry ones with reflector. They go for about 27.00. Your plants must be about 12'' below the bulbs especially when the bulbs are new. You will have to find an arrangement that allows more room between the plants and the bulbs than 5-10 cms.

it's really not that difficult to start a proper arrangement for growing under lights.

Linda

Thank you, Linda !

Does that mean that I either do the Home Depot option (one warm, one cool) or the lowes option (a fixture with a reflector ) ..or do I need to get all three items you mentioned ?

The stand I have in the kitchen is pretty much the only thing I can use - I can't use basement, etc. I was wondering if I can reduce the hours when the lights are on to make up for the closeness to the lights.

Begonia,

You need two bulbs and a fixture to put them in.
You can reduce time to make up for closeness but what you describe (5-10 cm.) is incredibly close. I have never heard of anyone growing at that distance but maybe someone else here has and can offer some advice.

Linda

Oh, Gosh - did I say cm?!!!

No! I meant inches!

Depending on how tall the plant is, there is anywhere between 5-10 inches between the lights and the top of the plant.

Begonia,

I was wondering about that...I even checked to see where you lived! The standard is about 12'' so I would say 10'' is doable. Just play around with it until you find an arrangement that works.

Linda

Thank you, Linda.
I will definitely look into the Lowes fixture - plus 2 lights from HD, one warm, one cold.

Begonia,

It's cool, not cold. I don't want you wandering aimlessly through HD looking for a cold bulb!

Linda

I AM funny, aren't I ! :))))). I can't seem to get it right nowadays even when I mean to say something else. I did mean cool ..but I somehow made it into "cold". :))).
Thank you for caring - because it does sound hysterical wandering through HD asking for cold bulbs. ROFL.

Ok...now that I managed to sound so ignorant, might as well keep asking what might be downright dumb questions. :)

When I will get the cool and the warm bulbs from HD, are those the T8's and /or T12's I keep hearing about ?
Or those are something else ?

Begonia,
"T" is the measurement of the diameter of the bulb measured in eighths. A T8 is 1" in diameter, a T12 is 1 1/2" in diameter. I understand T12's are being phased out as T8's are more energy efficient and last longer. My fixtures fit either size as I have had the same ones for years. Just look for bulbs that are 1'' in diameter, daylight and cool. They usually come two to a package.

Linda

This post was edited by whitelacey on Wed, Oct 2, 13 at 14:56

Begonia,

The seventh one on this page is your cool white:

http://www.homedepot.com/s/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=florescent+bulbs%202%20pack%20cool%20white&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SearchAll

The second one on this page is your warm white:

http://www.homedepot.com/s/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=florescent+bulbs%202%20pack%20daylight&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SearchAll

Linda

Thank you, Linda!
Just making progress towards my PhD in African Violets. Slowly but surely. :-)

Linda,

Do you think you might have a link for the Lowes fixture with a reflector you mentioned?

I looked on their site but can't seem to find the right one.

Begonia,

I couldn't find the Lowe's one but I found this one at HD.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-Light-Flush-Mount-White-Industrial-Fluorescent-Light-L-2-32-120-GESB/100165074#.Uk5chD8fgyg

I get the cheapest one I can find, (they last for years for me) but make sure you get one with a reflector like this one has. A reflector directs the light down on your plants like a lampshade does on a lamp. Otherwise, the light is scattered all around the room.

Linda