Hi. I am not much of a green thumb, but I do have a cactus that I have kept alive and growing for 15+ years. I've always had the opportunity to put it outside for the summer on a windowsill or balcony. My new apartment has no such opportunity and only north facing windows. I need to get it a grow light, but I need to find a fairly small footprint fixture that won't break the bank or burn down the building. Does anyone have any idiot proof suggestions? Thanks SO much.
That may be a tough one to light. Most cacti need full sun in order to grow normally. And a two foot tall cactus has a lot more vertical surface area to light. Cereus may be a bit more tolerant of lower light, but I'm not sure. The best thing for it would probably be a metal halide, but that would be a bit expensive. You could try a couple of compact fluorescents. You can buy clamp on dish reflectors to put them in, or find a hanging fixture, or a lamp with rotating arms. It really depends on how you want to mount the lights. If you go this route, I'd keep any CFL within a foot of the plant. Also, look for daylight bulbs, preferably 30 watts or more (actual watts, not incandescent equivalent).
