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Green House and Growing Lights

Posted by aaaaaaaa NJ (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 3, 07 at 9:29

Hi
I am new to green houses and growing lights technology--though I have visited several in botanical gardens etc. I am planning to get green house and/or growing lights and put them in my closed Basement (not walk out). Basement has small window--that gives very little light. Many of my container, mostly tropical plants die during winter as I live in New Jersey. And I do not have clue where to start with. Any suggestions?
Thanks


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Green House and Growing Lights

Start with how large an area you wish to light and whether your plants need high light (direct sun), medium light (outdoor shade or bright window), or low light (indoors with no direct sun). Then the experts here will be able to give you four or five completely contradictory recommendations ;)


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RE: Green House and Growing Lights

1. I have about 25 container plants.(so this may occupy 6feet by 6 feet space)
2. All of them needs high light.
3. I have plants like Jasmine(different varieties).


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RE: Green House and Growing Lights

The site I bought my light from has a very good explanation - see link below.

You ideally want a high-intensity discharge light of 1000 watts. This will run you several hundred dollars, plus a significant jump in your electricity bill. You may be able to save a little bit and muddle by with a 400 or 600 watts but your results will be less than ideal. I tried this on tropical hibiscus, and even supplemented by some daylight from a window in the room, they stretch out and don't make buds. They do stay alive, unless I let the bugs get out of hand, but they aren't much to look at.

Another option you may want to consider, depending on the temperatures in your basement or elsewhere, is storing some or all of them dormant or semidormant. For this you need a cool (above freezing), dim space. They look pretty bad all winter, but you have WAY less problems with bugs, and watering is very minimal. I can give you more details if you're interested.

I've never grown jasmine but maybe I can help you with some other tropicals. What specific other types of tropicals do you want to overwinter?

Here is a link that might be useful: Lighting 101


 
 

 

 


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