best indoor lighting for cactus?

dimension traveler · 10-20-09, 23:26

Hi everyone just recently I aquired in getting some L. williamssi seeds as well as some T. bridgessi.

I started them off on a heat pad next to a south facing window but recently it has been cloudy and there has'nt been as many hours of light.

So I would like to start growing them useing florecent lighting at least for the winter and would like to know what your input as far as what the best floros would be.

wattage?
lumens?
kelvens (light spectra)?

I was thinking about the t5's which have a blue spectra 65000k but not sure. maybe a combination would be the best?

and If you have experience with the light could you tell me how far away you place it from the youngsters?

rocketman · 10-21-09, 02:16

for seedlings you can use a simple flourescent fixture and the light that comes with it. you can buy a grow bulb, but its not really necessary. 40watts is good, if you plan to grow many then you may need to go to a dual tube fixture. They are like 8 bucks at wally world for a 4 foot dual tube with bulbs. If you choose the grow bulb route they are around 4 dollars each.

keep the light six inches off the tops and you should be fine. if you notice redness on your seedlings raise it in six inch increments until you find the sweet spot.

You can use this set up until they are out of the seedling stage. A year and a half to two years youll want to keep them in full sun in the warm weather and in the winter you should let them go dormant.

there is no replacing the sun when it comes to cacti. They really dont make any lights i know of that will keep them from stretching out after they become a year and a half old or 2 years old. metal halide is better than hps, but still lacks what you get with the sun for free.

the flouros are good only until that time. you can get closer to 2 years with the lophs, but the trichos i only could push a year and a half.

its not that difficult, and with the flouros being close you dont need to run a heat mat.

Good luck! and if you have any more questions hit us up

|dw| · 10-21-09, 03:03

Those grow lights from wally world are cheap and pereskiopsis grow great with them.

Cia Oregon · 10-21-09, 05:16

Hey Rocketman !!!

Your information was extremely important to me!

Thanks ...

dimension traveler · 10-21-09, 13:41

Rocketman thankyou for your imput, I was wondering about the whole dormant thing as I have some mature pedro's.

In your opinion do you think it would be better to let them go dormant? bring inside and give no light or water right?
or If I can bring inside and place in south window and water say once every or every other month?

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10-20-09, 23:26	#1 (permalink)
dimension traveler Mycophage Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 170	best indoor lighting for cactus? Hi everyone just recently I aquired in getting some L. williamssi seeds as well as some T. bridgessi. I started them off on a heat pad next to a south facing window but recently it has been cloudy and there has'nt been as many hours of light. So I would like to start growing them useing florecent lighting at least for the winter and would like to know what your input as far as what the best floros would be. wattage? lumens? kelvens (light spectra)? I was thinking about the t5's which have a blue spectra 65000k but not sure. maybe a combination would be the best? and If you have experience with the light could you tell me how far away you place it from the youngsters?

10-21-09, 02:16	#2 (permalink)
rocketman GATE KEEPER Join Date: Feb 1971 Posts: 4,533	for seedlings you can use a simple flourescent fixture and the light that comes with it. you can buy a grow bulb, but its not really necessary. 40watts is good, if you plan to grow many then you may need to go to a dual tube fixture. They are like 8 bucks at wally world for a 4 foot dual tube with bulbs. If you choose the grow bulb route they are around 4 dollars each. keep the light six inches off the tops and you should be fine. if you notice redness on your seedlings raise it in six inch increments until you find the sweet spot. You can use this set up until they are out of the seedling stage. A year and a half to two years youll want to keep them in full sun in the warm weather and in the winter you should let them go dormant. there is no replacing the sun when it comes to cacti. They really dont make any lights i know of that will keep them from stretching out after they become a year and a half old or 2 years old. metal halide is better than hps, but still lacks what you get with the sun for free. the flouros are good only until that time. you can get closer to 2 years with the lophs, but the trichos i only could push a year and a half. its not that difficult, and with the flouros being close you dont need to run a heat mat. Good luck! and if you have any more questions hit us up __________________ robbing a man of his cherished delusions does not make you any wealthier, it just makes him poorer. H3

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10-21-09, 03:03	#3 (permalink)
\|dw\| EE Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 99	Those grow lights from wally world are cheap and pereskiopsis grow great with them.

10-21-09, 05:16	#4 (permalink)
Cia Oregon Mycophiliac Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	Hey Rocketman !!! Your information was extremely important to me! Thanks ...

10-21-09, 13:41	#5 (permalink)
dimension traveler Mycophage Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 170	Rocketman thankyou for your imput, I was wondering about the whole dormant thing as I have some mature pedro's. In your opinion do you think it would be better to let them go dormant? bring inside and give no light or water right? or If I can bring inside and place in south window and water say once every or every other month?