Indoor Plant Lighting

[John Brittnacher]

I have a new page on the ICPS web site about indoor plant lighting.

www.carnivorousplants.org/howto/SoilsWater/Lighting.php

The information is aimed at plants you want to display so it focuses mainly on the use of fluorescent lighting.

In researching information on lighting for the page and measuring the light levels for my plants I was quite shocked by some of the details. On this page I more or less make recommendations but don't explain them in detail. I am working on a second web page with technical details such as actual light measurements from different fixtures at various distances.

I am not sure I will be able to say much about LED lighting. I suspect the kinds of LED bulbs we can buy for home use are a combination of orange, green, and blue LEDs. If any manufacturers give details about specific bulbs I have not been able to find it. You can buy plant light fixtures with blue and red LEDs and the plants may like them a lot but I am not sure I like seeing purple plants.

I could use more photos of indoor growing areas that have been in use for a few years and are working.

If there are any questions about this page, please let me know.

[John Brittnacher]

I just linked in a new page on the ICPS web site on LED plant lighting.

www.carnivorousplants.org/howto/SoilsWater/Lighting.LED.php

The intent of the page is to explain the technical details about LEDs and present information that can be used to decide whether you want to go there or not. I am not in a position to test LEDs in a meaningful way myself although I think it would be fun to do so. I know my Heliamphora would prefer not suffering under hot fluorescents.

[bluemax]

I find the LED article to be a good place to start when considering this kind of lighting for plant growth. 'Lots of good stuff there.

[Apoplast]

Nice work, as always, John! Your contribution to the ICPS tips pages has been enormous and I know that it has helped ensure that many beginners stayed with the hobby rather than giving up in frustration. But you haven't stopped there, with many of your pages keeping the experienced intrigued, and open dialog about technical details. Really good stuff!

[sykosarah]

Nothing compares to good old fashioned sunlight. Problem is, the sun isn't always cooperative. I like fluorescent lights because they give off heat too, so that I can keep my room at a comfortable temperature while my plant still gets the higher temperature it wants.

[taz6122]

Nov 14, 2013 6:10:05 GMT sykosarah said:

I like fluorescent lights because they give off heat too, so that I can keep my room at a comfortable temperature while my plant still gets the higher temperature it wants.

All lighting gives off heat! Fluorescent gives off less heat than most others.

[v074]

Check out my NEW thread in this forum section, "indoor growing", to find out how to make your own LED grow lights for FREE, using unwanted electronics. Perfect for growing carnivorous plants on a tight budget. It is entitled, "make your own LED grow lights". I just made it a few minutes ago.:-)

[v074]

Actually, there are some kinds of tropical fungi that can produce "cold light" by means of chemical reactions. Not very useful for growing carnivorous plants, though.:-)