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Post by Rick Hillier on Mar 29, 2007 9:20:32 GMT -5
I've been growing my "indoor" CP (tropical 'dews, cephs, helis, VFT) in aquariums under fluorescent lighting on a three tier unit. I am finding that some of the CP on the top level have began to get a little on the grouchy side. The stuff in the middle level are okay, but I'm not presently using the lower level. In checking things out, I've noticed that the water in the upper aquariums is quite warm by the end of the day (from the heat of the lights below it), which would lead me to assume that the growing media must be warm also. I've noticed that some of my D. capensis leaves are not opening fully at the tips, cephs are not growing as vigorously as normal, my D. schizandra is toast (although the roots look intact - I replanted them horizontally in the media and moved the pot to a shady cooler spot in the hopes that it will come back from the roots). I am beginning to think that, while these plants are okay with hot air temperature, they don't like warm roots at all. I'm going to try using a fan to blow air between the top of the lights of the middle tier and the aquariums of the top level and see if that helps. Any other thoughts or suggestions? >>> Rick <<<
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Post by mabudon on Mar 29, 2007 9:36:11 GMT -5
NOT D.SCHIZANDRA!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!Okay, Okay, breathe...... Are your trays black plastic as so many often are?? Maybe switch to something more in the white-coloured spectrum??? And from what I understand, D.schizandra should be able to grow in lousy light, so keepin it in "normal sundew conditions" is probably not the best for it, sound like you have a plan that will make it so.... And I would agree with your hypothesis- hot water is great for preparing plants to eat (little vegetarian tip there ) but for gorwing them- not so good.... Sorry to hear about the possible loss....
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Post by Rick Hillier on Mar 29, 2007 11:02:24 GMT -5
I'm not giving up on ol' "Schiz" just yet. I suspect that the lighting may have been too bright for it. I took it out of the soil and roots looked okay, so I replanted them horizontally in the sphagnum, so hopefully, it will come back for me/us.
I'm not using any trays... they're all in aquariums arranged currently on the top two levels of a three-tier unit. The tanks on the upper level are obviously being heated by the lights immediately below it, but there's about an inch of space (or so) between them, so I'm going to set up a fan to blow air through that gap in the hope of dissipating the heat.
Keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed.
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Post by mabudon on Mar 29, 2007 11:08:42 GMT -5
CROSSED!!
Okay, I misunderstood part of that post- if it's under-tank lights that are makin the heat, you gotta insulate the bottom I'd think- something that's a real poor conductor as a heat deflector- maybe even a piece of wood?? That might help.. either way COME ON "SCHIZ"!!!!!!!!
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Post by lloyd on Mar 29, 2007 13:45:41 GMT -5
I read that schizandra, adelae and prolifera are pretty close and all like low temperatures and low light. I keep my prolifera in a jar with a few air holes under a table so it gets indirect light but never sun or too bright.
Sometimes if I leave for work early I come home to find my terrariums are HOT if the sun is coming in. I quickly slide the lids open and nothing seems the worse for it. My pots are white plastic. The humboldtii bowls can get warm as the sphagnum soaks up the heat.
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Post by martin on Mar 29, 2007 21:16:27 GMT -5
Rick, what temperature do you have on the upper level?
In the Savage Garden book, it says the Sisters from Queensland(D. prolifera, D. schizandra, D. adelae) live in tropical rainforest climate and thrive under these conditions: -Shaded light conditions -High humidity (interpret this as 70%+) -Little temperature extremes (12-27°C)
Hope this will help you back on track
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Post by lloyd on Mar 29, 2007 21:46:16 GMT -5
Are your lights ballasted? Moving ballasts can keep the heat load to the plants down.
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Post by martin on Mar 30, 2007 7:37:36 GMT -5
That's why I prefer the electronic ballasts, less heat and less electricity consumption. However, they tend to be more expensive than the magnetic ballasts.
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Post by Rick Hillier on Mar 30, 2007 9:55:43 GMT -5
Martin: I don't know what the temps are at the upper level, but is quite warm in there. It may be that the plants can handle the warm temps, but I'd bet that if you found them in the wild, the soil temps would be fairly warm.
In my case, the water in the bottom of the aquarium (fluctuates between 1/2-2" deep) is quite warm to the touch, so I would have to think that the soil temps will be that way as well.
Regarding ballasts, I've had this setup since I was in my early teens (I'm 46 now)... I used it for a long time to grow "normal" plants for our gardens.
I don't think my setup is condusive to relocating the ballasts at the present time, but I'm going to try blowing air through the gap between the top of the lights and the bottom of the upper tier once I get a thermometer in place to see where I am presently (as a starting point).
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by ah1ok on Mar 30, 2007 22:11:53 GMT -5
well, if it's warm by touching the water...and knowing that our body stables at 37 degree, it maybe means that the water is near 37, maybe over so you can feel the warm sensation ...
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Post by lloyd on Mar 31, 2007 6:48:47 GMT -5
Actually to be pedantic (get your notebooks out, kids!), that's not accurate. Anything that's warmer than your hand is at the moment will feel warm. Put a finger into ice water (don't let it go numb) until you get used to the cold, then put it into water at room temperature (18C) and it will feel really warm. There's going to be a test later in the next post!
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Post by ah1ok on Mar 31, 2007 7:19:33 GMT -5
oh ya, little detail LOL ;D
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Post by martin on Apr 4, 2007 17:48:46 GMT -5
I was once told that our fingers (or any body part) are not temperature sensors. However, they detect the ammount of heat transfer from, or towards your finger. That explains why touching a metal part that is at ambient temperature feels cold but isnt. The metal part is simply transferring your body temperature to itself, because its a much better heat conductor than your finger is...
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Post by Rick Hillier on Apr 4, 2007 20:41:02 GMT -5
My finger may not be an accurate "sensor" in terms of how hot or cold something is, but it can definitely tell if one body of water is colder/warmer than another under the same conditions.
That was the point that I was (apparently inadequately) trying to make.
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by eql on May 10, 2007 17:20:25 GMT -5
rick... did u ever consider moving the plants from the middle shelf to the lower? *EQL*
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