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Post by prmills on Jan 10, 2009 20:08:36 GMT -5
A local store here had these on sale for $25, how could I resist?? Alas, now I have to get more plants ;D The setup needs to get done first... The dimensions are 24" wide, 19" long, 5 feet tall I believe and a plastic zipper cover. This is what I did with it today: I've got a double t12 fixture with "sunsticks" above it and 2 CFLs on either side in the middle. I don't think this will be enough though. It's going to be used for neps and heli's if I'm lucky enough in the spring to find one or two. It's in the basement which stays pretty cool at night and goes up during the day so it would be an ideal highlander area. It would get less than an hour of direct sunlight. The room is all the ugly brown colour so I wouldn't consider the rest of the time as "bright shade." This is what I was thinking of doing, I drew a crappy pic cause I can't explain it very well: The CFLs would up the temps in there too during the day so I don't know if that would be a good thing or not. I thought of getting 24" fixtures but they are expensive. Any other thoughs for lighting, leaning to the nep side? I don't like the outside cause I imagine with the humidty up, the plastic cover would be fogged and reflect too much light away from the plants. Any thoughts at all would be great
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Post by sherkas on Jan 10, 2009 20:22:27 GMT -5
How good is your wiring skills and how much would you pay? I think your best bet for neph lighting would be to get 2 or 3 CFL sockets wire them together for each shelf. Stick a 9W light in each and you have a low light but even light on each shelf. Then if you want you can change the 9W bulbs for 20W each and grow a row of sundews/VFT or take out 1 shelf and combine 2 rows with 20W lights for some sars. EG. Top shelf = lit by fluorescants (Sundews) Second self = removed. third self = Sars (bottom of top shelf contains 3 fixtures of 13-20W CFL's (or even 4 if you wish). Last two shelfs = Nephs with 2-3 CFL sockets and 9W lights. You could also put the sarrs on the bottom shelf and have the upper ones with nephs. If you had long stem nephs (with their pitchers you could also cut the shelf they are on so that theres enough mess to hold the pot but their pitchers can hang down an extra level. I know you can buy seperate CFL sockets and I would recommend atleast 2 per level so you get even light. Then just adjust your bulbs. The 9W or even less will give very little light if needed, but up them to 20W or higher and you will get great results. eg. (Forgot to draw lights though)
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Post by Rick Hillier on Jan 10, 2009 22:14:26 GMT -5
I have always found the "trumpet" sarracenia difficult to grow under lights. These beasts like full sun and if they don't get it, the growth gets all etoliated and the pitchers look really skimpy at best, or simply fall over at worst.
If you can grow them outside in the summer and give them a rest in the winter, that's your best bet with that species.
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Post by prmills on Jan 10, 2009 23:03:36 GMT -5
I was planning the sarr's going out this year, even after my attempt last year for my "bog". I've got enough room (for now) for my VFT's and dews upstairs, but will only be consintrating this grow area on the neps and heli's as I have my eye on a few of them Wiring for something like that I've got no prob for. So say, if I did one CFL on each side for a total of 8, with a 9w bulb (72w total or 18w per shelf) that would be enough light? Right now mine have only gotten sunlight but I don't have anymore room there. How about reflectors for the bulbs or should I let them go commando? and what about the heat issue, will they produce too much heat in a completely enclosed area? As you can see, that's my main concern right now... Or is there a way to do this with 4' tubes? I have an extra double T8 hanging around and the double T12. One on each side standing on edge or just one, I dunno... my mind is on coffee needed mode right now... maybe building a fixture and have one tube per shelf with only the top one with a reflector? yeah... time to shut her down tonight...
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Post by sherkas on Jan 11, 2009 0:36:14 GMT -5
Either way would work I would say, 1 bulb per level (if you can wire that) and any nephs that need more you can just through in a extra CFL.
I havent grown a neph yet so I dont know about light requirements. I do know that 9w produce very little heat.
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Post by lloyd on Jan 11, 2009 9:40:24 GMT -5
I agree with Rick, the North American CP's should be outside where they belong.
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Post by carnivoure12 on Jan 11, 2009 11:21:20 GMT -5
You luck guy, you have no idea how long i was searching for one of those and came up empty handed, you'd think things are easy o find in Toronto.. So Ihad to improvise and make a shelf. Ummm I wouldn'y but sarracenias in the growrack, just because it doesn'y supply enough light, as previously stated. Good luck!
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Post by Flytrap on Jan 11, 2009 14:02:46 GMT -5
Try Canadian tire, they've always got a few of these portable greenhouses over in my neck of woods.
For those of you who have access to larger spaces... check out your local used building supply places. In the past I've bought old shower stalls with doors and converted them into growing chambers for cps - and the drainage system is built in (lift up the stall and place piping into a collector, or right into your home sewage connection)
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Post by vraev on Jan 11, 2009 15:53:21 GMT -5
Actually...temperate cps including SARRS can be grown under lights which is the only way I have done with mine so far. This is a sarr I don't have anymore, but when it was growing for the one season I had it...it did great...although due to its height...it was just like 5 inches under the lights. As u see, it was thriving...it was drooling...the thing was just loving it under there. BUT, bear in mind....many sarrs like alata, leucophylla are tall plants, they will not fit under most lights which are powerful enough to illuminate the entire plant as light intensity decreases geometrically with distance. So yeah....long term solution is growing them outdoors. But when they are young, u could probably enjoy them like I did indoors. Now....let me say...its NOT impossible to grow full sarrs indoors, it just depends on how much money on lights and hydro u want to spend. With that plan of multiple CFL and those T12 tubes, u can probably manage a pretty good light level. You won't know until u try. yeah Daniel...I got my 4 tier greenhouse in home depot at mississauga. Don't be disheartened man. You can still find it. Just look out at sherdian nursaries (usually a bit more expensive) or home depot which have good sized garden centers. Call up a couple from mississauga or toronto and ask them before heading out.
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Post by carnivoure12 on Jan 11, 2009 16:31:17 GMT -5
Well I've been on their websites and didn't find anything I also went to the actual CT Store and nothing. Its too late now, I bargained with my mom to let me get a growrack, she wouldn't be to happy if I bought a mini greenhouse Where are sheridan Nurseries, I wish I had a way to get there.
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Post by prmills on Jan 11, 2009 17:18:28 GMT -5
Alright, I'll try with the CFLs first and see how it goes, 2 per shelf going commando. Once I get it done, I'll post some pics and let you guys know how it works.
If anyone still has comments or suggestions, I'm still open to it for sure!
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Post by lloyd on Jan 11, 2009 20:53:17 GMT -5
Canada Tire in Toronto has some mini-greenhouses. I saw some but have no room at the moment.
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Post by prmills on Jan 30, 2009 15:32:52 GMT -5
Well, no lights added yet, but I did add an aquarium heater that came with my tank. I put it in a container of water and cranked the heat in it. Night time the temps/humidity are 7C/85% during the day they are 20C/88%. Can't seem to get over that hump for humidity. Probably will go up when more plants are inside. On a side note for lighting, I've got a 3 tier one also for seeds in my veg garden. I've decided to try 2 light sockets with a double extention in each (4 CFLs per level). It'll be hung in the middle of the shelf and the bulbs will go out in a "X" fashion pointing out. I figure if I put 30w bulbs it will be more than enough. I already bought enough for one level, and realized that it might be cheaper to buy a 24" tube fixture and put it in... things you learn Cost so far: $4 per socket (2), $4 per double extender (2), $13 per bulb (4) to a total of $39 per level for lights. Cost of 24" double fixture, $25-$29. Anyone know if you can re-wire those under cabinet 24" tubes to replace the bulb in them?
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Post by dvg on Jan 30, 2009 16:00:46 GMT -5
Hi prmills, You can convert T12 fixtures over to T8 fixtures if that is what you're asking. You have to buy a T8 electronic ballast for and 2' T8 tube. The ballast will have a wiring diagram on the label. If you can follow the schematic and make sure the right colored wire is going to the required socket end (tombstones...electrical slang for those fixture ends), and also that the tombstones are looped together correctly, you should be alright, . The tombstones can be used for either T12 or T8 bulbs, because the pin diameter is the same for both tubes. I think you are talking about the single strip flourescent valance lights. Too bad those 2 ' bulbs are twice as expensive as the 4' bulbs. Good luck with those.
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Post by Rug on Jan 31, 2009 10:12:37 GMT -5
Just a heads up also. It is way more expensive to convert a fixture. The electronic ballast by itself costs just as much as the fixture does on sale. Canadian Tire puts the T8 fixtures on sale about once every month or 3 for about $15 or so. If you can wait that long I suggest doing it that way. You will have more even light and your plants won't grow sideways toward the CFL. I have 3 of those greenhouses and I just bought a huge one for my entire set up yesterday. It was regular price $299 and got it for $74. Now I get to have fun setting it up in the basement! Its about 6" x "5.5" x &.5" tall. Gonna have to modify the height of it though!
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