From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Austria

This may be my first season, nevertheless I`m trying to do my best. Last thing I`ve tried is the following:

Put a lamp in my little selfmade hoophouse (1mx50cmx50cm) with a blue coloured bulb in it. I was given the bulb by a friend, who said it was especially for plants. He had this as a backup light for his aquarium (it`s a bulb, not a neon light or something). On top (inside of course) of the hoop house the lamp did an excellent job. Although it was very rainy and cold too in the last days, the plants continued growing. What I did, I let the light on day and night (24/7). Of course it is off now as the sun comes out, but on a rainy, windy day, just perfect.

Now my question: What experiences have you made? Some growers recommend to put the lights out in the night. The other idea could be, whenever light is possible, one should provide it (more light, more growth). But then the seedlings can easily get "leggy" too, some say. So I`ll let the light off this night IF temperatures are ok, otherwise I will leave it on, to provide good temperatures in the hoophouse, a very positiv sideeffect, I must say ....

5/24/2005 4:10:36 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Last year I have used an old table top lamp with usual bulb for warming during the night.. it worked great.

5/24/2005 5:19:16 AM

Austria

Ok, it seems to be true. I had my light on 2 days 24 hours (night too). The first day with pleasant weather, they got leggy ... maybe it was not enough water too, but bI think the plants really need thier rest at night (darkness). Don`t need the light anymore now. Everything seems to be ok.

5/31/2005 3:50:03 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Grow lights should definitely be turned off at night from what I've learned in my Ag Science classes. It's termed photoperiodism and the plants need the darkness for at least 8 hours at night to complete their respiration. It also follows that the nightime temp. should be at least 10 degrees cooler than daytime temps.

Many plants, such as christmas ivys will not even flower if someone accidently turns on greenhouse lights in the middle of the night for even a few minutes.

I personally made sure to install heating cables and a space heater this year because I had to keep on the grow lamp all night for warmth.

Best regards to all and I welcome any corrections if someone thinks I'm wrong.
Michel

6/1/2005 2:22:14 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

I meant that I kept the grow light on all night last year but not this year. 869.5 Calai looks very happy!

6/1/2005 2:23:17 AM