How important are hydroponic grow lights?

[Smitty]

thought I would share my wee set up in the basement my grandson and I completed a few weeks back..so far everything appears to be doing ok..I used a small aquarium light set up with 2 full spectrum bulbs and a Reptiglo 2.0 UVB 26 W bulb in the light fixture in the ceiling..area is about 6x8
the yellowing leaves were starting when the plant was brought indoors..been a very dry summer in plap

total cost since I already had the aquarium fixture was 25 dollars

[Dumbo]

I couldn't find all that for 25$.

I'll be surprised if that turns out to be enough light for a 6x8.

Personally I was thinking of getting a small 100W metal halide (or whatever 100W grow light i can find) in addition to the 10 full spectrum bulbs I have here. Though I would cut some blue in there.

The 10 I have was good for 4'x4' and it did well.

[Smitty]

If it isn't Marc..I will get hubby to bring down one of my 4 ft fluorescent fixtures from the sunroom but so far everything seems ok

[Dumbo]

Yeah I looked into it last night. You could be right.

For veg plants you couldn't get away with that. I think there might even be formula's and calculations in the plant forum here showing the requirement for a 4x4 area (there were a few topics on this). But, I was reading for flowers or foliage type plants the requirement is less.

At least, that looks like flower and foliage type plants in your picture. So you could be right. But I have a hard time believing 2 T5's and a 23W bulb will be enough. Keep us informed. Has my interest. Never looked into it for foliage or flower type plants.

[davefrombc]

Generally , greens ( foliage) type plants take less intense lighting than flowering/fruiting types do. There may be exceptions, but here , the commercial greenhouse operations grow tomatoes, peppers and other high light and warmth loving crops from late spring through fall. Lettuce and other green crops are grown in winter when light and heat demands are lower.

[Smitty]

I'll keep you updated...would never put my peppers down there..the ones I overwinter are in the sunroom with the majority of the orchids and other house plants.

so far...some have dropped some leaves but this was to be expected bringing them indoors and are showing lots of signs of new growth and the big Brug in the photo opened the last of its flower buds in the basement...smelled beautiful yesterday morning when I went down to turn lights on.

[michaelstone]

some of these "full spectrum" lights wouldn't work?

http://www.hydrofarm.com/catalog.php?category=19

if not i might try a cfl setup ala :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs_QRorE ... plpp_video