I know these pics are not great at all, but am dying to hear from you all, I have a T5 HO gro light, and I am thrilled with the plants reaction to it in just a few days. It is so amazing. I will get better pics tomorrow.

The only thing I do know about growing under lights is that now that It is here, I don't have a clue what I am doing. I Have an idea on light and plant distance, I was shocked at how quickly the soil is dry. Do I pretend it's summer all year long, Do I make sure to provide a rest for every plant? I would after blooming of course, is there an illegal steroid I can get my hands on and have big beautiful lil shop of horror blooms, I don't mean that, but I do really really want to see my plants keep growing the way they are right now. It is so much fun.!!

Please share your experience and tips and tricks you have learned along the way. What is the worst thing that can happen, (Because that is probably going to happen) Is there a book I could order, that helped some of you?

Thanks for the help all as it was you guys who helped me pick the right light, I am so excited to have flowers in Novermber,
Laurie B

Glad to here you got some light. It is amazing what good light can do. Yes, if plants are actually growing they will need more water. Stay ahead of any pests with Azamax. You ought to see how many lamps I have and how great my plants are doing. Exciting. There re so many possibilities of what you can now grow in the winter. One winter I concentrated on citrus trees. Had an average of 2 citrus fruits a week to eat. One winter I did lettuce, just too easy. Gene

Thanks Gene. Do plants under lights in winter receive normal fertilizer when growing well. I have I have an Eciveria Perl Von Nurnberg under there, It has grown at least 2 inches, maybe even near three, in days. So fun to watch.

I have been mixing my soil a with a little more grit than people usually do, with such poor light this year, but I think I am going to have to change that.I have a bunch of tiny plants in tiny pots, so they get water every day, but Aloe and Agave in 5 inch terra cotta are drying deep into the pot.

I am going to love this a lot, but seem to make a pretty thorough mess as I check for thirsty plants. Any tips keeping the dirt in the pot as you pull you finger out. he he.

Thanks for checking in.

Laurie B

Any new and exciting Plants in your Inventory. I need an addy too. C'mon!

I think you can turn the lights off at night laurie, just have them on through the day to supplement natural light so they don't etiolate! I think you want the light as close as you can get to the plants!
The worst that can happen is some plants normally go dormant in winter and if they get too many hours of light they will keep vegataing and not enter the rest period and might not perform next year! Just my thoughts.

Yes, on a timer for 13-16 hours per day. Gene

Dormancy will not be an issue. Of course I do not grow cactus under lights in the winter time. Gene

Thank you Gene, I was not sure on cactus. I have it going for 13 hrs, @syzone8aUK I could not decide on 12 or 14 l lol. Thanks.

It is just a treat coming home to see how every one is everyday. I am watering many every other day. Going to have to change my potting recipe. Ginger adult plant, @gasrocks just has hated me.
Right before the light came, the ginger began putting up new growth. I am half tempted to cut the older part back, as it just browns all along the leaf margins, no Idea what I did to her, but am so happy to see she is alive and kickin..

WATER! I have to check every day, all that growth sucks up a lot of h2o. I have my timer set for 14hrs on, going to cut back to 10 hrs on for 8 weeks in mid Dec.

I've been struggling with a small pot of variegated string of pearls. Two very hot days in late summer cooked it and I lost 60-70%. I moved it indoors a month ago and had about 1-2 inches from the t5ho. It didn't look happy so I set in at about 6-7 inches from the bulb. That's the sweet spot, I can see daily growth, it wants more water than you would think My regular string of pearls loves being very close to the bulb but not the variegated.

One of the nice things about T5 HO lights - you may have too much light. Such a problem. So nice to be in control for a change. Yes, finding the right distance from the bulbs can make a big difference. Gene

gasrocks said:One of the nice things about T5 HO lights - you may have too much light. Such a problem. So nice to be in control for a change. Yes, finding the right distance from the bulbs can make a big difference. Gene

It was an eye opener to see how the plant responded to a distance of 4-5 inches. It's growing a quarter inch per day now. I hope it countinues.

Yes, Thanks @madcratebuilder, I am finding I water some every day. But I am not complaining. For me, seeing growth in winter is such a luxury, with our long gray winters.

I will experiment with soil that does not drain quite so fast next spring, but I will gladly water every day for good growth!!