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Jan 11, 2019 6:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
I am running more lights than last winter. Home is definitely brighter and more friendly. Plants are doing great !! I counted today - I am up to 5 x 2 foot and 44 x 4 foot LED. So far my electric bill is about $40 a month less than last winter. But weather is in that mix so who knows about the impact of more efficient lights. I am happy for sure. Thinking about adding even more lights though I do not really need them.
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Jan 22, 2019 10:38 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
I do not use my front door. Have a large piece of 1.5" pink Styrofoam jammed inside the door. I did paint some of the walls white this winter. On the left side are tall Sansevieria held in place with some bungee cords, nails in wall. Bottom shelf with a Philo. Giganteum in the corner trying to take over the world. Middle shelf. Some small bananas and philos. Got out the step ladder. Top shelf is succulents. Confined space, so I have a low speed, quiet cabinet fan running when the lights are on. Very efficient use of space, IMO.


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Last edited by gasrocks Jan 22, 2019 10:41 AM Icon for preview
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Feb 10, 2019 9:51 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
Hard to get shots to show it all but here is parts of my living room.


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Feb 15, 2019 7:48 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076FQ15R6/

Link to the ones I bought at Amazon. They also sell 2 foot lights but at almost the same price.
IMO, inexpensive, lightweight, efficient. Give some thought to using them for other things than plants. With the number of hours a day I run them, 14, they are expected to last 16 years.
Last edited by gasrocks Feb 15, 2019 7:54 AM Icon for preview
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Feb 15, 2019 8:03 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
that's incredible- no wonder you switched. Thumbs up
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 20, 2019 10:47 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
My lowest monthly elec. bill: Spring, Fall, when I am not running my plants lights nor heat nor A/C, is $65. My highest bill this cold Winter has been $108. Running the fan in the furnace and having the day shorter requires a larger bill, my guess $20? You can afford to get some lights! They do not cost a lot initially and will last a long time. I just counted and I am presently running 176 feet of lights. Here in WI it so healthy to be surrounded by daylight, fresh air and living things. I have many house plants that do better inside during the Winter than they do outside on their Summer vacation. Gene
Last edited by gasrocks Feb 20, 2019 10:53 AM Icon for preview
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Mar 1, 2019 9:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
I teach some classes on house plants. Pests are always a large topic. Sometimes when you think you do not have any you might. They are just hiding or in immature stages. But, let us assume that you really do not have any. The only way you will get some is to bring them in on a new plant. I strongly suggest you quarantine any new plants far from the ones you already have. Even if that means putting the newbies in a place without enough light. But, with your own lights you can have that quarantine area lit up. You can also have a hospital area where you are treating sick plants. Gene
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Mar 12, 2019 9:21 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
Like I said, another advantage of LED is that they do not get hot and so the leaves can actually touch the bulbs without much damage. Cissus Tuberosa. Light falls of as the square of the distance. A leaf 1" from the bulb is getting 8x the light that one just 3" away is getting. Or is that 9x?


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Last edited by gasrocks Mar 12, 2019 10:09 AM Icon for preview
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Mar 29, 2019 12:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gene Staver
Portage WI 53901 (Zone 5a)
Annuals Houseplants Herbs Cat Lover Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents
Butterflies Birds Hummingbirder Garden Sages
Just added more lights. I am now at 184 ft.

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