Im wondering where I would be able to find a grow bulb. My indoor plants are just not getting enough sunlight at all right now and are starting to die. Ive been looking at them online, but everything seems to complicated and is way more then I need. Is it possible just to get one single little lightbulb? I really dont need the whole massive system..... do i? If anyone knows of anything in the ottawa area that would be great.
Don't know why this has gone unanswered. Anyway... Yes, you can use one single lightbulb, so long as it is a high-powered fluorescent bulb. It'll be big (the equivalent of a 75 or 100 watt incandescent). You'll want to get some kind of reflector for it. You can get a 'clamp lamp" at the department store for less than $20. It'll hold your bulb and direct the light to your plant. Do not use a regular incandescent bulb. They generate too much heat. You want light, not heat. I use several clamp lamps like this for my cuttings and the oddball stuff that gets started before the mass of seedlings in March. Good luck!
oh wow, I cant believe all I need is a bulb like the one on the picture. I have a bunch of those just taking up space in my closet that I could have been using for months! I even have an extra clamp lamp sitting around. Thanks so much!
The color spectrum of the CFL is important, there is a red spectrum mainly for flowering and another for vegetative growth, I forget the Kelvin rating of the two at the moment. If you go to a light store they would be able to find something for you. Hydroponic stores also carry them usually.
Jimmyq is right about the spectrum requirements, but don't feel you have to run out and buy expensive lights from specialty shops. If all you need is extra light to get your indoor plants through the low-light time of winter, then use the compact fluorescent bulbs (high power, though) and clamp-lamps you have on hand. You just need enough light, even if its not the right kind of light, to pull them through. If you're overwintering plants that will go out in the spring and summer, is not necessary or even desirable to promote vegetative growth in the winter. If, however, you are growing plants that stay indoors all year round, and they don't get adequate light in the summer either, then you should consider the spectrum requirements as Jimmy mentioned.
yes, watts vs lumens vs spectrum can get confusing but its a simple equation when you understand the principles. I used to work for a company that sold at the wholesale level, CFLs to garden centers and hydroponic shops, we had a 75W, 95W and then a 120W. Available in both flowering and vegetation spectrum. Problem with them was the ballasts didnt tolerate heat real well, enclosed in a reflector was not a good place for them. I tried them out using a 'china hat' reflector and a 'batwing' reflector, the 'china hat' seemed to work well but I had to cut out and enlarge the mogul socket hole to help disipate heat.
How many watts are considered a high powered CFL? I have a 25 watt CFL right now in a clamp lamp, Should i get a bigger one? Also, How many hours a day should I be keeping the light on for to help my plant come back to health.... its looking pretty sick right now. :(
25 isnt too strong but you can put the reflector about 3 inches away from the foliage and it should be fine.
The largest commonly available CFL bulbs are 42 and 45 watt (actual wattage) at Can. Tire and Walmart. I've since added a 85 watt CFL for my higher light orchids which are showing improved growth and flowering. I also have 48" fluorescents (T-12's) and I don't get any sunlight in my grow area (or much in my windows right now either). Shaun
Hardware stores sell lights as well, even with a selection of spectrum. You would do well to look online for systems as well. Lumens is the amount of light being put out by the bulb, 40 watts is very low but will sustain minimal growth, usually 40s are used for cuttings to get them to root. After that 250w, 400w, 1000w lights are used for production growing operations a 1000w bulb puts out enough light for an 8x8 foot area. Metal Halide (MH) lamps are for vegetative growth while High Pressure Sodium (HPS) is for flowering stages. A 250w light with a reflector would be good for a 3x3 foot area or 1 cubic meter. There are many grow stores in Canada that would have what you need.
