CFL bulbs or LED bulbs and lumens???

[Johnathan]

Hey guys just headed to Lowes/Home Depot and wanted a quick suggestion on some bulb brands and exactly how many lumens should I be looking for?

I was just going to go with the most lumens in a full spectrum bulb I can find. Is that right?

My tree is a prebonsai Tiger Bark Ficus and also hopefully a nursery juniper if I can find one I like.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sorce]

Juniper be outside!

Lessin you want it to die!

I looked at Depot for fixtures once....
Not worth the $.

I use a Wal-Mart rig with 2, 2x4ft bulbs.
2 daylight and two kitchen bath.

They will be replaced next year with a couple plant aquarium ones, and a couple of the others.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Walmart rig complete....
Less than just a fixture at the depot.

Sorce

 

[Johnathan]

Was trying to avoid any tube rig setups for now. Just looking for the bulbs themselves... hard to find something that specifically says "full spectrum "

 

[milehigh_7]

Hey guys just headed to Lowes/Home Depot and wanted a quick suggestion on some bulb brands and exactly how many lumens should I be looking for?

I was just going to go with the most lumens in a full spectrum bulb I can find. Is that right?

My tree is a prebonsai Tiger Bark Ficus and also hopefully a nursery juniper if I can find one I like.

Thanks in advance.

Neither place sells what you need. It's not just how much light it is what color of light. You need 6500K for leaves... Easily obtained at a hydroponics store. I get mine on Ebay.

 

[Johnathan]

@milehigh_7 thanks for saving me some $$$ some of these bulbs are like 30 bucks each!! I'm going to look for a hydroponics store (probably none in Oklahoma City lol) if not I will get online. Which brand do you like best? Have a link?

 

[milehigh_7]

This is what I have. I do wish I would have gotten the 6 or 8 lamp but things grow great under the 4 lamp. They come with bulbs and it's free shipping...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VG-44-T5-Gr...-Bulbs-/261509190241?var=&hash=item8279b52122

 

[parhamr]

Answer: as many damn lumens as you can afford to buy outright, deal with in your home, pay for on your electrical bill, and for which you can manage the heat and fire risk

I use about 8,000 lumens across a 16" x 36" platform for some of my indoor houseplants. This performs well.

 

[zelk]

Amazon or eBay is your best bet. I think your Ficus will be ok with fluorescent in the daylight spectrum not sure about LED though. I just bought an LED grow light and was interested in experimenting with smaller trees. Good luck!

 

[Johnathan]

The ficus is the only indoor tree I have. Instead of a full hanging kit I was looking to go with something more in the spotlight look at me kinda feel.

 

[JudyB]

I like these.
https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FL...89444718&sr=8-4&keywords=hydrofarm+125w+light

 

[M. Frary]

If I had to grow trees inside I would dust off the metal halides.
I talked to Jerry Mesielik about what he uses and that is what he uses. He said he runs 9 1000w. lights for his tropical trees.
For a small collection 2 400w. lights would kick some serious ass. These things are mini suns. You actually need sunglasses to be around them.

 

[Johnathan]

@milehigh_7 @M. Frary @zelk @JudyB

Thanks everyone for your response. This is the light that I have for now, I can direct all the bulbs toward the plant. And the plant itself is still pretty tiny. I am not in a position to hang a fixture on the wall or from the ceiling at this time. I was just thinking of getting something like this 4 pack ( ALZO 27W Full Spectrum CFL Light Bulb 5500K, 1300 Lumens, 120V, Pack of 4, Daylight White Light) and just direct them all towards the plant at once for 12-16 hours a day.... Thoughts? Suggestions?

https://www.amazon.com/ALZO-Spectru...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9Y15R7B9CECN9WARXAC9

Fixture

Plant

 

[A. Gorilla]

I was just looking into this lately too for aquariums. For CFL lights, you want a broad spectrum in the kelvin scale (if you notice, yours is 5500). In fact, I was just at a greenhousee, and noted their individual ceiling fixtures had two bulbs each. One warm, one cool. Probably 2700 and a 6400 together. One of each would be better than a single one in the middle, as I understand it.

 

[Johnathan]

I was just looking into this lately too for aquariums. For CFL lights, you want a broad spectrum in the kelvin scale (if you notice, yours is 5500). In fact, I was just at a greenhousee, and noted their individual ceiling fixtures had two bulbs each. One warm, one cool. Probably 2700 and a 6400 together. One of each would be better than a single one in the middle, as I understand it.

So its kelvins and not lumens???
Can someone just link me to what I need for that fixture 2 cool 2 warm would work right?
I currently have the 800 lumen bulbs that were in it just pointing at the plant, its 5 of them, but I doubt they are Full Spectrum I just want to get it setup and can learn why its setup that way as I learn more about the art and craft of bonsai and plants in general. The plant health doesn't care about my knowledge level or lack therofl lol

 

[A. Gorilla]

Lumens is intensity. How bright it is.

The kelvin scale is about the range of light colors. I.e. when light passes through a prism, you get the range of red to violet. Plants need all that. If you get CFL bulbs which only have light at the red end of the spectrum, there will be deficiencies. Same with the opposite. That's why they have two bulbs in the greenhouse I mentioned But that's CFL.

I know other sorts of bulbs exists for indoor growing which don't involve having to think about that. Probably some of the stuff others have mentioned But some are really hot, more expensive, etc.

Yeah, I know. I went to the hardware store and just wanted some freakin' bulbs for the plants. Then I had to unravel all this.

If you want me to give you specific advice for CFL get the highest wattage bulbs you can. 2 of 2700k. 2 of 6400k.

 

[milehigh_7]

Here is what my little light puts out at about a foot from the light.

 

[Random User]

I have one of these and I have some T5s... for "one plant" I'd go with the single cfl bulb... choose your wattage...

https://www.sunblasterlighting.com/grow-lighting/cfl-lamps/cfl-lamps-55-watt/

 

[sorce]

I think it's more important to remember to replace your bulbs every year.

I passed my stage lighting certification to the highest level at Guitar Center, so I'm hip to the science....

Scratch that like a record!

Just buy the cheapest thing you can afford that will light your entire plant and rig it as close to your plant as you can before it burns.

Last winter I got shorter internodes inside than out, didn't replace my Ass cheap bulbs this year and it showed.

Also remember....

Light of any sort isn't going to make a difference if you get mites indoors.

The hotter the lights the better for mite breeding.....

Balance!

Sorce

 

[GrimLore]

I was just going to go with the most lumens in a full spectrum bulb I can find. Is that right?

This place will have a CFL Full Spectrum - tons to choose from and good service http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/compact_fluorescent_32_ctg.htm?gclid=CNDGp6XUv8gCFUiQHwodJ_UMqw

The intensity you will require depends a lot on the fixture and distance from the plant but I am pretty certain for one plant this one will do nicely - http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/55w_umbrella_822_prd1.htm

Grimmy