artificial lighting

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tom h

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Jun 2, 2008, 2:41:54 PM6/2/08
to lophophora
Hi All

I tried starting from seeds many times and it never worked (dud seeds), and I had basically given up on it, when a kind soul donated a bunch of baby Lophos and P. Torches. For a wierd and ugly-looking cactus (at least, thats what my friends seem to think), they sure grow on you, don't they?

I'm looking for some Pereskiopsis to graft them on to, but not having any luck.

Anyway, I'm in southern Canada where it rains a lot and is very cloudy and dark in winter --- anybody have any suggestions as to what kind of artificial light is good (and hopefully not TOO expensive)?


Regards,
Tom

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Runner

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Jun 5, 2008, 10:53:25 AM6/5/08
to LOPHOPHORA
Ok Tom,

I am in Southern CND as well, what a great place... except for the
cacti!

I use a 400W Metal Halide Bulb - Still this is not successful on its
own, and I use an ifra-red heat source as of last month, which has
turned spindly pathetic parts into recovery and growth.... so it goes
to say that heat and temp. are essential.

Now in my kitchen I have protruding greenhouse windows, which
unassisted are a fine place for cacti.

So it depends on your situation:
Basement setup - I'd say go for the Metal Halide 250 or 400
Assisted window - Fluorescents are probably fine with some extra heat
Unassisted windows - they do exist in some parts of some homes in
Canada
Outside - Yes some succulents and the Opuntia Compressa do amazingly -
not just good - amazing. Check out http://www.cactus-art.biz/index.htm
for more info on this species.

The typical light for plants is apparently not so good for cacti... in
other words you need lights which are regularly used for a short
vegetative period with the avg. plant - in the blue spectrum(Metal
Halide). This is as opposed to the red spectrum (High Pressure Sodium)
used for flowering growth of the average indoor growing plant.

These high pressure lights are of course costly - if you live nearby I
DO have an extra lamp/bulb I'd be willing to let got for next to
nothing - but you still need a timer and such.

Hope this helps you a bit - feel free to ask whatever you wish.

Good luck
Runner
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lopho-student

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Jul 18, 2008, 3:58:16 AM7/18/08
to LOPHOPHORA


On 5 Jun., 16:53, Runner <xander_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Ok Tom,
>
> I am in Southern CND as well, what a great place... except for the
> cacti!
>
> I use a 400W Metal Halide Bulb - Still this is not successful on its
> own, and I use an ifra-red heat source as of last month, which has
> turned spindly pathetic parts into recovery and growth.... so it goes
> to say that heat and temp. are essential.
>
> Now in my kitchen I have protruding greenhouse windows, which
> unassisted are a fine place for cacti.
>
> So it depends on your situation:
> Basement setup - I'd say go for the Metal Halide 250 or 400
> Assisted window - Fluorescents are probably fine with some extra heat
> Unassisted windows - they do exist in some parts of some homes in
> Canada
> Outside - Yes some succulents and the Opuntia Compressa do amazingly -
> not just good - amazing. Check outhttp://www.cactus-art.biz/index.htm
> for more info on this species.
>
> The typical light for plants is apparently not so good for cacti... in
> other words you need lights which are regularly used for a short
> vegetative period with the avg. plant - in the blue spectrum(Metal
> Halide). This is as opposed to the red spectrum (High Pressure Sodium)
> used for flowering growth of the average indoor growing plant.
>
> These high pressure lights are of course costly - if you live nearby I
> DO have an extra lamp/bulb I'd be willing to let got for next to
> nothing - but you still need a timer and such.
>
> Hope this helps you a bit - feel free to ask whatever you wish.
>
> Good luck
> Runner
>
> On Jun 2, 2:41 pm, tom h <cyber...@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi All
>
> > I tried starting from seeds many times and it never worked (dud seeds), and I had basically given up on it, when a kind soul donated a bunch of baby Lophos and P. Torches.  For a wierd and ugly-looking cactus (at least, thats what my friends seem to think), they sure grow on you, don't they?
>
> > I'm looking for some Pereskiopsis to graft them on to, but not having any luck.
>
> > Anyway, I'm in southern Canada where it rains a lot and is very cloudy and dark in winter --- anybody have any suggestions as to what kind of artificial light is good (and hopefully not TOO expensive)?
>
> > Regards,
> > Tom
>
> >  am_lophing_now.jpg
> > 330KViewDownload
>
> >  pale_pedro.jpg
> > 384KViewDownload- Zitierten Text ausblenden -
>
> - Zitierten Text anzeigen -

in wintertime i´m gonna use an ordinary plant-lamp with a "daylight"
pear. it has 6400 and should fit for plants. I´ve also read that "cold
white" fit´s for plants.

But i got another question: How long should i put my cacti under the
light? Are 12 hours enough or would i get some better scores by
lighten them longer, for example 14 or 16 hours?
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