Best lighting to use in basment growing area.

[Dionaea Muscipula]

Hello,
I'm all filled up space wise, but i recently cleared out my basement and would like to set up a large plant room there just one problem there absolutely no natural light of any kind. (no windows) what bulb (brand and technical info please) or combination of bulbs would work. i currently have 4 '48" florescent light fixtures but haven't purchased any bulbs yet as i don't know what combinations id need to duplicate natural sun in a dark location, i also was considering lining the entire room in tin foil for reflection of light, any one have a bulb type/brand that would work for growing in that condition?

-Thanks for reading.

 

[Tony Paroubek]

If your using standard shoplights then I would go for 'daylight' bulbs found at homedepot/lowes. Coolwhite would work ok if that's all you can find.. toss in a warmwhite here and there if you use the coolwhite.

Most important is getting enough light. With regular shoplights they need to be very close to the plants to work effectively. I would put two side by side so you have at least 4 tubes over each 4' long growing area.

If you want the lights to be up above then you have to use highintensity lighting such as metalhalide.

Tony

 

[peter]

How close are you talking about Tony?

 

[Tamlin Dawnstar]

Hi Peter,

I grow all my collection under flourescents. I find the closer the growing point is to the lights, the better. For propagation I keep things within an inch of the tubes (nothing to see or admire yet) For plants I wish to enjoy, 5 to six inches. The more light, the more typical the plant will be, so this is largely a matter of personal taste. Light efficiency falls off significantly the further away the meristems are from the tubes, and a couple of inches makes a great deal of difference in plant compactness and color.

 

[LESLIEx317537]

What about Fluorex?

I would put any flourescent light about 2-3 inches from the top of the plant.

Some plants can touch cool flourescents without any harm.

I have a Fluorex in my 10 Gallon Terrarium with the heatsheild removed.  The plants are loving it.  6500K color light and 65watts over 1 square foot area.

About the tinfoil. Try to get Mylar, either sold as a emergency blanket at some stores like Walmart or a camping store. Or you can order some online from ebay or whatnot.

 

[Dionaea Muscipula]

I made note of all the equipment and info in these posts very informative and helpful thanks allot to all.

 

[LESLIEx317537]

Steven, your only 7 miles across the water from me.

The LI Sound.

My friend use to work in Stamford.

 

[Dionaea Muscipula]

Cool i do like Stamford its nice here just to bad the c.t. winters are to cold for out door cp growing.