It's been a real exciting day: my ballast has been returned and repaired. The Phytocytorium (hee hee) is now fully operational. Plants everywhere(!!!): I can even use the floor space. Literally every square inch of the room is now lit to some degree. With these HID lights I can grow flower pots from bricks! Add this to the all new flourescent lights and you can imagine what the plants are thinking, LOL!
In the 2 weeks that I have had the lights there is an amazing upswing in color, vigor and general growth. Some of the colors in the pygmys are just outstanding!!! All the Mexican Pings have burst into flower, as has Drosera montana var tomentosa! Yes!
This year I will let the S. leucophylla grow until December since it just made its first true pitcher a week ago, and I plan on ejoying it and the 2 forming now as long as I can!
The room hosts my succulent collection, orchids, bonsai and tropicals in addition to the CP, and everything will be optimal as soon as I can het the needed humidifier. It is a beautiful room, and although very crowded everything is reachable. It even has a rug on the floor I still have to shuffle some bins around to get to things, but all in all it is a good functional unit for the 1500.00 or so I have invested into it (thanks for the loans and help). A GH would give more room, but not necessarily better results.
Now the problem is I have a LOT of space (relatively), so the fever is on me. I have been writing lots of letters lately, seeking new material to bring into circulation, especially Utricularia and Drosera. Its a bad time of year though: near winter in some places, but strangely enough, not here!
Like the plants themselves, the lights have renewed and refreshed my passion for these plants. Like a bubble of tropical paradise the room will get me through the long winter ahead.
So, thanks to all for the encouragement and support. Look for good things from me in the near future!