Gardening under lights for beginners

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Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on February 25, 2011 at 6:26pm

guess who has a white fly infestation.... all the tomatoes and strawberries succumbed to the little pests. Any ideas on how to make them go away?

Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on November 20, 2010 at 6:22am

I have one (counted... only one) of the yellow pear tomatoes ready to go into a ten inch pot and under the lights. This one grew about eight inches this week, so I am going to deep plant it for more roots and put it downstairs.

Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on November 15, 2010 at 2:07pm

Beautiful orchids! None of mine are in flower right now. However... they are putting up new growth. They will all get repotted in the spring as I don't think that has happened in awhile. (I inherited them from a friend with a new baby who can't take care of them now)
I grow salad greens, herbs, tomatoes, tropical house plants and just about anything beyond moss under lights in the basement. I don't see why you wouldn't have the best results. The only plant that I have found that I have had no luck with is squash. However if you get the small garden style of cucumbers you can have some good success.
My favorite forward project right now is going to be growing some passion flowers. I have a pothos (?) that is taking over the bathroom that will be getting cut back and repotted to be downstairs also.
Lucky you to have a husband that can make such wonderful projects for you.

Comment by Gyda Marie Haynes on November 15, 2010 at 9:16am

Margaret, what a great idea for a discussion group! Last year we started annuals and perennials under lights and were quite successful with plenty of young plants we put out in the spring. It can get to be a huge hobby...I even have many of my houseplants under lights most of the year since I grow Orchids and African violets. We will probably start our new bedding plants after the first of the year. Maybe I'll try some salad greens under the lights...has anyone done that?

My husband built this Orchidarium for me. It took a lot of time to research lighting , humidity, timing, etc., but well worth the effort.

Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on November 14, 2010 at 9:52am

Hey Tony (waves from far away), I have some of the tropicals, strawberries, and tomatoes under the lights now. The greens look like they will be under the lights in a day or two. They have broken ground now in the window.

Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on October 27, 2010 at 12:54pm

Today I started moving some of the excess house plants into the room with the lights. This is going to become a monster of a hobby I fear. (well, my husband fears to be correct!)

Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on October 25, 2010 at 12:30pm

Growing under lights at this time... strawberries, red and yellow tomatoes, and some of my house plants that I have run out of room for. Tomorrow I will seed a tray of salad greens and hope to add some radish and beets also.
I am still working on understanding light cycles and what they really are.

Comment by Margaret Beers Oliver on October 6, 2010 at 7:17am

Just started this grow light project. I have always wanted to keep my garden going during the winter but haven't tried it yet. I am going to be trying to post pictures as I go along. Right now I have one two bulb 48" grow light hung in the basement in the creepy under the stairs bathroom. (less creepy with the bright lights) Another should be in place by tomorrow. I have strawberries under lights now, and will be cloning the tomato and chili pepper plants tonight to over winter them there. Also salad greens will be getting started in the next couple of days. I will post pics as soon as I can.