| kmarch - were your plants in a basement type setting with NO other light, or were your fluorescents providing supplemental light? Many people use their artificial light as supplemental - which is another game altogether. Length of time per day is probably another factor that has not been discussed on this forum much. How much can the additive value of light over time in a day be used to make up for the lack in intensity and how much darkness is necessary for the plants to thrive?
The bottom line is definately WHAT WORKS. Wherever/however each person can get these beauties to bloom and flourish is what we're all after - good point. On the other hand, no one wants to "waste" a season or two experimenting to find that their plants are not blooming in a condition if they can immediately move to a condition that works. At least in my environment (for example) I've talked to people who wonder why their plants are not blooming in a north window or why their dends are not blooming a foot away from two fluorescent tubes. Not always, but in very general terms, if the plants look healthy but are not blooming - MORE LIGHT. At least that is what I "think" I have learned?
I'll take the plants over buying a meter too! Fortunately I have one at my disposal where I work that I can borrow. Also, as has been noted many times, many cameras have the ability to give one a good approximation.
Thanks for the comments - differing points of view make these threads very interesting......  |