Expert: Christopher Littrell - 5/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am moving for the summer to my house in the city..so i
wont be able to have my plants out in full sun all day
long. So what im going to do is buy 2 40 wat plant lights
and and have them like 6 inches about my plants (vft,
purperea pitcher plant, cape sundew)..i was wondering if
there is any special thing i need to do to transition
them...and is 6 inches good enough..and having it on 12-14
hours a day? thx

ANSWER: Hello Matt,

You would need to have the lights on for about 16 hours a day and incorporate at least a second 40 watt florescent light to enhance the intensity from 6000 lumens to at least 12000 lumens. I would also place the plants in the brightest window and keep the lights over them at a distance of no more than 4 inches. All of the plants you have like full sun, but the Sarracenia purpurea and the Venus Flytrap in particular require it, or extremely intense artificial light, to maintain health.

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The lights i bought say Plant & Aquarium. I bought 2 of
them. They are 40 wats each, and 48 inches. They are 1900
lumens CRI/IRC 90...and now im thinking that these are not
enough because you said i want 12000 lumens and i dont even
half a fraction of that. but why would it say plant and
aquarium if it is not even a fraction of enough lumens?

Answer
Hello Matt,

When companies sell a plant and aquarium light they are just looking to make a few extra bucks. The intensity is a little lower than typical shop light cool white tubes. The spectrum is a tiny bit closer to what the sun produces, but sadly, you would need about 6 or 7 of those tubes to match the output intensity in lumens of 4 cool white tubes. While the spectrum is important, cool white tubes do produce a close enough match in spectrum for plants to grow well in. I use all cool white tubes on mine. I have read reports about the differences in plant growth produced by both types of lights and the results do not justify the cost of those lights. Just use window light and a few cool white tubes and you will have healthy carnivorous plants as long as you can get enough lumens to them to keep them happy. Each cool white tube produces about 3000 lumens according to manufacturer. Just get two double mount shop lights and four cool white tubes and you have a good start for your plants.

Christopher