Unobtrusive grow light setup?

[Ply]

Hi all. Outdoor season is almost over here for my ficus bonsai which has got me thinking about grow lights.

I've seen a lot of setups, mostly with grow tents, fans etc. The thing I'm curious about is whether a more unobtrusive approach is worthwile? Something that you can put in your living room and acts both as a spot on your ficus as well as keep them growing more actively throughout the winter. Perhaps some led strips to stick on the underside of shelves? It could also provide the opportunity to put them in areas of the room with less natural light.

Not sure if that's feasible though, and if there are any grow lights that are suitable for a living room area. Would love to hear your thoughts, or perhaps there's somebody who has tried something similar.

 

[Gabler]

Hi all. Outdoor season is almost over here for my ficus bonsai which has got me thinking about grow lights.

I've seen a lot of setups, mostly with grow tents, fans etc. The thing I'm curious about is whether a more unobtrusive approach is worthwile? Something that you can put in your living room and acts both as a spot on your ficus as well as keep them growing more actively throughout the winter. Perhaps some led strips to stick on the underside of shelves? It could also provide the opportunity to put them in areas of the room with less natural light.

Not sure if that's feasible though, and if there are any grow lights that are suitable for a living room area. Would love to hear your thoughts, or perhaps there's somebody who has tried something similar.

Most Ficus spp. seen in the bonsai trade are common as houseplants. They can spend six months indoors by a window without any special lights. It won't kill them. However, they do tend to get leggy growth if you do that. Houses are dark, and the tree will send out long shoots searching for light. If you have a tree with well-developed ramification, you might benefit from lamps to give the tree its optimal light levels and maintain the quality of the fine, twiggy growth.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I used aluminium profiles that people use for carpenting and such, and screwed those together to make a lightweight rig that I can put up anywhere.
All it took was a couple bolts, a drill bit and some electrical wire, and a cool white led strip + controller.
But because the strips are not the right size, I had to cut them to size, I had to solder through the protective silicone layer, which wasn't an issue using a box cutter and a soldering iron, but it adds another step. Make sure you mark the + and - side before you start, since LED works just in one direction.
With some hotglue or silicone caulk you can waterproof it. But make sure it works before you do so ;-)

Back in that time, the strip cost me about 10 euros. The controller was 50 and the alu profile and bolts were about 10. I'm sure they can be found cheaper nowadays.

 

[pandacular]

I have grow lights in my living room. I got a cheap flat panel set from Amazon with an inline timer controller on them. For the money, they're good, though one of the panels broke, and the electrical components are a little sketchy. I think this is the one I got, and I attached it to the bottom of one of my plant shelves.

The included adhesive was TERRIBLE, so if you plan to get these, get some proper 3M adhesive.

 

[WIlliam_Butler_Yeets]

I have lights all over the place but they are not what I'd call "unobtrusive" for the most part. You could build one of those ikea cabinet greenhouses, seems like a nice balance of display case and active greenhouse

 

[Carol 83]

I keep all of my tropicals on baker's rack sort of plant stands with full spectrum LED's in my kitchen. I spend most of my time in there and they don't bother me. But I wouldn't really want them in my living room.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I use these in the winter, but in the basement. I got them a couple years ago so there's probably a better model out. I do get good growth.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You couldn't pay me to deal with a grow tent. I see so many battling fungal issues and pests leave the hobby over it in past years. Open air... with a humidifier and a timer is what I do.

 

[shohin_branches]

I have an IKEA milsbo cabinet that I set up for growing plants. It gets bonsai in the winter.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SavageGarden/s/8DhAFpiQEV I should try to find a photo with the doors closed. Right now it needs to be cleaned before I bring tropicals in.

You couldn't pay me to deal with a grow tent. I see so many battling fungal issues and pests leave the hobby over it in past years. Open air... with a humidifier and a timer is what I do.

I also have a grow tent and a shelf of lights in my basement and with a fan I don't have any fungal issues. I overwinter my venus flytraps in it because they always rot if I overwinter them outside.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I have an IKEA milsbo cabinet that I set up for growing plants. It gets bonsai in the winter.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SavageGarden/s/8DhAFpiQEV I should try to find a photo with the doors closed. Right now it needs to be cleaned before I bring tropicals in.

I also have a grow tent and a shelf of lights in my basement and with a fan I don't have any fungal issues. I overwinter my venus flytraps in it because they always rot if I overwinter them outside.

Glad you don't. I've seen many leave the hobby over it through the years. What they do differently is beyond my understanding. But...I would rather be skinned alive and not own tropical if it comes to that way of wintering. Yes...I'm a theatrical fairy at times.

But...Jerry Meislik does open growing indoors as I consider the grow cart option as. It's something...I feel confident with.

 

[Ply]

I have lights all over the place but they are not what I'd call "unobtrusive" for the most part. You could build one of those ikea cabinet greenhouses, seems like a nice balance of display case and active greenhouse

I keep all of my tropicals on baker's rack sort of plant stands with full spectrum LED's in my kitchen. I spend most of my time in there and they don't bother me. But I wouldn't really want them in my living room.

Yeah I guess that's my main worry, whether there are lights out there that are subtle enough for a living room, yet still provide enough light/energy for growth.

I've looked into some people using them for regular indoor plants, and lights with a lower K value have a more pleasant and more subtle presence so that's seems to be kind of a must for a living room area. I imagine lower Watt lights would also be more subtle. But at which point do they no longer provide enough light/energy for the ficus to actually grow.

Anybody any ideas on the minimum wattage that would still make the lights beneficial for growth? Or if a certain colour value (K) or other reqs need to be met as well?

 

[Paradox]

They need to be around 6500K as that is around the value most utilized by plants.

I have 2 setup in my basement. One is 3x32 watt tubes, the other is 6 of those tubes. The 3 tubes are "adequate" but I feel the plants under the 6 do better.

Going to try to move one of those setups into an open closet in my office this winter
It will be behind my chair so we will see how that works.

If you’re able, you could build a decorative box to mount the light fixtures into that would hang above the plants and cut down on the light seen from the side while keeping the light directed down to the plants.

I do agree with Glaucus below though. It will still seem bright in a dark room so perhaps a living room isn't the best option.

 

[Glaucus]

Any light that will make the living and the plants look better will just do that. And any light that will make the plants grow significantly more, will be bright and obtrusive. It won't be nice to integrate into a cosy living room.
You can have some decorative LEDs and they can make the plants look better because it maybe backlights them. And those photons the plants can and will use. But it won't be significant. You'd do it to make the entire thing look better.
So you'd do that for house plants who are fine with the natural light you have there anyway.

There is an option to keep the lights on at night. Or set them brighter. But again, any LED panel with a meaningful amount of light will not integrate nicely with a decorative setup. Like a fish tank setup for p;lants, as Paradox says. But you probably still need plants that can grow without LEDs. And you have to keep the light levels low. when you use the room during the evenings. Or else it will overpower any other light in the room easily.
If you want to grow plants in winter as a hobby, it is better to set up a room somewhere else in your house, and have an industrial setup there. To benefit the plants. Not to make your house plants look cooler.

During covid, a lot more house plant youtube channels popped up. I don't watch those but they are out there. You can see how these people integrate LEDs. But to me, the LEDs should make house plants that don't neven need LEDs look better.
And if you want to grow non-house plants that do need LEDs, get a grow tent and put it in a special room.

 

[Viggoman]

This is my setup. Some growlight panes mounted under a shelf in my office. I think this looks fine. This picture is taken last winter, so I'm afraid it will be even more crowded this winter

 

[MSGhero]

I have mine on an etagere bookcase with strip lights plus a grow bulb on every shelf, and a spider farmer SF-1000 on one shelf. The grow bulbs are clipped onto a thing I can move around easily for when I need to water. It's... barely unobtrusive.

Main thing is to make sure a person won't have light shining in their eyes when they sit down in that room.

 

[Ply]

They need to be around 6500K as that is around the value most utilized by plants.

Ah okay, yes that would make it difficult as 6500k is indeed very white/bright.

I think I'll just order a cheapish grow light to test it out, see where it might be usable. Maybe keep them lower to the ground or block the direct light in some way. If it won't be usable I might use it in the kitchen instead, little less distracting in there.

What sort of net benefit can you expect from a decent grow light? No misting/tents/fans etc, just a light. Somewhat similar growth as in summer outside? Or still just a fraction of it.

 

[CreehanB]

I use these in the winter, but in the basement. I got them a couple years ago so there's probably a better model out. I do get good growth.

View attachment 568188

Where did you order the racks with the lights? Or what is the brand you used?

 

[MSGhero]

Ah okay, yes that would make it difficult as 6500k is indeed very white/bright.

I think I'll just order a cheapish grow light to test it out, see where it might be usable. Maybe keep them lower to the ground or block the direct light in some way. If it won't be usable I might use it in the kitchen instead, little less distracting in there.

What sort of net benefit can you expect from a decent grow light? No misting/tents/fans etc, just a light. Somewhat similar growth as in summer outside? Or still just a fraction of it.

One of my GE grow bulbs measures about 1/10 of what a tropical tree would like to have to grow well, at a reasonable distance away to avoid burning the leaves. It’s still too bright to look at directly. And it’s still way higher than the “low light” many people have their houseplants in.

 

[Carol 83]

What sort of net benefit can you expect from a decent grow light? No misting/tents/fans etc, just a light. Somewhat similar growth as in summer outside? Or still just a fraction of it.

I have full spectrum LED's. My tropicals do fine, not as vigorous as outside in the summer. Some get a little leggy so I typically have to trim some during the winter. They do much better than with no lights at all.

 

[Paradox]

What sort of net benefit can you expect from a decent grow light? No misting/tents/fans etc, just a light. Somewhat similar growth as in summer outside? Or still just a fraction of it.

Agree with what Carol said above. I get growth during the winter under my lights. Not quite as much or as fast growth as outside but I typically have to prune my BRT at least twice in the winter.

They do go through a semi dormant period where they don't grow as much in January and February but I think this is a natural thing for them. They start growing again in March and I have to prune before they go outside.

I don't use a tent, dont have fans and I don't mist them ever. They do sit in trays to catch excess water when I water them so there is probably some humidity from that. I've kept by BRT and Ficus like this for 10+ years. Under lights for ~6 months, outside for ~6 months.