growing under lights (indoors)

[Riz]

salaam everyone..

I will be writing up a full in-depth tutorial later on in the new year on how to germinate seeds indoors and grow on under a light, here are a few pics to "wet your appetites"

the chilli's i grew would have taken 90 days for flowering so i had to get a head start and germinate the seeds earlier in march. so when its time to plant them in may in containers outdoors they would have had a head start..

chillis and tomato seedlings under 35watt and 75watt tube lights (fluorescent lights) only costs pennies a day to run and does the job and can double as regular lighting around the house when not in use ( a lot cheaper than the incandescent lights ) I used some skirting board to act like a ballast, drilled a hole at the top and wired it up..

an old box room i converted into a small grow room


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC03955.jpg



chilli and tomato seedlings

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC03953.jpg

[Riz]

really healthy with glossy green leaves, i just gave them water and no other chemicals to help them, just added some perlite to the soil,

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC03952.jpg

seedlings getting bigger and bigger ( i have to adjust the height of the lights)


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC03950.jpg

[Sakeena]

in nature plants don't receive light 24 hours a day so was wondering do you turn the lights off to imitate night?

[Riz]

in nature plants don't receive light 24 hours a day so was wondering do you turn the lights off to imitate night?



yes absolutely, but only when we determine its the right time, when you are growing indoors you are"mother nature" you control the light/heat/water/weather conditions.. most plants are photo period meaning they need light and darkness, in ideal conditions 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark period..

when you give the plant 24/7 light, the plant thinks its daylight all the time and it just grows in vegetative growth until you determine when you want to flower the plant and then you switch the lighting with a timer to 12 x 12 ( light/dark) and then trick the plant into flowering, this way you can grow a plant indoors in 3 months "seed to flower" outdoors it would take you the whole growing season, outdoors the plant or flower would produce it fruit and seeds right at the end of summer. when you are growing indoors you can introduce the sun (light) anytime you want, you are in charge.

i sometimes leave the fan on a low setting ( oscillating) it tricks the seedlings and the young plants into thinking there is windy weather and it will grow thicker stems, its true :)
if you google a search for "indoor growing" you will be amazed at the things you will see and read

[Sakeena]

cool, thanks for the info bro :)

[Riz]

thanks sakeena..


some chilli plants,( from the 2007 season outdoors) i cut them back and now i am growing indoors under a HPS light, i have chilli's on both of the plants, as you can see how healthy the leaves are, i hand to hand pollinate the chilli plants and have had 100% fruit set on them..

here are a few pics.

[Riz]

ill take some pics of the fruit later to show you how well they are doing indoors.....

[Riz]

Here are some more pics, as you can see the fruit is mature on some branches, and it has lots of flowers everywhere... i had to bring the pots downstairs as there is more light so pics are better and not dark and blurry..

the leaves are shiny, glossy, and very healthy as you can see no yellowing on any of the leaves, i have been using some tomato fertilizer in a liquid feed once every week, increasing the dose as the plant matures.. i will take some of the fruit of the plant to encourage more fruit..

I might even take cuttings from theses 2 plants, nurture them till may and pot them outdoors for the whole growing season,

[Riz]

some more pics of the same plants....... i am always amazed when i grow chilis or tomatoes in such small containers and still get a decent amount of yield from each plant, and i can keep the seeds for next season from the plants i think have done well for me,

this way i get to keep the strain alive in seed format for years and years to come, but remember if you have a dozen chili plants outdoors and they get pollinated by insects that strain will not be true again as it wont be the same strain as you purchased , because it has pollinated by another species of chili plants, its all good though as you can work with different strains and create your own and hopefully get a nice strain which you can use for cooking etc..

[Riz]

:)this one is a beauty, small and compact with little flowers everywhere, i just spent around 5 enjoyable minutes pollinating each flower with a small artist brush, this is the same plant i cut back over at the outdoor chilli thread.... i have some nice chillis growing from her aswell, :cool:

[Riz]

just rub the brush around the centre of the flower gently and repeat on every single opened flower... ( you can slightly moisten the tip of the brush aswell, so it helps the pollen to stick to the hairs on the brush) in a couple of days the pollinated flower will shrivel up, from the centre of the flower head the chilli will grow outwards

i guess you can call it "artificial insemination" i am a doctor :D

[Riz]

this plant is packing on weight, it has plenty of fruit and more flower heads are developing...... i might take some chilis of it later on.......... :)

chilis always seem to produce more fruit in its 2nd season

[Riz]

i have taken some fruit of the chili plant, to encourage it to grow more fruit....

here are a few pics.. two diffrent plants as you can tell by looking at the chilis

[Sakeena]

What is Perlite?

Perlite is a generic term for a naturally occurring siliceous rock. The distinguishing feature that sets perlite apart from other volcanic glasses is that when heated to a suitable point in its softening range, it expands from four to twenty times its original volume. This is due to the rapid expansion of water within perlite, which creates the extremely light perlite that we use within the garden arena, with many benefits when it comes to it's horticultural uses..

Uses of Perlite

Perlite's many uses and beneficial properties include:
☼ Inorganic, inert and sterile
☼ No known toxicity or fire hazard
☼ Prevents compaction - improves aeration and drainage
☼ Does not decompose - lasts for years
☼ Stimulates root initiation and vigorous growth
☼ Insulates and minimises temperature fluctuations
☼ Almost neutral pH
☼ Holds moisture but does not become soggy
☼ Free from disease, weeds and insects

Perlite encourages quicker germination, improved seedling growth and less check when pricking-out or potting on.

Sow on a well watered mixture of equal parts of perlite and Sphagnum Moss Peat or add 1 part perlite to 2 parts of ready-mixed potting compost.

Perlite may also be used 100% - provided that it is kept wet at all times by capillary irrigation or intermittent mist. Sprinkle fine peat over the seeds, and cover with glass or plastic to retain moisture until the seeds have germinated, and then feed.

more info (http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/Perlite__uses_in_the_garden.htm)

[Sakeena]

you meantioned that you used 35 wats, 75 watts fluorescent tube lights and HPS (high pressure sodium lights?), which do you recommend to use let say with a seed/sappling? do you alternate between lights?

I've read somewhere your only meant to use fluorescent light to hard off plants, is that true?

[Riz]

you meantioned that you used 35 wats, 75 watts fluorescent tube lights and HPS (high pressure sodium lights?), which do you recommend to use let say with a seed/sappling? do you alternate between lights?



great question sakeena..

i use the tube lights for seedlings and saplings, but when the seedling gets bigger and bigger, the tube light wont give it enough light ( it wont grow anymore) so you ll have to get a bigger light with more watts, I use HPS for that it has a spectrum of colours like ultraviolet which tricks the plant into thinking its "sun light" so it grows big and healthy, you can use HPS for seedlings but the light is too powerful and the seedling will swoon and die and the leaves will curl and look burnt. When the seedling gets bigger i use HPS, but you can use HPS for seedlings as long as you don't keep them close to the light and have good air circulation so the plants don't get "heat stress"

the tube lights are really cheap to run as well, and lasts for ages, you can use this light for general lighting ( in a room) for ambient light, so when you don't have seedlings under it , it can double as a light for a room..

i have been germinating and growing chili seedlings under a tube light for over 2 years and i recommend them,

HPs light comes in 50 watts 100/200/400/800 etc etc

tube lights come in 35 watts/75 etc.... and the full tube light system (35watts)will probarley cost you with the tube bulb under £15.00 even cheaper if you shop around.......

[Sakeena]

so how far would you put the light souce and plant?

[Riz]

are u talking about the tube light ? well as close as possible, the tube gives of no heat, so as close as you can get them, but they will grow pretty quick...

[Riz]

2008 indoor chili grow


I have around 12 various chili plants indoor under a light, i wanted to test grow them indoors to see the diffrence between growing outdoors in uk and growing the same strain of chili indoors using heavy agricultural lights , they are doing really really well the leaves are lush and very rich green and all of them are flowering some in very small containers, pics to come later on.....

[Riz]

so i have 12 chilli plants in small containers underneath a 400 watt HPS light

all the plants are lush green and flowering


here are a few pics more info to come later...

[Riz]

in the next few pics, you will easily be able to tell the diffrence between a plant grown outdoors to one thats grown indoors

[Riz]

ill give you the names of the chili plants later on..

here are a few pics, can you see the lush and green the leaves are...

[Riz]

Another update..

Ill be inshallah using the indoor chilis for pickling.. The leaves are lush and green and the plants are packing on weight, I had an indoor aphid problem in the growroom ( small bedroom) but i isolated the plant and sprayed it every other day and it seems to have bounced back..

some pics i taken today,

[Riz]

some more pics, a diffrent strain, that has gone from green to red. "cherrybomb"

[Riz]

i love the structure of this chili plant ( tepin) its in a small pot aswell and is loving the abundence of light and warmth indoors....

[Riz]

these ones are called "serrano" and just by looking at it, i know its going to be a very hot chili indeed..

[Riz]

salaam everyones... :)

some pics of my indoor chilis that i have taken of the plant and used in pickling ( brine)

[Riz]

the tepin chili plant is amazing the colours have changed from white> yellow> crimson red

i can harvest the small round chilis now.. ill eat one raw and let you all know how hot is later on tonight :boots:

[~Obsidian~]

Raw chilli? Good luck! Saw some plants with round chillis like these at the garden center and couldn't figure out what they were (they weren't labelled), until I came here :)

[Riz]

I eat one chili of each strain just to see how hot it is. I have a habanero growing indoors aswell and its looking deadly so i am not looking forward to eating that one, ill have the sour milk ready ;)

[Riz]

i tasted one last night and it was amazing the back of my throat was on fire for around 1 whole minute and then the burning at the back of my throat went away and then i had hiccups for a good 5 minutes.. lovley little chili though i recommened everyone to try eating one raw :)

[~Obsidian~]

LOL what a loony

[Riz]

LOL what a loony

when the heat dies down you dont half get a adrenalin rush..

[~Obsidian~]

Haha is that your form of extreme sport then? Extreme eating http://www.ummah.com/forum/images/smilies/nuts.gif

[Riz]

Haha is that your form of extreme sport then? Extreme eating http://www.ummah.com/forum/images/smilies/nuts.gif


No.
I ride horses for fun


the chilis just look so inviting to eat straight and raw i cant resist them. Once i had the hungarian wax raw it took around 15 minutes for the burn too die down.. thats was a regretable situation it was aorund 2.30 am aswell i rushed downstairs and drank milk straight from the carton ( semi skimmed) just drank everything that was left in the carton... phew !!!!!

[Riz]

some of the chilis in the bath , i fill the bath with 2 inch of water and leave the plants for half an hour, they suck of all the water they need through the roots so it works out well for me.

[Te'oma]

if you like the heat of chilis, try growing some habeneros :D

[~Obsidian~]

I think he already has...and eaten it raw (?) :eek:

[Riz]

if you like the heat of chilis, try growing some habeneros :D
Yes sir..

i have some chocolate habanero`s growing indoors, they will be ripe next week then ill show you :)

[Kirsten]

some of the chilis in the bath , i fill the bath with 2 inch of water and leave the plants for half an hour, they suck of all the water they need through the roots so it works out well for me.

This is a really good idea! Wish I had a bathtub :( Though I suppose any old tub would do, really...

[Riz]

the indoor chocolate habaneros are turning out great.. they are one of the hottest chilis in the world this is 350,000 on the SHC ( scoville heat chart)

[Te'oma]

mmmm habeneros...I love using them to make chili...very few people can eat my chili but it's just right for me :D

[~Obsidian~]

I know you like extreme sports, but extreme eating too...?

[Riz]

check out my australian friend that eats them raw and makes a video, watch how after just 30 seconds he starts to sweat like crazy...


jVUG4EA3dfU

[Te'oma]

LOL yes I like the adrenaline pushes but every now and then I need to eat something really spicey :D
Mind you, I am not as crazy as this ozzy guy in the vid. My youngest son was about 14 and liked to play the tough guy. To his credit, he is one of very few people that will eat my chili. I was cooking up a batch and he saw my "secret" ingredients on the counter. I was chopping a couple up to toss in the pot and he asked me what they were.
I told him they were peppers and they were really hot and tossed one in my mouth and made chewing motions but I had tucked it in my cheek. He asked if he could try one so I said, "ok, but they are really hot" He picked up the biggest one on the counter and tossed it into his mouth. The big grin on his face quickly disapeared and was replaced first by a look of disbelief and then by panic as he ran to the garbage to spit it out.
Now, whenever he gets too big for his britches, I just ask him if he wants a pepper :p

[Riz]

kudos to you kid for trying it.. I have eaten raw chilis, and one time my left ear lobe started to burn so badly i prayed for forgiveness..

cmon teo`ma write up your chili receipe i for one am ready to try it,, i have the habaneros :)

ps.. sorry i forgot it was a "secret receipe" :boots:

[~Obsidian~]

lol Yes I Like The Adrenaline Pushes But Every Now And Then I Need To Eat Something Really Spicey :d
Mind You, I Am Not As Crazy As This Ozzy Guy In The Vid. My Youngest Son Was About 14 And Liked To Play The Tough Guy. To His Credit, He Is One Of Very Few People That Will Eat My Chili. I Was Cooking Up A Batch And He Saw My "secret" Ingredients On The Counter. I Was Chopping A Couple Up To Toss In The Pot And He Asked Me What They Were.
I Told Him They Were Peppers And They Were Really Hot And Tossed One In My Mouth And Made Chewing Motions But I Had Tucked It In My Cheek. He Asked If He Could Try One So I Said, "ok, But They Are Really Hot" He Picked Up The Biggest One On The Counter And Tossed It Into His Mouth. The Big Grin On His Face Quickly Disapeared And Was Replaced First By A Look Of Disbelief And Then By Panic As He Ran To The Garbage To Spit It Out.
now, Whenever He Gets Too Big For His Britches, I Just Ask Him If He Wants A Pepper :p

kudos To You Kid For Trying It.. I Have Eaten Raw Chilis, And One Time My Left Ear Lobe Started To Burn So Badly I Prayed For Forgiveness..

Cmon Teo`ma Write Up Your Chili Receipe I For One Am Ready To Try It,, I Have The Habaneros :)

Ps.. Sorry I Forgot It Was A "secret Receipe" :boots:
Lol!!!

[Riz]

my habaneros are now drying.. along with lots more diffrent types i harvested today outdoors...

[Riz]

tepin chili i grew indoors, like small berries :)

[Te'oma]

kudos to you kid for trying it.. I have eaten raw chilis, and one time my left ear lobe started to burn so badly i prayed for forgiveness..

cmon teo`ma write up your chili receipe i for one am ready to try it,, i have the habaneros :)

ps.. sorry i forgot it was a "secret receipe" :boots:

LOL well it's pretty much a seat of the pants recipe. Basically it starts with:
about 1kg of ground beef or stewing beef, cubed very small.
1L of tomato juice
2 cans of crushed stewed tomatoes
I large onion diced fine
2 cloves of crushed garlic
2 large or 3 medium sized habeneros

Now that is the base recipe. I then go through the fridge and chuck in whatever other vegetables that catch my fancy (spaghetti squash is really good in it too)
It's a great way to clean your fridge out of left overs :D
You simmer the ingredients for about 4 hours at a low boil until the excess liquid is reduced and it starts to thicken a bit.

[Riz]

^ that sounds well with in my capability :)

ill try it soon i let you know how i get on !! :)

[Kirsten]

I wish I could eat chilis :( I can't do spicy food at all, but they look so pretty and so cute hanging on the trees. I'm tempted to buy one of those ornamental chilis that grow the adorable little orange, red, and yellow fruits the size of your fingernail just so it would look pretty!

[Te'oma]

^ that sounds well with in my capability :)

ill try it soon i let you know how i get on !! :)

well I will let you know another little secret...if dinner time rolls around and it still hasn't thickened up, put a tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup and just a little bit of water. Stir it until the starch dissolves and add it to your chili. Make sure that you are stirring it well or the starch will get lumpy.

I wish I could eat chilis :( I can't do spicy food at all, but they look so pretty and so cute hanging on the trees. I'm tempted to buy one of those ornamental chilis that grow the adorable little orange, red, and yellow fruits the size of your fingernail just so it would look pretty!

Funny you should mention that because I was looking at those just yesterday but decided that they wouldn't get enough sun. We live on the south side of a valley and only get partial sun in the winter

[Riz]

I wish I could eat chilis :( I can't do spicy food at all,

i use to have friends like that at university and after a while of me taking them to indian restraunts they built a healthy tolerance with chilis and could handle some heat.. :)

you should do that aswell kirsten..:boots:

[Riz]

this variety is called "tabasco" look how small the chilis are, so i chewed one and 20 minutes later the heat has died down

its evil,, this time my right ear lobe started to burn up, sweat was trickling down my forehead... and once again i had to go rushing to the fridge and drink milk...

[~Obsidian~]

LOOL Riz :D are you crazy??? Have you never heard of tabasco sauce??

HAHA!!

[Riz]

LOOL Riz :D are you crazy??? Have you never heard of tabasco sauce??

HAHA!!

lol.. maybe i am

they are so cute i couldn't resist, but i did regret it immediately after :042:

[~Obsidian~]

I'm quite interested in getting some light to my indoor plants atm, but I can't rewire /string up some tube lights, just looking to buy a bulb that I can stick in a normal lamp. Any recommendations?

[edibles]

I'm quite interested in getting some light to my indoor plants atm, but I can't rewire /string up some tube lights, just looking to buy a bulb that I can stick in a normal lamp. Any recommendations?

compact fluorescent light bulbs (cfl's), or you could try halogen although i don't thing halogen has a very big spectrum of light, if you want something very efficient you could try a LED lamp

i still need to get mine i will proberly get cfl's

[~Obsidian~]

You reckon LED is the best eh? I think I've already got one of those. Pure white light, right?

[edibles]

You reckon LED is the best eh? I think I've already got one of those. Pure white light, right?

not sure about colour/warmth or how effect it will be for raising plants but it is the cheapest to run and therefor most eco friendly

[Riz]

not sure about colour/warmth or how effect it will be for raising plants but it is the cheapest to run and therefor most eco friendly

they are expensive though, and you'll need lots and lots, the L.E.D growing is still in its early stages even though it has proven it has worked but for the members of public the technology is still expensive and maybe in the next decade it will become more viable.

If you can get hold of CFl ( 75 watts) it would be a great asset.

[aamirc]

I've seen LED grow lights on ebay they sell from $140 to $350 Australian. The $350 one is 90 watts. I t supposedly covers 18 square metres. heres the link if you wanna check it out.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-90W-LED-UFO-Hydroponic-Lamp-Grow-Light-Free-Post_W0QQitemZ220370025792QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Se ed_Starting_Hydroponics?hash=item220370025792&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318

This second is only $190 and you get a set of 4 led grow lights. It says that you need blue light when the plant is initially growing branches and leaves and red light when it is starting to flower. Hence it include both red and blue leds on the light boards. I might get this in a month or so when I've saved up enough money.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/4-LED-Grow-Light-panel-Red-Blue-hydroponic-900-LEDs_W0QQitemZ260373385292QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Se ed_Starting_Hydroponics?hash=item260373385292&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318
Actually you can even get only one of these panels by itself for $70 if you don't want four.

[edibles]

i bought a cheapo desk lamp and a 30w 6500k cfl bulb off the bay, going to use for chilli/tomato seedlings

[Riz]

nice one d..

maybe you can keep a few seedlings under there, get a head start in the spring :)

[edibles]

nice one d..

maybe you can keep a few seedlings under there, get a head start in the spring :)

yeah im not looking to keep too many seedlings 9 chilli seedlings max and even fewer tomatoes.

ahh i think i will get a head start cough cough(not giving anything away:p)

for those that are intrested these bulbs are great value they come in packs of two(cheaper than most single packs)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Micro-Spiral-Bulb-30W-E27-Energy-Saving-8000h-Box-of-2_W0QQitemZ360220725342QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Light _Bulbs?hash=item53ded4105e#ht_1346wt_939

their are hundreds of lamps any cheapo e27 one will do

[Kirsten]

Here is my current indoor setup...

A fluorescent desk lamp (doubles as my studying lamp)

http://i45.tinypic.com/6e11rt.jpg

My homemade "green-house": cardboard pieces fitted together with foil over the insides. I made this from recyclable pizza boxes and foil wrappers from takeout food, in an attempt to avoid wastage (I left the shoes in there as a size reference)

http://i47.tinypic.com/xejya8.jpg

Right now there are just tiny eggplant seedlings and a little cluster of basil, but I made it big because eventually it will have to accomodate both eggplants and tomatoes.... :)

http://i50.tinypic.com/11jp0zd.jpg

[Riz]

very good K

am liking the deflector :)..

how many watts is that bulb.. 30watts !!!?

[Kirsten]

haha I just checked and it says 13 Watts, but it's a fluorescent so it outputs the same as a normal bulb at 60 W of energy. At least that's my understanding (it's been a LONG time since I took physics ;) )

[edibles]

very good K

am liking the deflector :)..


deflector=reflector? maybe im just being picky:p

nice job K im thinking i need to build me one of them