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list of plants which do well under fluorescents


(warning! really long message)
Hi everyone :)
I've been lurking here for about a month and finally decided you guys don't
bite so I might as well talk. ;)

>     I am really interested in hearing about grow-light alternatives that 
>     aren't too expensive and about what are the best LOW light plants.

I grow mainly under fluorescents as I live in a basement in Saskatchewan.
I've tried those special plant lights and really didn't find much improvement
over cool white/warm white bulbs. The reddish light makes the plants look
pretty.. I'm currently using one cool white and one (cheap) full-spectrum 
bulb (4foot) and am happy with the results. I'm getting a big plant stand 
with fluorescents and a metal halide lamp, for xmas and plan to do a
'scientific' 
test of the various lights with cuttings. :)

Plants which I know do well under lights (either currently or have
grown/flowered
consistantly)

achimenes (hot water plant/magic flower. they go dormant but come back nicely)
*african violets (better than under natural light, more flowers)
amaryllis (surprisingly. mine's very young, an older one might not be as
happy)
azalea (small ones. only had for 2 years, needs to be humid and cool )
*begonia rex, some mini's (rex's get large but veery beautiful)
cactus, christmas or easter (my schlumbergera's flowering now, zygo's are
easier)
caladiums (also pretty big, may go dormant)
*episcias (gorgeous patterned leaves, bright flowers, very easy)
ferns (asplenium, adiantum, most get too big for lights eventually)
fittonia (common terranium plant, needs high humidity)
hedera (ivy. only the non-variegated forms did well for me and they're VERY
 susceptible to spider mites. I included them because I know someone who does
 topiaries under fluorescents. Wish I knew her secret :)
impatiens (yup the garden annual. gets spider mite in low humidity)
*gloxinia (absolutely gorgeous if you have 40+% humidity)
goldfish plant (hypocyrta. has very very shiny leaves; they look almost fake)
lipstick plant (all varieties)
lisianthus (aka eustoma. garden plant but does well under lights if you
don't mind
 veery slow growth. 5 months or more to flower from seed)
maranta (takes over the universe eventually)
mimosa (not the one with beautiful flowers, the 'touch-me-not' plant which
collapses
 if touched. really interesting to watch it fold and recover)
*orchids: paphiopedilum (ladyslipper), phalaenopsis (moth-mine's in spike!
I'm so      excited), miltonia (a bit tricky), masdevalia (must be
warmth-tolerant variety)
 catasetum (maybe. mine's a baby, seems fine but not sure if it'll flower)
ruellia (monkey plant. pretty reddish leaves, pink flowers. not sure if
it's  perennial)
*streptocarpus (cape primrose. extremely easy under lights. the narrow
leaved    varieties aren't quite as fussy about regular watering. I have 5
and would love  more.)
siningia (especially the miniatures)

Whew! Hope that helped anyone still awake.
Ivy 




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