This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Zaluzianskya capensis, halide lights

> On Thu, 26 Mar 1998, [somebody] wrote:
> 
> > I can relate to your story: last year I also lost all my Zc seedlings (first time I tried
> > this plant). They were growing well and I was in the process of hardening off all my
> > 
> > > For the second year I have managed to kill all my flourishing seedlings of Zaluzianskya
> > > capensis, which is supposed to be a very easy annual from South Africa with a strong

I haven't had much trouble with them; I start my seeds under a halide and
maybe that's why - the warmth means I really have to keep up on the
watering and even if I get things a little too wet it dries up quickly.
To be honest, I like the smell of evening-scented stocks a lot better
though.

Actually, with the exception of cold-germinators (which I usually just
start in an unheated sunroom), I've found that starting seeds under a
halide has been a really wonderful way to go.  Mine's a 1,000-watt but you
can get them much smaller (though lower than 400-watt isn't really worth
the money you pay for it).  If you are growing anything that likes bright
sun and warmth, you get several benefits: 

*warmth with a temperature drop at night (which a lot of plants seem to
 like)

*good tight growth

*hard growth, making the acclimation to outside much easier (halides do
 make some UV, so it's a good idea to use a visor or a hat with a brim if
 you are going to spend a lot of time under them).  

*plenty of room for upward growth, as you keep the plants several feet
 from the bulb.  (You can grow high-light plants to maturity if you want
to, as evidenced by our friends the marijuana growers whose use of halides
has become notorious.)  Heck, you can grow S. African succulents under
them.

I've never had any problem with damping off, ever, using them.  I suppose
if I left the hoods over the seeds for too long after germination, I could
get it.  But the only time I ever have had anything damp off was growing
seedlings in a window.  My theory (though don't ask me to give scientific
proof) is that the UV helps a bit with that.  UV doesn't come through
glass windows.

There is a bit of an initial outlay in $$ to be sure, and the bulbs aren't
cheap, but it's been worth *every* cent.  I have used mine only for
starting seeds, a few months each year, and the same bulb has been going
strong for 4 years now.  It's probably about time to get a new one as you
do get some color shift over time.

Bob
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index