Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with my plants, trying to figure out the best way to light them up. It’s been a journey, let me tell you. Started with just sticking them in whatever corner of the house had a bit of sun. That didn’t go too well. Some of them were looking pretty sad, all stretched out and pale.
So, I got a bit more serious about it. I did some digging on the internet, nothing too fancy, just some basic tips. Found out that plants really dig those red and blue lights for photosynthesis, especially when they’re getting established. Makes sense, I guess. But, honestly, my place doesn’t get that much natural light, so I had to get creative.
First thing I did was buy some grow lights. Full-spectrum ones, you know, with red, blue, and white light. Figured that was the best bet since it’s supposed to be good for all stages of plant growth. I set them up, started with a basic 12-hour on, 12-hour off schedule. Thought I was doing great.
But then, I noticed some of my plants still weren’t happy. Too much light, maybe? I started playing around with the distance between the lights and the plants. Moved them further away, closer, you name it. Also experimented with the timing. Some days, I’d give them 14 hours of light, other days just 10. It was all over the place.
Here’s a neat trick I picked up: the hand shadow test. Basically, around noon, when the sun’s supposed to be brightest, you hold your hand up where your plant is and look at the shadow. If it’s all crisp and clear, that’s high light. If it’s faint, that’s low light. It’s not super scientific, but it gave me a better idea of what my plants were dealing with.
After a lot of trial and error, I think I’ve finally cracked the code, at least for most of my plants. Here’s what I’ve landed on:
- For my leafy greens: They seem to love about 14-16 hours of light. I keep the grow lights about 12 inches away.
- For my flowering plants: They’re a bit trickier. I give them around 12-14 hours of light, but I adjust the distance based on the plant. Some like it closer, some further away.
- For my succulents: These guys are tough. They can handle a lot of light, but I still give them a break. About 14 hours of light, and I keep the lights a bit further away, like 18-24 inches.
It’s been a lot of work, but honestly, it’s been worth it. Seeing my plants thrive, not just survive, is a pretty great feeling. Plus, my place looks way better with all these happy, healthy plants around.
Keep experimenting!
My green babies have never been better. It took me a while to figure it all out. Keep trying new things with your plants and I bet you’ll be a pro in no time.
