As you know, I grow a lot of plants from South Africa and other places where there is more winter sun than here. Hell, there are caves that see more sun than we do in mid winter.
Some of these plants flower right in the darkest time of the year. Starved of light here they grow too tall, flop over or fail to open their flowers properly. Romulea, like the one in the featured image, are a good example. Botanical gardens use supplementary lights in winter to help overcome this.
As an amateur with a limited budget and an environmental conscience this option was not acceptable to me until recently. The advent of efficient, low wattage LED growlights has made it at least partially possible and with this in mind I grouped the most susceptible plants into one corner of the greenhouse back in the autumn before they started growing.
For christmas I received a small LED grow light sufficient to illuminate around a yard square area of bench. On Boxing day I hung this and set a timer to switch it on at 2pm when the sun dips down behind the trees ( on days when it bothers appearing that is). It was set to switch off at 5pm, effectively extending the day by about an hour past sunset.
During the bright of day the lamp looked fairly innocent. Bright when close but not really noticeable outside the greenhouse.
At dusk we looked out of the window to be greeted by this sight just before the lights went off:
Now I probably do not need to tell you that the main market for amateur grow lights is domestic cannabis growers ( the instruction leaflet even has cannabis leaf patterns on the cover).
Firstly, I am surprised we were able to get the light because I imagined the whole world supply was on its way to Canada.
Secondly, I fully expect our conservative neighbours to arrange a visit from the drug squad. Fine with me. They can have a cup of tea whilst they totally fail to find anything incriminating.
That would be funny. I can see it now. Please feel free to check things out, I would be happy to show you around! I doubt you will have a problem but it does look a bit incriminating at dusk! π
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πππ It does!
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πππ
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π Oh bless.
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Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom.
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Thank you again for the reblogπ
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Ha! Oh my goodness I love it! Itβs pink … gorgeous, gorgeous pink! Well, at least itβs not red, otherwise your neighbours might start worrying about your profession π
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π. I did have ‘wannabe gigolo’ in my bio but jobs had not been forthcoming.
And yes. It is really pink!!
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Ha! π
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Haha! I imagine the funny conversations your neighbors must have about you. Susan got you a great gift.The pink glow makes It look like a fairy house. Beautiful.
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Thank you Dominiqueππ
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Now I know why you have such an interest in being in your glass(grow)house after dinner!
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ππ
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Too funny!!! The Canadians may come looking for your lamp as well! π
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This is funny! I cannot wait to hear about what the neighbor thinks π I am truly excited to see what your plants do, they are smiling. It does make a brilliant pink glow. What a great Christmas present!
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You might have a long wait Lisa. Neither set of neighbours speak to us anyway.
Took pictures today of two things in flower that I have never seen open before – thanks to the lights and a little sunshine it was bright enough. π
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We have a neighbor like that so I can certainly relate. That is wonderful that you were able to see new life in your greenhouse. It’s amazing what lights do for the plants and us. π
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Haha! I love the purple hue. A few years back I took a liking to Sinningias and cacti. I collected African violets and had 5 foot-long shelves with grow lights. These I placed in front of the windows in my front hall. The whole house glowed at night and I had many inquiries about the nature of my ‘crop.’ I think everyone was mightily disappointed that I wouldn’t be their new distributor.
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πππ. You and I really are very alike! I do know a cactus grower over here that uses lights in his greenhouse. He has CCTV footage of two curious uniformed cops making an illegal search when he was out at work one day. He is hanging on to it in case he ever needs leverage for a parking fine.
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That is awesome!!!
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Lovely pink glow. And it gives your neighbors something to talk about which always has interesting results.
π
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I think ours only do monosyllables but am sure the grunts have got louder π
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Pretty in Pink – love it :O) xx
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ππππyou gave a big chuckle
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Good! ππ
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And here I was innocently admiring the sheer pinkness when I’d better called the cops! ππ
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They would be sadly disappointed! πππ
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You never know. Maybe one of them shares your passion for plants and flowers. π
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Maybe! But they tend to have big feet and there is not much space to move in there as it isπ.
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LOL! π
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Sure, you’re not a pot growerπ
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I do grow things IN pots if that counts. There might even be a plant or two of a certain cactus you are not allowed to grow in the US….
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