Can you give a Tree to much light?

I have assembled a mix of tree's I plan on keeping indoors for the winter. I have a Fukien Tea (low light) Japanese Boxwood (low light) and a Black Olive (full light). I'm thinking of buying a 6 lamp T5 setup and balancing the distance with platforms for the smaller trees. My question is, if I'm providing the Black Olive with it's proper light, am I giving the other's to much light?



Thanks!

Not in an indoor environment. You would be hard pressed to provide too much light. I would say the boxwood should be outside all year.

Little Joe,

Fukien tea, and Black Olive grow in full sun [ 6 to 6 ] down here, and boxwood [ ours is probably Chinese ] also handles full sun.
Later.
Khaimraj

* Do you have some form of air movement in your set up ?

Khaimraj and DreadyKGB,

Thank you for your replies. I do have some air movement supplied by a ceiling fan on full reverse. The boxwood I have just received from Florida. I will consult with the previous owner about putting it outside. Have to get it in a proper pot first. The one supplied broke during shipping.

Thanks

I think the box will suffer more from being indoors than it would in a protected (away from winter winds) location outside. On REAL cold nights, simply put it on the ground near the house and drape an old sheet over it.

I agree to move the box out, and then you can lower the light down closer to the other two and put the olive on an upside down terra-cotta to brung it up closer to the light, but maybe not as close as the box is now. Then you need to get some ficus to take up some more space.

No.

Sunlight can produce in excess of 100,000 lumens (brightness). The set up depicted, including the one your are contemplating is likely under 40,000 lumens.

I used high pressure sodium and metal halide light systems that produce in excess of 40,000 lumens depending on the age of the bulbs.

And you can grow most anything indoors.

You need bright bright bright light, high humidity, i.e. 60%+, temps above 45 degrees and for species requiring a dormant period, you need to provide them a sufficient dormant period each year.

I've grown many species indoors for extended periods, i.e., six months or more, including pushing new growth and having some varieties fruit.

Including boxwoods.

You, however, the light source you choose can introduce too much heat killing your trees. HPS and Metal halides are hot bulbs.

Flourescent including T5s are not that hot, but if you have enough of them they can be. Take precautions.

Incidentally, one of the reasons I use high pressure light systems is they have a far great light penetration than flourescents do. In short, a flourescent system typically needs to be placed within 8 to 10 inches from the tops of the trees to create healthy growth and because the light fall off is so extreme lower growth tends to die off. I had that experience always when I initially used flourescents. HPS systems even when placed greater than 24 inches from the tops of my trees penetrate all through to the bottom branches.


They are more expensive to run than T5s though.

For continuing my education. I will consult with the person I bought the Boxwood from and if he says outside, there it will go. I like the idea of a few more ficus. The more the merrier to learn from.

Thanks again

Just as soon as I get it re-potted. This is going to scare me to death but I want to do what's best for the tree. I will be seeking plenty of advice I'm sure.

The reason that the high pressure light systems have better light penetration (you can grow things further from them) than fluorescent bulbs is the reflector and not the light. When you pay a significant amount for a light you get a high quality, well designed reflector that directs most of the light in one direction rather than allowing it to spread. Most of the fluorescent fixtures have a low cost reflector that is designed to spread the light for general lighting - i.e. a shop. If you put a fluorescent bulb at the focal point of a well designed reflector you would get more light intensity further from the lights.

A low cost option is to enclose the growing area in a reflective surface so that spreading light bounces back into the plants. In my basement area the back wall is painted white and I hang an medium weight survival tarp that is reflective on one side on the front, open side. I then use a low speed fan to keep some air moving. Works well when there is not need to have a nice looking indoor plant collection during the winter - those are upstairs in windows.

Well, I bought one of these in the 6 bulb variant: http://www.ebay.com/itm/200788596451 Says it has a "glass coated reflectors". I'm not sure what that means, but sounds pretty good to me ;-)

LittleJoe wrote:Well, I bought one of these in the 6 bulb variant: http://www.ebay.com/itm/200788596451 Says it has a "glass coated reflectors". I'm not sure what that means, but sounds pretty good to me ;-)

Ouch! That's an expensive light! I get mine for Amazon WITH bulbs for less than that.

It came with the bulbs, 6 6400k bulbs. I'm happy with my purchase. Do you like it?

LittleJoe wrote:It came with the bulbs, 6 6400k bulbs. I'm happy with my purchase. Do you like it?

Well the one you linked doesn't come with bulbs, you have to add them. So a 6 lamp fixture with 6 bulbs comes out as a total of $230, a lot more than I've spent on lights that size.

Do any of you live in apprehension of being reported to the cops?

I expect a knock on my door any day, on account of my having grow-lights lit many hours of the day.

I try to keep the place tidy just in case.  

Hi,

to make the most of all the light that is getting wasted get a roll of the highly reflective plastic foil - if you line the bottom, sides and back with this lower and shaded branches receive more light. temperature rises though but a smaller fan blowing directly across the top of the trees sorts that out - it stops weak sappy extension growth too as the movement makes the new shoots stronger.

regarding the amount of light you need it depends on what your aim is - to maintain a few trees alive until they can go out again needs a fraction of the light than trying to actually grow them indoors. T5's, leds ect will maintain trees without costing too much.

cheers Marcus