Growing under artificial conditions.

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Love to know how people grow plants that wouldn't normally grow outside in normal conditions. Artificial light, humidity, temperature etc.

[shonman]

Get a growlight......1000 watt HPS is good, 400 watt too.

Metal halide and fluorescents can also work many times.

Different lights have different have different uses.

Grow in a space without carpeting, etc

That you can wash down with bleach or alcohol now and then.

Get a space that can withstand alot of humidity,

And that you can increase and decrease the temperature in.

There also must be ventilation, a continous fan is good, or venting.

Too much heat can also fry your plants.

I have been dreaming of retrofitting a shipping container for horticulture.

Maybe even set up aquaponic, with koi as fish.

Nothing compares to the light of the sun, though.

But if you do get the conditions dialed in,

You can grow various plants year round under optimal conditions.

Humidity is also important , some plants like it under conditions you might find uncomfortable.

Like when you just stand there, and it is so hot and humid you just drip sweat.

They love it, in many cases, and will grow alot!

Some plants just barely grow at all under certain temperatures that you would consider warm and comfortable.

Edited April 14, 2013 by shonman

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Yeah I would love a large terrarium setup that is temperature/humidity/light controllable for those fussy plants. Ive had an aquaponics setup with trout before, unfortunately I'm renting at the moment so it's not viable.

Although your container idea sounds sweet. I would love to be able to imitate ideal conditions so that I don't have to worry about if theres too much sun or temperature or not enough humidity etc.

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Thermoline.com.au/plantgrowth

Bit overkill for a backyard but if I had lots of money I would get one aha. Can only wish.

[Bigred]

there are a few threads that are about growing cacti under hid led's etc

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Yeah I had a read of some but I want to know about being able to create a full microclimate for particular plants to induce optimum growing conditions. Anyone tried it?

[Bigred]

I have tried it all depending om how much you want to spend will determine your set up ( some of it is not cheap).

What plants and climate are you trying to replicate I can supply your equipment and since your a saber you get a 10%

discount.

[shonman]

It could be fun to make a giant terrarium indoors using used sheets of glass acquired second hand

Then creating a sort of small, sealed glass room, or large case/ cold frame

With the correct lighting, ventilation, perhaps a small heater, with a thermostat, the oil filled kind maybe...

Ventilation with a HEPA filter hooked up.

Fans inside with air circulation to avoid mold.

Perhaps the system would be aquaponic or hydroponic.

Or aeroponic.

To avoid watering issues etc.

Maybe even co2 in there.

Conditions could be like a humid jungle, or a desert,

Seasons could change, etc. depending on what the plants requirements.

I suppose to make it interesting it could be aquaponic with goldfish or koi,

Some lava rock, little waterfalls, a miniature pre-Columbian idol or two

Some little mist generators

Then throw in a few lizards, etc

Edited April 15, 2013 by shonman

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Cheers bigred, will have to find out some more ideas and see how involved i want it to be. Those are some wicked ideas shonman. I havent got the greatest amount of space so i was thinking a largish glass tank with some grow lights a small heater, fan and humidifier, all of which is connected to a control box which is preset to certain humidity and temperature. Is there someone in Aus. That specialises in this sort of equipment? I did a quick google search but most of it is too large a scale for what i need.

Edited April 16, 2013 by PerthShaman

[Jox]

It might help us answer some of your questions with a bit more detail if you let us know what you are planning on growing. Like bigred said there are a few of us here trying this with cacti & I have used grow rooms to over-winter plants. I can tell you my experiences with germinating cacti seeds under lights, growing seedlings/young cacti through winter in a grow room etc.... What are your plans?

Cheers

jox

[theuserformallyknownasd00d]

Personally I get great results under lights, I am more than happy to help if you do as Jox said and give us some examples of what you'll grow. We can't give all round advice because it varies so much, several members have now seen what I do at home and love it, i even converted an old school hort guy into copying my rig, purely on his observation not me selling it...

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

I havn't got a large collection (brugs, khat, lophs etc.) but I'm expecting some more soon so I was just interested in the different ways people combat growing plants in climates that are not favorable to the plant. For example, I'm hoping to grow psychotria and caapi but down south it neither gets too warm or humid.

I'm not really referring to particular plants, just curious as to how people make plants happy in climates that are not favorable =].

[shonman]

A tray with gravel and water under plants can make it more humid,

A few open jars of water around could help too.

Occasional spray misting during the day is good.

Although, I have learned that the humidity the plant wants,

Is water evaporated into the air.

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Cheers for the tips shonman. Thed00dabides, have you got pictures up on the forum of your rig?

[Bigred]

you would want a 400 watt hps to start off with and a couple of extrator fans then go from there

If you are serious in indoor horticulture it is best to understand what elements and environmental

factors are in play . I know i sound like a bit of a downer saying this but you only learn from your

previous grows and mistakes . Its to hard to explain it all, then away you go. its more a trial and error thing

as you develop your technique. So go out and buy a 400 watt hps and a few fans and we will guide you on

your grow as it develops .

[migraineur]

I'm in Perth and you can grow psychotria carthagenensis without any kind of humidity tent. Mine lives outside and survives during Winter. The viridis requires humidity domes though. I've also got caapi growing outside just fine too. They get a little direct sun but not much otherwise they get burnt. They have also survived a couple of Winters outside although since you live further south your plants might end up dying during Winter. We get some pretty cold nights in Perth during Winter though.

I also have some other plants that are from tropical areas that are growing fine here too but I have to be careful. If they are outside and there's a heatwave then the leaves can get burnt from the hot air even though they're in the shade. They can make nice house plants though and do fine just inside. The greenery is nice and they'll filter your air too. I have some mimosa hostilis growing and now they're getting too big for their little humidity domes. I might take the dome off one and see how it handles the lower humidity. Once my iboga is a little bigger and stronger I will probably try the same thing.

With regard to lighting, I use a couple of fluorescents which are cheap to buy and cheap to run. When I have them on I don't need other lights on in the room either. The fluorescents will also raise the temperature a little if the room you have them in is small and insulated enough (no open doors or windows). I keep most of mine in a small room that also contains computers etc so the heat from the lights, electrical equipment and even heated propagation chamber (if I have it on) provides a nice environment. It means I'm not so cold whilst playing games in Winter too since this room isn't heated otherwise.

You might be able use some of the information above. One problem I will encounter is when some of my plants become bigger and outgrow their indoor space or humidity chambers. So far I've got around this by making cuttings off the bigger/mother plants to keep them small. This also gives me things to trade or back up plants. This can't go on forever though so I think my only option will be to maybe buy a greenhouse, indoor grow tent or try to harden off the plants once they get bigger and see how they handle being outside. I'm not sure how many will handle the different conditions though.

Also, keep in mind that you don't need to keep the plants in perfect growing conditions. Some are fussy and won't handle the slightest bit of cold or lack of humidity but others are fine and even seem to do quite well. As long as you can keep them somewhat healthy during Winter then you should be good for the growing seasons.

[Idon'tstudydinosaurs]

Hmm interesting. Cheers for the tips!