grow lights for cacti; suggestions and where to buy in Germany / EU

[pumablue]

Hi,

I'm a novice grower looking for some advice or suggestions on acquiring grow lights for a small cacti collection.

I live in Berlin, Germany and am interested in buying a system of grow lights that will give the plants proper sunlight throughout the dark winter months, in addition to supplementing the sunlight they receive on my windowsill in the (often short) summer months.

I'd like to know what kind of lighting system would work best (overhead flourescents, LEDs?) for cacti, and where in Germany or Europe I'd be able to buy these.

I'm not looking to spend too much (<200 EUR), and my collection is not that big (30 small to medium sized plants), but I would like to get something that will allow my plants to get the sunlight they require and thrive.

Energy usage would also be something I'd like to keep in mind, as power is not cheap here.

I've done some research online, but can't seem to find a local or online retailer that sells the flouresecent lighting - apart from hardware stores selling 'plant light' graded flourecent tubes... and I sense there may be a better, more specific type of product or retailer specifically for plant lights (I don't speak German, so I may not be searching correctly - and everything I do find seems to be for flowers or growing marijuana

Any help would be appreciated, and suggestions of stores anywhere in the EU would be great.

Thanks!

Adam

[jfabiao]

I have no experience with them, but I've heard a lot of praise for the Mars Hydro line of LED lights from growers in northern europe.

[DaveW]

EBAY often carry them if you know what type you want, including the modern LED ones.

See also:-

https://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article17.php

http://succulent-plant.com/light.html

[pumablue]

thanks for the replies and suggestions. The MARS Hydro line of LED's look like a good, cost-effective, and energy effective option.... and I found a few places in Germany on EBAY that carry them.

however, the one thing about the LED lights that I don't like is the purple / red light that they give out... most of my plants are in my living room, and I'd prefer to go with a full spectrum / white light over head flourescent option if possible.

apart from the LED options, does anyone have any suggestions on specific makes / models of flouresecnt lamps that would work to suplement light for a small cactus collection? i cant seem to find many options locally in Berlin, DE outside of buying the flourecents lights from a hardware store - but in this case they seem to come separately, without an integrated power source.... i'd like something made for plants, and that i'd just plug in and use.

@DaveW: thank you for the links to the threads

[jfabiao]

You may try looking for so-called "smart shops" for grow lights complete with fixtures, etc. From what you describe, you may want full-spectrum compact fluorescent (CF) lights. I also remember iann mentioning somewhere a white LED grow light, but it was rather pricey (if I recall correctly). If he doesn't see this, try sending him a message.

[pumablue]

@jfabiao - thanks for the reply. when you say 'full-spectrum compact fluorescent (CF) lights', do you mean something like this?:

https://www.hydroponics.eu/lighting-c-2 ... -1646.html

I didn't know there were flourescents like this that were not as long as conventional flourescent fixtures... they seem like a good solution.
(I'm guessing that having a reflector, like the one in the link above, would be useful for light intensity for cactus?)

in regards to the white LED grow lights... I have seen some listed, but yes - they are quite expensive from what I can see, and abit out of my price range (under 200 EUR).

[greenknight]

They don't have to be special "grow lights". Here's a video that covers the subject fairly well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoJ4ODsD54Q

That's a couple years old, there are even better LED bulbs now for less money.

[DaveW]

"however, the one thing about the LED lights that I don't like is the purple / red light that they give out... most of my plants are in my living room."

Yes the problem is if the red lights are in the front window facing the street you are likely to get unwanted callers knocking on the door, or the local authority trying to close a "house of ill repute" down.

[jfabiao]

@jfabiao - thanks for the reply. when you say 'full-spectrum compact fluorescent (CF) lights', do you mean something like this?:

https://www.hydroponics.eu/lighting-c-2 ... -1646.html

I didn't know there were flourescents like this that were not as long as conventional flourescent fixtures... they seem like a good solution.
(I'm guessing that having a reflector, like the one in the link above, would be useful for light intensity for cactus?)

Yes and yes: I have reflectors homemade from polished aluminium sheet on all my (conventional) tubes.

Yes the problem is if the red lights are in the front window facing the street you are likely to get unwanted callers knocking on the door, or the local authority trying to close a "house of ill repute" down.

...and if you have a purple (instead of red) light coming out of your windows, you may get calls from a different kind of authority.

[Wringhim]

I've been using one of these on a timer and have some very healthy Opuntia seedlings growing:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/indo ... -99158685/

That is the kit but the tray/lighting support and lighting comes to a bit less.

[Salspi]

Look at jungle dawn 40w led bulb. Not anything close to the real sun but I heard very good results.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OpHRPfvnl4w