Please help! The more I research the more confusing as to lighting for my tropicals. They are being housed in the "garden room" off the garage. It usually stays around 55-60 degrees mid winter and has decent humidity. Only one ceiling light from a two bulb florescent light fixture and one window facing northwest. There is an 80" granite slab along one wall away from the window that is perfect for display but needs light. Would appreciate ideas as to light fixture and especially choice of light. One person swears by florescent, another grow light, etc. Pauline
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I use T8 fluorescent lights. A lot will depend on where you plan on growing your tropical trees. Mine are growing in an unfinished room and I can hang overhead lights with no problem. T8 bulbs are cheaper to run then the old fashioned older fluorescent bulbs. Some people are moving to LED lights, but they are expensive. I use two different light types of T8 bulbs in each fixture (4 bulb fixture). Trees seem to do fine. A seedling heating pad is also a good idea. It will help keep your roots warm during the winter. A digital timer will help with your power bill on the fluorescent light usage. Turn them off at night. Some flexible table fluorescent lamps sometimes come in handy to light up the bottom of trees that are not getting enough light from above. You can even use T8 over head bank of light to achieve the same result. You just have to figure out how to support the light bank so its standing on its side with bulbs facing the trees. Old cat litter square plastic containers are really good for this as you can stack them on each other to the right height. It looks like your biggest problem is how to hang lights in your sun room. Perhaps a couple of metal hooks screwed into a rafter?
Hi Pauline,
I'm sure there are others here with experience who will chime in. I don't have much experience with tropicals myself, but I would highly recommend the books by Jerry Meislik. He is one of the top tropical bonsai professionals in the U.S., and he keeps his collection indoors year round in Whitefish Montana. I believe his books detail lighting in great depth. The first link is his newest book that came out recently. Second link is his original book.
https://www.amazon.com/World-Ficus-Bonsai-Jerry-Meislik/dp/152553288X/ref=pd_lpo_14_img_0/138-0836374-2940056?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=152553288X&pd_rd_r=4c96e3ea-4c88-44c1-ba58-637e8603a1a9&pd_rd_w=DDJHV&pd_rd_wg=5mjTg&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=C0N55BPSMNMM3QG292X4&psc=1&refRID=C0N55BPSMNMM3QG292X4
https://www.amazon.com/Ficus-Exotic-Bonsai-Jerry-Meislik/dp/0974952400