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SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing?
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This is the one I bought: SANSI 36W Daylight LED Plant Light Bulb Full Spectrum Ceramic LED Grow Light Blub, E26 Plant Bulb Sunlight White Grow Light for Indoor Garden Farming Greenhouse Grow Walls, UV IR E26 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_YI6TFbD3CCHZR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
For just few plants you can use this https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1
That 36 W will enough for drosera if you put around 12 inch above plants. Closer is better for plants. There are 15 W version, but it'll not enough. Use it with cheap plug in timer, set the light up for 12-16 hours.
Just for information, those are focused type growlight bulb, different with growlight panel. It strong enough just directly below the lights, thus it effective area is just around 1 x 1 ft, while strongest light at center, lesser at edge. It's also have weak canopy penetrations (doesn't matter for drosera though)
I personally don't use it anymore since my plants are mostly large & vining plants with several layers of leaves like mature nepenthes, thus that types grow light are not quite fit.
All of that long thin growth on your cacti means they are etiolated, or not receiving enough light. Bunny ears are very light hungry even for cacti. Without enough light, your cacti will weaken and become sickly over time. Eventually this could kill them.
Light thru a window is weak compared to direct sunlight outside and is usually insufficient for cacti. You should purchase a good grow light and leave it on above them for 8-10hrs/day. Otherwise, unless you live somewhere that gets a ton of sun and you can leave them outside, they will continue to stretch.
Here is the grow light I use: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1 I leave it on for 10hrs/day and have it about 5in above my cactus.
You need a good grow light or for it to be outside in full sun for most of the day. Light through a window is weak compared to sunlight outdoors, plus depending on which direction your window faces, it might not be getting enough hours of light per day. If you're interested in a grow light, mine sits under this bulb for 10hrs/day and is growing normally.
I have this light on it
It was by the window for additional light but far too much wind was coming in to keep it there
Everyone on these subs gives me grief but I have good luck growing seedlings in my garage with SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NAYYRMATVSQ5YENFY572
Gotcha, it'll definitely survive through lower temperatures but if it's freezing outside more often than not, it wouldn't hurt to keep it in, especially if it's struggling right now - don't want to introduce any more problems! Many people recommend the Yescom 225 panel and many other grow lights, but if you only have a small collection or perhaps just the one plant, a bulb should work well enough. I'm currently using a Sansi 36W for growing a few plants on a shelf in room temperature/humidity conditions and everything is doing well so far, although I'm growing a Cephalotus, Nepenthes, some Drosera capensis variants and a pygmy as well as a few Pinguicula, so I can't speak for using it with flytraps, but I would think Cephalotus and Dionaea fall under the same light requirements. If you go for the 36W model, I wouldn't place the light any farther than 12" from the plant. You can see the PPFD measurements on one of the images, and you'll find that flytraps take in a lot of light (which is why putting them outside is an easy solution) so just be aware of that. To make things a little trickier, I'm not sure how long you've had it out of dormancy, but I wouldn't suggest blasting the little one with strong light because that might just finish it off. If you don't want to keep adjusting the height of the light above it every few weeks, you could probably get away from slowly increasing the amount of time it's spending under the light.
if you're looking for good grow lights I've had luck with sansi bulbs. they've kept all my plants happy. they're apparently on sale right now too
Those bulbs suck, imo. It just doesn’t have enough power. Something like this works great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/. I actually swapped out the bulbs in my recessed can lights this winter so my house plants could get some light and as well it helps with seasonal depression from lack of light.
They've only been inside since mid January, so it's not been in for that long.. :/ I assumed the creation of sporophytes would take a week or two, this species is growing very quickly.
All of January I flooded the entire culture, as it had some gnat larvae I wanted to kill. Since then it's always been between 1cm below the capitula to 4-5cm below max. No closed container, am using a see through plastic box without a lid. Grown under grow light, it's difficult to know the PAR as I do not have a meter and their not growing directly under the light. This is the light I'm using. There's a tiny tiny bit of natural sunlight, but it's negligible. I have my light on automatically every day from 07:30 to 22:30.
Depending on your setup, if you’re open to grow light bulbs rather than the long grow lights that a lot of people use on here, I’d highly recommend sansi light bulbs! They come in a few different wattages and can be used with just about any standard lamp (although I would recommend a swing arm style lamp to be able to adjust the heigh and angle etc.).
Limited-time deal: SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_dl_XFEXXWJZNY5Z4NH0V8E3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I do have a full spectrum grow light, this is what i use. with the pot with the cut off bottom, is that sitting on top of the rocks? also my terrarium has an entire mesh top so the circulation inside is pretty good.
Ah yeah those sort of bulbs are fine for lower light requirements or just to supplement natural light. Spearmint will do much better with a higher intensity light. I like sansi bulbs are a solid choice, and the plants should be positioned 18" away at first and gradually moved closer as it remains tolerable. I haven't grown spearmint indoors but I would guess that 12" may be the sweet spot for it under the sansi. Grow lights should be on for ~14 hours a day to mimic daylight hours.
I used a Sansi grow bulb
The actual power draw of this light according to the manufacturer is 36W. This 36W light is higher quality, and it's full spectrum so it's much easier on the eyes, and you can actually see your plants.
Definitely go with full spectrum lights if you want them to be in your main living space. Sansi are popular and my plants thrive under them with very little natural light. Those blurple lights get old real quick, and you can't even see your plants under them, and there's no benefit to blurple. Full spectrum is the way to go.
A big one hanging overhead will do the trick. I currently use this bulb to get my fig collection through the dim winter months in North America, found through another reddit rec. Nice because it’s just bright white light, almost a skylight to my eye, not the purple/blue strange greenhouse effect that I don’t love. :)
But I would do humidity first, light second.
SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SC202DZ6NWT31MG2C4X4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Yep needs more light. Echeverias are notoriously light hungry plants even compared to other succulents. Etiolation is the term for what happened to yours. That is the tall, stretched out and spindly growth; often the plant will lose its color and turn a somewhat pale green too. Etiolated Echeverias’ lower leaves start to droop downward to increase surface area for more light and the new growth up top is more spaced out.
Unfortunately that growth can’t be fixed, but you can help the plant by gradually (so as to not shock or sunburn the plant) introduce it to more light. Buy a good grow light and put the plant on the edge of the light it casts. Every couple days move it a little more into the light over a period of one and half to two weeks until it’s getting the full amount of light for at least 8 hrs/day. You will want the light to be close to the plant when you’re finished acclimating; if the light doesn’t put out a lot of heat, several inches distance should be good. If it does put out a lot of heat, 6 in should be okay. My favorite lights for my most light loving succulents and cacti are Sansi bulbs. If you want to try one, they do put out a decent amount of heat so keep it 6 in from the plant and definitely don’t skip the acclimation process! The bulb is also a bit heavy and larger than a normal light bulb so you will need to get something big enough to hold it. Here’s the link to the bulb: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1?pd_rd_
I would grab a 36W sansi bulb and hang it from a pendant cord about 18" above the plant. Over a period of a couple weeks gradually move it a little closer, till it's about a foot from the plant (do it gradually to ensure it doesn't burn).
I made the stand from copper pipe - fairly cheap but sturdy.
The light I use is this bulb in 36 Watts, plus a good sunny window nearby and I’ve had decent results: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?crid=2FV0CDXIJMRN1&keywords=led+grow+bulb&qid=1640642143&sprefix=led+grow+bulb%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-8
The Kasa WiFi plug is awesome too so I don’t have to worry about turning it on/off constantly.
I've used this grow light for years. My sundews & VFT really like it:
https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=sr\_1\_5?crid=2V97NAUMIFD3F&keywords=sansi+grow+light&qid=1640474413&sprefix=sansi+%2Caps%2C553&sr=8-5
Honestly, I just hesitate to say because I get so much grief. I basically use one per plant to supplement my garage/outdoor grow in eastern San Diego. Ima tell ya this - my garden likes these easy bulbs - SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/
Someone on Reddit gave me a hard time for these lights and said they don’t work but my eyes don’t lie and they are just right for my purposes. - SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_W3YEHM2YAA7MB7YHA3G0
Thanks! Limited-time deal: SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_dl_GEBZB4DE1KJJMQA4MVE3
Love these! The white one is really great. I think one or two of these about 6 to 12 inches away from the plants would be a really good amount of light for them.
Sorry, but that light will not cut it. Bare minimum you’ll want something like this SANSI bulb. That’s what I use for my indoor avocado try during the winter months when ambient light isn’t good. A bulb like that will allow you to use normal lamp fixture if aesthetics is important to you (it was for me). You can find hanging pendant style lights to use with that bulb.
SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_18WVGAP7NGZ6JMZ6FGDS
Full spectrum white LED grow light bulbs are great for clamp lamps, reading lamps, pendant lamps. These Sansi bulbs are on sale on Amazon right now. I bought four. As with almost all LED bulbs your plant benefits from being directly under or next to a grow light with the light being between 6 to 18 inches away. These bulbs will cover 6 square feet (barely). So you might need two.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
You want the bulb pointed towards the plant. Think about a reading lamp vs a living room or nightstand lamp. My sansi bulb puts out light that looks like a normal warm bulb. It's just brighter and full spectrum. The bulb is pretty physically large though.
I looked up the bulb I bought. It was 36W not 32W, but the come in different wattages.
I use grow light bulbs screwed into lighting cords or lamp fixtures to camouflage them as part of my decor lol. I’m actually using the 15w version of this right now and I have to have the bulb pretty close to the plant to get good leaf density (mine is basically only as dense as yours for the 5” closest to the grow light lol) so I linked the higher powered bulb. I would suggest hanging a lighting cord above the tree from a hook and screwing this in.
I have them set on a timer for 6AM-10PM but that’s because the bulb is the only light it gets, so you could probably do a shorter light cycle.
SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WFQ6EP1WDS440A85FW3D
I got this one.
SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_sm_apa_glt_fabc_YVXGJD7TCP74E4X8SM7M
Like I said I don't really mess with bright light plants but if I did I would go with one of the higher watt sansi bulbs! They come in a bunch of different strengths, 36W would be pretty intense for example.
So this is the beefiest desk based thing I've found on amazon https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1?ref_=ast_sto_dp
Do you know of a better option? I think actually hanging something up will be pretty hard for me. I don't have a good mount point
I think at some point I become constrained by the realities of my apartment so I'm not sure a hung panel LED really works anywhere for me. I don't have reasonably mount points. I'm getting ~4 hours of direct light every day near my window and I'm thinking of a ficus so I think I only need supplemental light?
Have you looked at any desk based lights? Is there any you would recommend? Anything I'm looking at on amazon is only 36W at best https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1?ref_=ast_sto_dp
Oh yeah you'll be fine! They are pretty forgiving once they get established. A little heater to make sure it's over 50F at night in the winter and you're golden. I do fine with a much less awesome setup here in Utah.
They actually don't need a HUGE amount of artificial light. Remember these are tropical rain forest trees and they have to be able to survive pretty well in the understory for a while before they reach maturity, so they're tolerant of lower light levels.
I have 2x E26 bright white LED grow lamps on them, the cycle is about 12/12, and they grow like gangbusters.
These are the lights I use.
I just got this. It is BRIGHT. Am trying it out for my bird of paradise and ficus Audrey. SANSI 36W Daylight LED Plant Light Bulb Full Spectrum Ceramic LED Grow Light Blub, E26 Plant Bulb Sunlight White Grow Light for Indoor Garden Farming Greenhouse Grow Walls, UV IR E26 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WxiNFbG5HZ5BA
I bought this one from amazon.
SANSI 40W Daylight LED Plant Light Bulb Full Spectrum Ceramic LED Grow Light Blub, E26 Plant Bulb Sunlight White Grow Light for Indoor Garden Farming Greenhouse Grow Walls, UV&IR, 90-132V
I bought this grow light but I'm not sure what kind of fixture it needs to be in? I got one from Target with an adjustable stand (just a generic stand up lamp), but it recommended against self ballasted LED lights over 15w. Any ideas? I'd like this light to cover a small table I plan on getting... but maybe that's too much for a single light. I know nothing.
You're going to love this! Instead of getting one of those $30 "grow lights" lights everyone buys from Amazon, which are nearly worthless, you can pick up a simple shop light or fluorescent fixture from a home improvement store.
Note: this is not sufficient for ALL plants. A simple fluorescent or T5 shop light fixture emits the ideal spectrum for growing leafy greens and green herbs.
If you're only growing a single pot, so that a true bulb is better for your set up, try this. You'll need to keep it close to the plants. But as soon as the herb-growing bug bites you, you're going to want more than one pot. So you may as well have a nice little row of them, and the fixture would allow you to do that.
It's easy to make A DIY tabletop or floor hanger for a grow light. If you need help with that let me know. I grow quite a bit of herbs indoors, without natural light, so glad to help you any time.
I bought this grow light from Amazon and I'm looking for a fixture on an adjustable stand I can put it in. I want it to be pointing at a slight angle toward a table. I bought a stand from Target, then realized it only supported LED lights up to 15W. Any suggestions? I'm assuming I'd need a ceramic based fixture like the ones I use on reptile cages, but I'm not sure!
I'm using this light from amazon. I have another over a Monstera, and it absolutely lives it! It's never been so full and luscious before. Sometimes windows dont cut it.
I have a nice Sansi 36W link. My current setup uses 6 13W daylight Jungle Dawn LED. They are about a foot from my phalaenopsis orchids and pings. They are about 15” from a massive nepenthen that’s loving them. 36W should be totally fine or even on the low side.
After a different LED bulb with terrible heat dissipation nearly caught on fire, I'm trying this one out:
https://smile.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Gardening-Residential/dp/B07BRKG7X1
The spectrum seems more toward the 5000k side, but I'm pretty impressed with the spread and intensity. It actually looks like my catlin elm is sitting in its own pool of sunlight. I have a fair bit of experience with lighting for a saltwater tank & macroalgae refugium and so far I'm happy with this for the tree. The LEDs are a blend of:
Blue (400-499nm) 19.46% Green (500-599nm) 37.70% Red (600-699nm) 36.23% Far Red (700-780nm) 6.61% PPF 98.28μmol/s
Heat dissipation seems to be great as well. Hope that helps.
I'm in SoCal and feeling you on the heat - we have some cool weather right now, but summer is rearing its head. :( My garden beds have been empty for the past 3 seasons because I just cannot for the life of me keep them from drying out!
You can buy white light grow lights by the way, just a little pricier for the wattage but worth it if you want the aesthetic. Like this on Amazon: SANSI 40W Daylight LED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bsptCb2QWP5VP
Get an architect lamp with a super high lumen. This one has my succulents looking better than they did in full sun.
I have two, both from Amazon. This single giant bulb is great if you have a light fixture that you can position overhead:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/
And this is the one I clamp onto my table, with three stalks each of which is pretty bright:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VN337LF/
The giant bulb is very bright, and delivers much more light than all three of the stalks from the other lamp put together. I used it to keep herbs alive and happy through the winter outside in Seattle, but it's too bright for me to use indoors.
I recently bought this and it seems to do the trick: Grow Bulb - SANSI 36W Daylight LED Plant
I use this in a lamp:
It's worked for my succulent so far, they have definitely shown signs that they like the light.
Thank you 🙏 I bought my lights and my hemp cords separately. Hyperlinked them for you!
Maybe something like this? I have 2 and they work well. Fits into a standard lamp.
I‘ll add another vote for Sansi bulbs, they are effective and reasonably priced, especially if you have a smaller collection. One or two 36W Sansi grow bulbs, set 18-24 inches above your plants should be sufficient. Check the 4th image on the product page, it shows the PPFD and area covered, that should help you decide which wattage you will need.
You‘ll have to acclimate your plants slowly to more light, so they don’t get sunburn. And, place your Haworthia, in the yellow planter, further away since it’s a lower light plant.
If you are curious about other options, here’s my current set up:
- 3-tier 24 x 14 inch mesh shelving unit, with an oscillating fan nearby for air circulation.
- Echeveria shelf has a Viparspectra P2000, with the dimmer knob set at 35% brightness, mounted 10 inches above the plants. I chose this light because it will allow me to expand my collection to a 48 x 24 inch area in future.
- Jade and assorted succulents shelf has two SZHLUX 2FT 40-watt LED grow lights mounted 6-8 inches above the plants.
- Haworthia, props and baby echeveria shelf has two SZHLUX 2FT 28-watt LED grow lights mounted 8-9 inches above the plants.
Do you want a big pendant (pros: max output, cons: need to buy a cord and hang it) or more of a clip on strip?
For pendant, I bought the Sansi 36Woff another Reddit recommendation last year and love it, have several now throughout the house on timers. The first one feeds my FLF (and burgundy elastica) and keeps it happy during the grey indoor months despite our north facing door/window.
I also like this clamp-on, built-in timer LED strip (white lights) though you’d need white a few to light the whole shelf you have there (versus just one or two big pendant bulbs).
I’ve heard you can also cover the pendants with a simple basket shade for aesthetics (though I dunno about fire hazards fwiw)—meaning to try that next :)
Thanks! We’re using two sansi 36w https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=1KU7W8B3WX14U&keywords=sansi+36w+grow+light&qid=1663518284&sprefix=sansi+36%2Caps%2C294&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1 and been happy with them! Nice white light. The only drawback is that the coverage area is a bit small so I’ve ordered this to use over the lime tree and some of the larger plants https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B08L8Q4C58/?coliid=I1GL35GI7HHDW7&colid=3KZHN8SH3O5IF&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I highly recommend a grow light. This one has stopped my most light-hungry cactus from etiolating. I have it about 5in above the cactus and leave it on ~10hrs/day (when I'm not home I turn it off).
Do you know the species/hybrid of the plant? It's much easier to grow the shorter ones indoors.
You'll need a very bright grow light, preferably a full-spectrum LED model. SANSI makes some nice ones. Here is a bulb, and here is a small panel.
To feed your plant, the easy and convenient source is freeze-dried bloodworms (in the fish-food section of a pet store). This is insect larva, so your plant is still eating bugs.
Mammillaria sp. - front left
Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys 'Rufida') - back right
Fairy castle cactus (Acanthocereus tetragonus 'Fairy Castle') - front right
Not sure about the other one.
They need a lot of light and minimal water. I would buy a good grow light (I use this and this) and leave it on them 8-10hrs/day, ~5 or 6in away from the plants, or put them outside in full sun all day. Only water when soil is completely dry. I can't tell what they're potted in, but it sort of looks like tree bark chips. I would change that to a mix of cactus soil and perlite. Don't water for a few days before or after repotting.
It's actually meant as a grow light for plants.
https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1
When I first started propping succulent leaves, I had quite a few plates going and not enough table like surfaces near my south facing windows (LOL). I wasn’t about to get more furniture just for my leaves lol, so I kept a couple of plates on my kitchen counter in a corner that I didn’t really use. My kitchen isn’t anywhere near my windows, so I used a grow light for a few months until the pups were large enough to start potting together. I don’t have it set up anymore, so I don’t have a picture to share, but I absolutely loved it when I was using it!
I used this bulb with this light fixture. I had the light fixture anchored to my kitchen cabinet, which had a perfect little lip underneath that I used to tighten the lamp to. I moved the arms around so that the lamp shade was basically pointed down towards the props, and slightly up(?) and away from me. I dont know if “up” is the best word lol, but hopefully that makes sense. This set up worked incredibly well for me, and I didn’t think the lighting was harsh at all. I would absolutely be willing to have a similar set up in say, my home office, as long as it wasn’t directly in front of my work space (like at my desk lol). I didn’t think the lighting was harsh at all!
I also shortly used the grow bulb when I was quarantining a new plant near my reading corner of my living room. I already had this lamp, so I just put the bulb in it and placed the plant on my side table. It worked great and didn’t look harsh in my living room. I definitely wouldn’t read under the lamp with that bulb in it (way too bright directly under it lol), but I had zero issues reading in my chair a couple of feet away from it!
This is the big one; about $30 for the 36W model. I have it in the light fixture over my kitchen sink to supplement the shaded north and east windows. That's where my cactuses, succulents, and other bright/direct light plants go.
For regular lamps I've been using these smaller ones since they're the same size as a regular bulb. I think sometimes they're on sale for about $7 but even at $10 they're well worth the investment. I have a floor lamp with three adjustable shades, a couple of wall-mounted sconces, and some cheap adjustable desk lamps hooked up to smart plugs so I can have everything on timers. It looks a little less "professional nursery" and more aesthetically pleasing to me than a lot of the other grow lights on the market. My plants have been thriving this winter even in a corner with no natural light.
Both types of bulb are LED and produce a nice, warm white light with no overheating. Even better, they don't use much electricity so my monthly bill hasn't blown up, even in the winter when they're on at least 16 hrs a day! There are a lot of good options out there but I've been well-pleased with how these are working in my setup.
I’ve been really happy with this SANSI grow bulb. I use it with a plug-in pendant light hanging from this wall mount.
Your Echeveria is etiolated (lack of sufficient light). If you're going to keep it inside, I recommend getting a grow light that you leave on the plant 8-10hrs/day. Gradually introduce it to the grow light (move it closer by an inch every few days over the span of two weeks). You should notice new growth being more compact, new leaves growing longer and wider, and more color once the plant has been getting enough light.
Grow lights I use here and here. If you decide to use the Sansi bulb, I would aim to have the light about six inches from the plant after the two week period. The Barrina lights can be one or two inches away.
Here are some guides for succulent care:
Sansi grow lights of varying strengths https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-ypp-ro-model_ypp_ro_model_k0_1_6&amp&crid=16CYKGN7Z289D&amp&sprefix=sansi+
they're amazing and the only lights I use
It's hard to see the whole area but based on this photo I'd probably use a 36W sansi bulb in a clamp fixture.
Unfortunately your cactus isn't getting enough light. The thinner, spindly growth is what happens as a result of that over time; it's called etiolation. Eventually it'll weaken your cactus and make it sickly. This type of cactus in particular needs a lot of light. I have the same one and mine became etiolated too. I cut the thin parts off and got a better grow light. Now it has new, normal growth coming from where I cut. If you choose to cut yours, use sterilized tools to cut (sharp knife or scissors cleaned with bleach diluted in water). I wore gardening gloves to prevent getting poked. Don't let the plant get wet while the cuts are healing.
To be clear, cutting the thin parts isn't necessarily needed if you're not bothered by the appearance. If you fix the light problem, the plant will start to grow normally again and have more compact growth. The thin parts will always be thin though, and might break from the weight of the new normal growth.
Here's the grow light that I use. I keep it 6in above my cactus since it puts out some heat. Whatever you use, introduce your cactus to it gradually since it's used to lower light conditions.
For pot size, cacti prefer smaller pots. Should be deep enough to accommodate the roots, and just one size wider than the plant itself. I wouldn't put yours in a bigger pot yet.
This is one that I love and use a lot SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1 This is the SANSI 36W my friend here is talking about. It is a bulb so it has to be attached to a separate apparatus.
https://www.amazon.com/Yescom-Ultrathin-Hydroponics-Indoor-Growing/dp/B015YX8ZF4 This is a hanging panel that is pretty affordable for the output and coverage it is able to provide. :-)
A couple things: your soil looks too organic. Cacti need stuff like sand or perlite mixed into their soil to help it drain and provide aeration. A mix of cactus soil and perlite, sand, etc. would be good. There should be slightly more inorganic material (perlite, sand) than cactus soil.
Did you water the cactus after you repotted it? If so, your cactus might have root rot. Never water immediately before or after repotting; wait at least three days on either side.
How frequently are you watering? Are you allowing the soil to completely dry out between waterings? If this cactus is indoors, you likely don't need to water more than once per month. Overwatering also causes rot.
Lastly, your cactus hasn't been receiving enough light. Not enough light (especially with too much water) causes cacti to stretch and grow thin, spindly and unhealthy. This is called etiolation. You can help by purchasing a good grow light and leaving it on your cactus for ~10hrs/day. Since your cactus isn't used to more light yet, you will need to gradually acclimate it to the light. Move it closer to the light every couple days over the course of a couple weeks. I think your cactus is a peanut cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus). If so, it needs a lot of light to be happy. Mine was etiolated under grow lights that kept other cacti species growing healthy. I fixed the light issue using a Sansi bulb positioned about 6inches above the cactus.
Check out r/cactus too. They can probably help you better than I can. I'm unsure if your cactus is rotting or if the brown is from something else so I can't really recommend a treatment for it. Good luck and I hope your cactus recovers!
np :)
I guess you are from the US?
- Sansi Grow light bulb 36W They are true 36 watt. I am using two of them.
- Sansi 70w (actually 45W) I am using one of them for my gigantic calathea. Got this one secondhand for 27USD.
I don't have experience with other lights
Keep in mind, distance between light source and plant, light duration, temperature, humidity etc are important for growth too :))
In a single bulb, this is about as powerful as you will likely find. Heat dissipation becomes an issue with units made to fit like a single bulb, and they can't really heat sink it all that well, so will give up some service life.
https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1
But note that PPFD at one foot is 256. Peppers need a lot of light, round about a DLI of 22. And 256 would barely achieve that in a full 24 hours. And you don't want to do that. So it's really simply not enough of a light. Two of them would get you there in about a 12 or thirteen hour light day.
But for the same money, you would be vastly better off with something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096XWW5KL
I'm not pushing that one. There are plenty in that class. But what matters is that the center point of the growing area at 18 inches rates a PPFD of 743 (if they don't lie). And that will let you go even higher, to about two feet, and get a DLI of about 23 in about 12 hours. And you sill have enough oomph to give some useful light to the lower foliage.
Those LED bulbs just don't work out very well.
They are not really lights for outdoors, they are lights under a plastic canopy. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BRKG7X1/
Basements and plants can be tough!
Fwiw I have a lamp pointing this bulb at my ponytail palm. and it's happy af, with very little natural light.
Sure :) I have two favorite lights for cacti and succulents: Sansi bulbs and Barrina strip lights. If you use the Sansi bulb, be aware it's large and heavy (compared to a normal light bulb) and puts out a bit of heat. I keep it 5-6 inches away from my plants. You can put it in something like this.
I also like these bulbs, which can go in a small desk lamp, for things that are less picky about light. If you want to use those for your Aloe or Echeveria, you'll need to put them extremely close to your plants, like maybe an inch away. Your ZZ plant doesn't need nearly as much light as an Echeveria or an Aloe, so that bulb would work for it, and doesn't need to be that close to it. Honestly, though, a ZZ should be fine with just indirect sunlight by a window or under fluorescent lights in your home.
Here's some info on etiolation from r/cactus: https://www.reddit.com/r/cactus/comments/fxco2x/etiolation_why_your_thin_cactus_is_not_growing/
I use a Sansi grow light bulb on my bunny ears cactus.
Yes I have two of these sansi bulbs hanging. I used some random shades I found at home depot and rope cords like these
I also use these bulbs in desk lamps and floor lamps which I love because you can't tell they're grow lights.
Pink pot is a Haworthia, white pot is an Echeveria. Haworthias like yours are naturally see thru on the edges. One of their common names is window Haworthia!
Check out r/haworthia, r/echeveria and r/succulents. They'll be able to help if you have questions in the future.
Do the pots they're in have any sort of drainage holes? If not, you should repot them in something with holes. You may be able use plastic pots with holes and put them in the current pots if you wanted to keep using them, allowing you to take the plastic pots out when it's time to water. Succulents need mostly inorganic soil too (cactus soil mixed with a lot of perlite would be good). If you repot, wait a few days after watering and do not water for a few days after repotting. On average you won't need to water more than once every 1.5 to 2 weeks.
Before you water, ensure the soil is completely dry. If you gently squeeze a leaf on your plants and it feels soft rather than the usual firmness AND the soil is completely dry, it's probably safe to water. Your Echeveria will also get some wrinkles on the leaves when it's thirsty. When you water, allow the soil to become completely saturated with water. This means either water runs out the drainage holes if you're top-watering (which I do not recommend) or until the top layer of soil is moist if you're bottom-watering (which I do recommend). To bottom water, place the pots in larger bowls of water and allow the water to absorb upwards thru the drainage holes. Bottom watering prevents water from getting in the nooks and crannies of your plant, reducing the chances of rot. It also encourages roots to grow downward and allows the soil to have more evenly distributed water than top-watering does. Bottom watering shouldn't take more than 20 minutes; never allow the plants to sit in water much longer than that.
Succulents generally like a lot of direct sunlight. Your Haworthia is probably okay with light through a window as long as it's getting light the majority of the day (~8 hrs). Echeverias, however, need a TON of direct sunlight, and getting light filtered through the glass of a window isn't sufficient. You will need to put it outside in direct sun for 8-10hrs a day or use a good grow light for 10hrs/day. Be mindful of the heat they can generate when using grow lights.
Etiolation is when a plant (usually a cactus or succulent) starts putting out spindly, sickly, tall/elongated, thin and/or pale growth because it isn't receiving enough light. Here is an example from reddit of an etiolated peanut cactus: https://www.reddit.com/r/cactus/comments/iuqqnd/help_with_etiolated_peanut/
I have a peanut cactus that was etiolated despite getting ~6hrs of sun + a grow light for 8-10hrs/day. I had to change the grow light because it wasn't strong enough for my cactus (despite being fine for other cacti!). This is the grow light I'm currently using for 11hrs/day: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Greenhouse-Houseplants/dp/B07BRKG7X1?th=1
If you decide to switch to a grow light like mine ever, be aware it can't be left outside (can't get wet, obviously) and the light bulb puts out a decent amount of heat.
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65… | - | - | 4.5/5.0 |
^Item Info | Bot Info | Trigger
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65… | - | - | 4.5/5.0 |
^Item Info | Bot Info | Trigger
I have a few of these myself for inside seedlings. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BRKG7X1/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_image\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's a hodgepodge of a bunch of separate pieces lol
- Bulbs
- Cords
- Shades are a random home depot clearance find
- Pots. Plants are in nursery pots inside them.
- Lights mounted on the top
2 of these bad boys in those reflectors should more than do it for $30 X2.
Likely need some fans you have around the house with those sunlight bulbs.
Sunlight LED promotes more colorful bud, I'm running 3 $38 300 watt fixtures.
Great well built waterproof lights, but sadly no longer available.
900 watts total in a 2X4 is more than sufficient.
Other than that, paint the walls bright white and spread a white tarp on the floor.
A 6X8 tarp is around 20 bucks on Amazon.
So, 80 bucks and a gallon of cheap paint and yer good to go for under $100
Your plants will be better off with the grow light version:
SANSI Grow Light Bulb with COC Technology, PPF 65.6 umol/s LED Full Spectrum, 36W Grow Lamp (400 Watt Equivalent) with Optical Lens for High PPFD, Energy Saving Plant Lights for Seeding and Growing
Citrus loooooves sun so you want a good quality light. None of those pink amazon clamp style led bars!
Ideal light will depend on how big it is and how much sun it's already getting. If it's getting a good amount and you're just trying to give it a boost for winter, sansi 36W will probably work fine. If it's in low light I'd go up to the 60W. If it's much bigger than the little 6 or 8" pot that I'm imagining, a panel like this would be best.
Got one of these off amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BRKG7X1/
Since the pic i've moved it a little lower, but it's been working well through the seedling phase at least.
This bulb, in a floor lamp pointed straight down:
https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1/
I repotted it in fox farm soil, use a grow light for about 6 hours a day and water when the leafs start to get droopy!! grow light
Mine just started turning pink!!!! Also stopped growing etiolated
That sounds like a best-case scenario for the space, as far as under-mounts go.
If they don't work out, some other options are clip lamps like this style or multi-lamps like this type or this kind, with good LED bulbs. SANSI bulbs come in various strengths.
>Sansi
Hi u/CoDominium thanks for that. Ironically I went down a (different) light rabbit hole and that's why I bought those lights. Looks like I'm wrong again and it's frustrating me. Could you please help me with this if you have a few mins?
I'm now considering these ones based on what you've given me to read: https://smile.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1
The Q&A says "PPF: 105.15μmol/s". When I enter it here with height=1ft, width=1ft and Reach=80%, then I get a PPFD of 1131.83.
I then enter 1131.83 into Page 2 of your site under "Manufacturer Provides PPFD" for 11 hours a day and I get 44.82 Moles/Day.
This looks like it's good enough for VFTs and Sarracenia, but wanted to get your thoughts. I don't want to f*ck it up a third time and this is really getting me down.
For those curious, Im using this light (x2) and trying 24hour light for this first time this season.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1/ref=psdc_14252951_t2_B07BRKT56T
Holy moly that seems like a lot. How big is the tree? I use this for a 5 foot tree: https://www.amazon.com/SANSI-Daylight-Spectrum-Sunlight-Greenhouse/dp/B07BRKG7X1
It depends on quite a few factors, though the two most important ones are probably the indoor location and whether you want your plant to continue fruiting during winter.
Because I house my lemon tree in a living room, I personally like full-spectrum LEDs that mimic sunlight best (i.e. none of that blurple BS which is very hard on the eyes). My current setup uses a <strong>36W Sansi Full Spectrum LED</strong> (which is equivalent to a 200W incandescent).
If your plant is right beside a south/southwest-facing window (almost touching the glass), you can probably get away with a lower-energy bulb (but I don't have personal experience with this). The same holds true if you don't mind the plant going dormant and not fruiting or flowering during the winter months. <strong>This lady in Toronto</strong> is using a <strong>30W LED for her citrus</strong> to keep her citrus alive with no other major light sources, as an example.
Popular alternatives to SANSI Grow Light Bulb with ...
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