Artifical Lighting For Indoor Bonsai

crookedtree

greetings im new to the forum and just beginning bonsai.
I have done extensive research on bonsai regarding about
everything I can think of thus far.

my concern at this time is lighting, I have read that it is widley recomended to use HID ( high intensity discharge ) lighting
for most indoor bonsai applications. Its stated that although
most sub tropical species will survive under some types of
flourescent or other similar lighting setups, they will not thrive or
optomize under these systems.

I have read and seen sevral indoor bonsai setups running
MH ( metal halide ) lighting. Its stated , their optimum in most
cases as they offer the the most natural style of light , similar
to sunlight and promote excellent green growth in the plants. also they do not promote stem elongation as sodium lights do.

ok so heres my question. whyle researching lighting tonite
I find this recomendation on what appears to be a knowledgable
bonsai site stating.. HID , MH ( metal halide ) lights are too hot and they recomend full spectrum flourescent lighting. they state
HID lights are not recomended for indoor bonsai , this seems contrary to most everything Ive read about this subject thus far.

now, I know HID light produces a good amount of heat and Its recomended to place plants about 4 feet away from the bulb,
but are the MH lights really wrong for the application ?
or is this new information incorrect ?

any help is greatly appreciated

thx Maurice

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Carl_Bergstrom

Hi Maurice, and welcome!

I think when it comes to indoor lighting for bonsai, I'd probably turn Jerry Meislik for advice. Fortunately, he happens to have recently written a detailed article on exactly this subject.

Enjoy!
Carl, aka Old Mister Crow

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In love with trees

crookedtree

thz for the speedy reply Carl

this is one of the sites I was reffering to about the MH
lighting setups I have seen.

Im pretty confident that this is the way to go , I just
wanted some reassurance I guess.

Either way , I think I had little choise, as I recieved my
MH lighting setup just the other day and I was kinda
intent on using it one way of the other.

I dunno what the point to be made was on the other site
about advising against HM lighting , I still dont understand
the motive there. maybe theres a undefined context therein.

again , thx for the reply
Maurice

Bonsainut

You will always run into negativity when dealing with this subject. It's just that that big yellow fireball in the sky does such a good job lighting things up, ya know...

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Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

Jay

The main point is simple.... Sun light is the best most natural and true light..... everything else is second best or worse. Artificial light has a price tag to it... purchase and monthly running costs. It can be 'almost' as good.... but do not forget the other factors - Humidity and air quality!

If you get everything correct inside you can 'almost' be as good as mother nature.......almost!

Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

crookedtree

yup.. all points made are valid. I have a few real good reasons
for wanting / having to grow inside.

the area im in does not allow me to leave my plants outside whyle im out , the climate is way too harsh for the plants ( sub tropical ) 6 months out of the year , im very near a waterway and a wooded area and i'd bet some of the native insects and animals would wreak havoc on myplants.

also I see that sometimes bonsai even get stolen ! that is also a major concern. so I choose to grow indoors at least for the major portion of the year.

I was just concerned when I read the HID MH lighting was said
to be too hot for bonsai growing. It seemed contrary to most everything else I had read up to that point on MH / bonsai setups.

obviousy there are associated costs and parameters in using such systems, but if used according to manufacturer guidelines and recomendations of people that are already using them successfully.. are they really wrong!?!

I didnt seem to think so.

thx again for everybodys input
Maurice

Bonsainut

crookedtree,

I like your passion. Go for it my man. Make an indoor paradise. You deserve it. good luck!

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

TreeBay

A big fan would help with that. It would be a good idea anyways indoors where circulation is nil.

Regards,

Matt

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