[IBC] Do Maples Need The Dark?

Jim Sc

I have some Japanese maples I have to bring in at night (for security
reasons). I have several strong spotlight growlights I put them under for
several hours at night. I was wondering if there's a problem with leaving
the grow lights on them all night.

Is there some biological rebalancing or other phenomena that requires
darkness to happen? I know in the arctic there are species of trees that
get light non-stop for several months, but would that theoretically apply
to maples as well? Or do they need rest for some purpose?

Thanks,

Jim

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Iris Cohen

<< I have some Japanese maples I have to bring in at night (for security
reasons). I have several strong spotlight growlights I put them under for
several hours at night. I was wondering if there's a problem with leaving the
grow lights on them all night. >>

I wouldn't do it. Some annuals are grown with 24 hours of light, but most
plants need at least some sleep. There are certain hormones that are rearranged
in the dark. I trust you are giving them a solidly cold dormant period during
the winter.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

Nina Shishkoff

I was wondering if there's a problem with leaving
> the grow lights on them all night.
>

There's the fast answer and the slow answer. For the slow answer, I'll have to do a literature search and see if there is any actual, bona-fide research that's been done on this. For the quick answer, I'll say I've heard people have had problems with la
ndscape trees that have spotlights trained on them; they turn color early. Some trees use long daylength as a cue to go dormant. Whether any of that matters in your case, I don't know. Stay tuned for the slow answer.......

Nina

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Nina Shishkoff

The "long answer" took longer than I thought; while I was doing the
literature search online, some imbecile with a backhoe took out our
internet service!!!! I'm saddened to discover that I can't do *anything*
without an internet connection; I was forced to do aimless things like
back up my hard disk!

Anyway, I found nothing on maples, but on other woody plants, too long a
photoperiod interferes with the onset of cold acclimatization.

There might have been more, but I was cut off.

Don't expect any posts from me at work.......

Nina

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++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++