Welcome to our next installment of “Tips Of The Week”.
This feature is for the benefit of visitors to this site, I would be happy to hear from you if there is
something you would like to see covered here in future weeks. Please direct your E-mail to
Paul@bonsaiofbrooklyn.com If your topic is chosen, please
let me know if I should include your first name, last name, city, E-mail address or no acknowledgement.
This is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of bonsai
cultivation. There are many different types of bulbs
available today. They are good for many different things,
but few will give long term successful results with bonsai.
Because of the amount of heat most bulbs give off, all but fluorescent
bulbs have proven impractical for bonsai use. Fluorescent
bulbs are cool burning. They don't dry the foliage or the soil.
They are also the most economical to use.
There are a number of different types of fluorescent tubes, but the
only ones I have found to work over long periods of time are
those classified as "Full Spectrum". (You'll find information
and specifications on Spectralite Bulbs in our Product Catalog, under
"Supplies"). The best way I've
found is to set the fixtures up on a 24 hour timer. To
give the trees a sense of the changing seasons, deduct 15 minutes a
week from the cycle until late December, then add 15 minutes a week
until late June. If your bonsai are under the lights year
round, they will get 12 hours daily in December, and 15 hours daily
in June. That's close to the normal light cycle in most
parts of the U.S.A. The bulbs should be no more then 15
inches from the top of the shortest bonsai. The tallest
can be almost touching the bulb(s). If there is too much
height difference, either use more then one fixture, or make a platform
to raise the shorter bonsai. It's a good idea to hang the
fixtures with large-link chain, so you can add & remove links to
change the height of the fixtures. If you move your bonsai
from indoors to outdoors as weather permits, get them out as early in
the spring as your climate permits. Trees get a protective
coating on their foliage similar to suntan in people. If
they go from artificial light to strong summer sun, the results could
be disastrous. With a little common sense, experimentation,
and the right bulbs, you'll find indoor growing a pleasurable extension
of a great hobby. As always, If you have a question or need
some advice, feel free to write to Paul@bonsaiofbrooklyn.com
During a phone conversation with a customer, I realized that I hadn't
touched on growing bonsai under artificial light in this column.
Bob, who lives in Wisconsin, described the winter as lasting about 6 months
of the year. He wants to grow sub-tropical bonsai. The
problem is that in areas where the winters are cold, the days grow
shorter, the angle of the sun gets more and more shallow, and there
are many overcast days. The only way to keep bonsai indoors
in these conditions is with the use of artificial lighting.