Indoor grow lights

pinkpiglit

I'm wondering if someone might be able to help me. I recently bought a small rosemary plant from the supermarket. I really to do my best *not* to kill the darned thing before I can plant it outside in spring.

From what I've read (and I know very little about gardening so please forgive me if I'm spouting utter rubbish here) it needs to have several hours of daylight in order to grow. This is where my problem lies as a) it's winter and b) I'm having to keep it indoors at the moment.

I've read that you can use halogen lights to provide a substitute for daylight and I've pulled out an old desk lamp which has a halogen bulb. Do you think this would be ok to use?

I would prefer a proper growing light, but having googled (and after wading my way through all the pages of instructions for growing another type of "herb"!) they seem to be upwards of £50 whereas my little rosemary plant was only £1.20.

Farway

A false economy IMO, do not buy grow lights or spend money on extra lighting, stick it on the window sill, if it dies, buy another one April and plant it out side

tanith

For such a cheap plant I wouldn't waste the money as Faraway says stick it on your sunniest window sill and hope for the best.

pinkpiglit

Unfortunately due to the design of our property, we don't actually have windowsills wide enough to hold a box of matches, let alone a plant - hence the halogen desk lamp. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens to it.

Mojisola

Rosemary is a hardy plant. I've got several in the garden.

Is there a particular reason why you want to keep it indoors until the Spring?

pinkpiglit

Mojisola wrote: »

Is there a particular reason why you want to keep it indoors until the Spring?

Yes.... along with zero windowsills, our current place also doesn't have any outside space (we're in a flat). We're due to exchange and complete on a new place in the new year (touch wood!), which has a good sized patio. Once we've moved in I'll be making the most of the space with potted herbs and flowers and if rosemary can survive the cold weather then it'll be the first one I plant!

Mojisola

pinkpiglit wrote: »

Yes.... along with zero windowsills, our current place also doesn't have any outside space (we're in a flat). We're due to exchange and complete on a new place in the new year (touch wood!), which has a good sized patio. Once we've moved in I'll be making the most of the space with potted herbs and flowers and if rosemary can survive the cold weather then it'll be the first one I plant!

Have you got any friends or family who can "foster" your rosemary until you move?

pinkpiglit

Good thinking! I might ask the inlaws if they can look after it for me. Thanks !

moneyistooshorttomention

Try googling "Mother Earth indoor grow lights".

That should bring up the instructions from the Mother Earth magazine as to how to build an indoor growlight type bookcase.

I've often wondered whether that is a feasible idea...but it does look like a possible Good Idea.

pinkpiglit

Thanks - just had a look at that and suspect it might be beyond my DIY skills (especially for my single teensy rosemary plant) however, something to keep in mind if I find my green thumb once we have our lovely patio garden !

alanobrien

There is no need to spend £'s on special grow lights you can get daylight bulbs for a few pounds on ebay which would be fine - example:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAYLIGHT-6400K-LOW-ENERGY-LIGHT-BULB-BC-20W-100w-SAD-/331086784559?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&hash=item4d164f682f

I used this type for many years over wintering tropical plants and for starting off chilli seeds at xmas. i switched to white light LED bulbs last year - this type;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DHX57Q4/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
they also work well and are very low power consumption.