The quick answer is that it’s not always a good idea, although it sometimes is. Your succulents will probably make it through the winter with no problems if you have a window that receives bright light all day. There won’t be as much light as there was in the summer, though, as the days get shorter.
Succulents begin to spread out and lose their vibrant colors and compact shape if they don’t receive enough light. They would merely prefer more light, but they are still alive and generally healthy. Succulents frequently extend throughout the winter because of the fewer days.
Keep your succulents vibrant and compact by using a grow light. By doing this, more brilliant light is added during the day. Without a grow light, I’ve kept succulents inside during multiple winters, and they’ve survived. Many of the succulents are seriously stretched by the time spring arrives, but I trim them before planting them outside.
However, I have made the decision that I want to stop my succulents from spreading out this year, so I bought some grow lights.
How long should succulents be kept in a grow light?
The temperature drops and the leaves begin to change as winter draws near. You must now bring your succulents inside to protect them from the harm that freezing can do.
Your house can provide your succulents the perfect temperature, but what about the light? Have you given this aspect any thought? If grow lights are to be used, how long should they be on for succulents?
If you want your succulents to flourish, you need to find the answers to these crucial questions. These and other inquiries will be addressed in this essay. There is a lot to learn, so let’s get going.
Whens The Appropriate Time to Bring in Succulents?
Some succulents, such hardy sedums and sempervivum, can survive year-round outside (even through the freezing winter days). However, when exposed to severely cold temperatures, the majority of other succulents suffer damage. Therefore, it is crucial that you bring your succulent indoors once winter arrives.
Examine the plant first, then take off any dead leaves and foliage as well as any insects you uncover. Clean the pans properly as well. When the outside temperature has dipped to about 40’S, or about 5oC, it is preferable to bring in your succulents. Your home’s temperature will be better suited for your delicate succulents, but you may need to change your watering routine because the plants will use less water indoors.
However, lighting is the most difficulty. Yes, some succulents may be content and able to thrive in your indoor illumination, but many will require more than that to survive. As you are already aware, photosynthesis, which produces the energy needed for growth and reproduction, depends on light. But without enough light, your plants will swell, become etiolated, and in extreme situations, they could even perish. So, if you see the succulents extending, that can mean they aren’t getting enough light.
Do Succulents Require Grow Lights To Survive?
It is not required. Your succulents are more likely to survive the winter months if there is a window where they may receive enough light throughout the day. But because the days are shorter in the winter, there won’t be as much light as there would have been in the summer.
It just takes a short while for succulents to start stretching out and losing their compact shape and vibrant colors if they don’t receive enough light. They might still be alive and healthy, but not as well as they would be in sufficient light. Winter’s shorter days frequently cause succulents to stretch, so you must find a means to adequately light your succulent so that the shorter days don’t impair the amount of light provided.
Grow lights hold the key to the solution to this. Your plant will remain vibrant and compact as a result. Additionally, it helps bring extra bright light throughout the day. Succulents housed indoors for multiple winters without the help of a grow lamp have occasionally survived without harm. However, when spring approaches, many of these succulents get more elongated. Many people frequently prune them back before planting the succulents in the ground. However, you might choose to buy a grow light to stop the stretching.
How Long Should Succulents Be Under Grow Lights?
There is a growing season and a dormant season for succulents. Since all succulents go dormant in the winter, they will need less light when kept outside, but they can tolerate as much light as possible indoors.
When grown inside, succulent plants won’t experience real dormancy until a shift in light and temperature is made to force it. Succulents need at least six hours of sunlight each day to survive, but they also need darkness every day to sustain a healthy development cycle.
You can put succulents under grow lights for roughly twelve to fourteen hours, which is the answer to the question of how long they should be. This indicates that the grow lights simulate natural sunshine in addition to a few more hours. A timer can be used to keep track of how much time has passed. It’s vital to buy a grow light with minimal heat output because some excessively hot lights will burn your plant.
What Grow Lights Should I Purchase?
In this session, numerous other queries are posed. There are several pertinent considerations, such as what type of grow light should be used, how much grow light is required, what hue of light should be acquired, and how far the light should be from the succulents. Here are some things to think about in relation to this:
What kind of light should I buy? A fluorescent light (CFLs) or a bulb (T5/T8 bulbs) is the best type of lighting to employ.
Which grow light color should be purchased? The greatest option is a daylight spectrum (especially one with a color temperature of 6500K)
How far apart should the succulent and the grow light be kept? A: The fluorescent light and the succulent should be separated by roughly 6 to 12 inches (but only if you are using a fluorescent bulb)
How many lights ought to be purchased? A: The quantity of plants will determine this. The more plants, the more grow lights are required.
The aforementioned advice was compiled based on effectiveness and cost. Nevertheless, there are other, more expensive choices to take into account, some of which are even more successful than those mentioned. Given their availability and efficiency, fluorescent grow lights are a good choice to take into account.
Regarding the color of light to be utilized and the recommended number of lights, the answers to the questions are the most ambiguous. Red and blue lights are the two most often used colors of light. The most natural light is provided by blue lights, which have a daylight temperature of 6500K. Also keep in mind that a 3000K bulb is the ideal choice for growing succulents properly under grow lights.
It’s typically advised to receive as much light as you can when it comes to the amount of light required. Additionally, shining this light directly on your succulent is a smart idea; but, in limited places, this might not be practical. However, the general concept is that you should use a light that covers a space of 1 foot by 4 feet if you have plants in that area. Grow lights can be purchased locally or online.
Wrap Up
In a well-lit interior environment, your plants can survive without a grow light, but one is still necessary because it ensures that they receive enough light for healthy growth and development. How long should succulents be kept under grow lights is just one of the numerous queries that come up with them.
We think the query has been satisfactorily addressed in this post. We were also able to provide you with a ton additional advice that will ensure your succulents enjoy the best indoor growing possible. Now is the proper time for your plants to bloom, and you may thank us for that.
Let’s Tend The Garden founder Helen Reed is the author of the piece. Here is a location where gardeners and those who love the backyard may go to find the best online material (we think so, anyway).
What kind of lighting is most suitable for succulents?
The majority of succulents favor direct, strong light. Even in less than perfect indoor lighting conditions, certain succulents can still grow. The succulent species that can thrive in low illumination conditions are listed below.
The huge genus of miniature succulents known as Haworthias is indigenous to South Africa. Some haworthia species have a look that is very similar to aloe vera and can be mistaken for it. Depending on the species, these plants produce rosettes of various sizes and shapes.
Some are solitary, while others form clusters. Most have substantial roots. Some species have softer, plumper leaves with translucent, glassy surfaces that let sunlight to pass through for photosynthesis, while others have thick, stiff, fleshy leaves that are often dark green in color.
Although most haworthia species can grow in low light, bright, warm settings are preferred for their appearance. Be extremely careful not to overwater the plant when it is cultivated in low light. Under low light circumstances, overwatering the plant might be harmful.
Rainforests in South America, the Caribbean, and Central America are home to the cacti genus Rhipsalis. Rhipsalis species do not flourish in direct sunlight and extremely dry soil, contrary to popular belief that cactus require strong sunlight and dry circumstances. Usually, these plants are grown indoors.
They thrive in the morning light and afternoon full shade. The surrounding, heavily overhanging tree branches provide the rhipsalis with plenty of shade in its natural habitat. In comparison to most cactus, they are also more adaptable to increased humidity. Rhipsalis requires routine watering because it is not drought-resistant.
Overwatering should be avoided, though, as it can lead to root rot. The Rhipsalis Baccifera, sometimes known as the mistletoe cactus, is one of the most well-known rhipsalis species. These plants thrive indoors and need shade or partial shade.
The bloom that this genus produces, which has the appearance of a stomach, gave rise to its name.
The Latin word for stomach is gastro. They are indigenous to South Africa and require a lot of rain and light shade to grow.
These are now able to tolerate low light levels and have developed good indoor growing habits. Additionally, they thrive in warm, direct light. They have curving, stomach-shaped blooms and long, thick, grooved leaves. They prefer sandy soils with good drainage.
Schlumbergera is a member of a tiny cacti genus. They are native to the Brazilian tropical rainforests and require some humidity. They cannot stand extreme heat or cold. The look and behaviour of Schlumbergera species are distinctive from those of other cacti.
They grow on trees in moist, humid environments as epiphytes or as lithophytes on rocky terrain. Schlumbergera stems develop joints that might be flat, shaped like leaves, or shaped like bottles. All seasons see green growth on the stems.
The Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus is one of the most popular types and has gained popularity as a houseplant due to its stunning, spectacular blossoms. This tropical cactus does not thrive in afternoon or full sun.
Why do my succulents under grow lights seem to be stretching?
When they don’t receive enough sunshine, succulents swell out. The succulent will first begin to turn and bend in the direction of the light source.
As it grows, the leaves will spread farther apart, making the plant taller.
The leaves are often smaller and paler in color than usual. The succulent will typically turn green or lose the strength of its original color when it is not exposed to sunshine.
This Echeveria ‘Lola’ is beginning to bend toward the light, and it isn’t quite as colorful as it was when I took the photo for the post about top dressings.
The majority of the time, this will occur when succulents are cultivated indoors, but it can also occur outside when succulents are exposed to too much shadow.