I am attempting to grow perrineals indoors. How long do I leave artificial light on them? ?

Question

Do I leave it on 24/7, or do I time the light?

Answer 1

I would use as much natural light as possible with supplemental artificial light.

I have some perennial (winter hardy) terrestrial orchids and azaleas (that are not ‘florist’ azaleas), I grow indoors. Both plants ‘should’ have a winter freeze but they do not experience this in my home. I have them on extended window sills with eastern and western exposure and I have installed artificial lights in the windows above the plants.

They do very well.

The azaleas flower from two to five times a year – I guess it depends on their mood.

The orchids flower up to twice a year.

OK, back to the lights.

NEVER leave plants under lights 24/7. PLANTS NEED at least 6 hours of DARKNESS or they will become exhausted from producing chlorophyll, sugars, etc., constantly and they will die.

I would use both natural light supplemented with artificial light and give them 6 to 8 hours of darkness a night. If you are only using artificial light, the same would apply – 6-8 hours of darkness.

I have a number of plant light stands where the plants only receive artificial light. On those stands I only grow tender orchids, African violets, Clivia and an occasional ‘orphan plant’ someone wants to throw in the trash.

So in spite of what the ‘experts’ have told me – which is, winter hardy perennials ‘need’ to be outdoors, I have a number of them happily and heartily growing indoors all year – they just bloom at odd times.

Answer 2

If and I stress if they are in sunlight during the better part of the day time the light for evenings. The light doesn't need to be on 24/7 but they do need good lighting for at least 16 hours a day. Make sure you water often since the lights dry them out fast.

Answer 3

They need natural light, not artificial