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#1 2008-09-21 9:16 pm

Pariah
James Carville Fan..
From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
Registered: 2001-05-24
Posts: 18415

Do Plants Need Sleep?

I have built a little indoor greenhouse enclosure to grow kitchen herbs and such over the winter months. Basically just a box with several "grow lights".
I have researched nesisary lighting amounts, soil mixtures, ambient temps and such but one basic question I havent seen answered anywhere:
Is it better to just leave the lights on 24/7 or should I turn them off at night to emulate a natural light cycle?
Anyone with a green thumb care to help me out?


"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
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#2 2008-09-22 9:38 am

Pithecanthropus
Roast Master
From: St. Cloud, MN
Registered: 2002-12-30
Posts: 4452
Website

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that plants are diurnal, just like us.  I know when you're growing... er... other more smoke-able herbs it is suggested that you give them 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark.


Grandfatherly advice:  You can drink 'em pretty, but you can't drink 'em smart.

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#3 2008-09-22 11:02 am

macnuke
just a plano guy
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From: North Dallas 40
Registered: 2004-05-16
Posts: 7134

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

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#4 2008-09-22 2:26 pm

resedit
Chicken Little
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From: /dev/null
Registered: 1999-11-01
Posts: 50397
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Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

macnuke wrote:

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Only in Montana.


In her right hand Jenny held the Bible of her mother
Jenny had a pistol in the other
-- Steve Taylor

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#5 2008-09-22 4:56 pm

Pariah
James Carville Fan..
From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
Registered: 2001-05-24
Posts: 18415

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Pithecanthropus wrote:

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that plants are diurnal, just like us.  I know when you're growing... er... other more smoke-able herbs it is suggested that you give them 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark.

Ya, That was my thought but it wouldn't be the first time the intuitive answer was actually the wrong one.


"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama

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#6 2008-09-22 8:58 pm

Bat
Flawless Cowboy
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From: Björk, Björk
Registered: 2001-05-14
Posts: 28541

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

I can hypnotize bricks. http://homepage.mac.com/oatmeal/MAF/maxes/hypnotized.gif Would that help?


If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw

"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."

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#7 2008-09-23 12:14 am

oatmeal
the clueless ones
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Registered: 2002-08-07
Posts: 609
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Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

When I was in school I read about an interesting story.  It seemed that all the trees along a city's main street started dying, and it took an expert to figure it out. 

The city had been having trouble with crime, so they took out the old lamps and installed new, REALLY bright ones all along the street.  The trees grew during the day, never got the chance to stop at night, and began dying. 

No idea how the story turned out, whether they removed the lights or the trees, but it would seem to suggest that you can over-light your plants.

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#8 2008-09-23 12:26 am

NAG
A witch!
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From: /usr/local/apps/nag
Registered: 2000-09-22
Posts: 30229

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Yes, most plants do require a sun light cycle (temperature too). Different plants have different needs due to differences in their metabolism (see C3, C4, and CAM plants). Unfortunately, I'm not a botanist so I can't really explain this indepth.


"You call *this* archaeology?" • Professor Henry Jones
http://homepage.mac.com/dpauw/.Pictures/misc/moron.gif

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#9 2008-09-23 5:34 am

Alien
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From: Republic of Amsterdam
Registered: 1999-07-05
Posts: 16942
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Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

I'm pretty sure the lights in the greenhouses here in Holland stay on 24/7.

.tsooJ


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#10 2008-09-23 1:20 pm

elpato84
is Heavy Weapons Guy
From: red team
Registered: 2002-05-25
Posts: 3307

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

If that Magic School Bus episode taught me anything, it's that I should've stayed home from school today. I mean maybe.


"I personally think that with the budget they've planned, Halo [the movie] will be a failure. I think Halo will not make the money back in the end."
-Uwe Boll (made the films: Alone in the Dark, House of the Dead, Bloodrayne, Far Cry, Postal)

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#11 2008-09-23 4:24 pm

zoees
Member
From: Maryland
Registered: 2001-08-14
Posts: 2690

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Pithecanthropus wrote:

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that plants are diurnal, just like us.  I know when you're growing... er... other more smoke-able herbs it is suggested that you give them 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark.

Start out 18 on and 6 off. That's a good long day. When you're ready for them to mature switch to 12 on and 12 off. Long day to short day, just like summer to fall.

HPS to start and metal Halide for the final stages, and don't forget the CO2 boosters.

Pick, dry, and use. No additives required.


"I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do".—D. Dale Gulledge

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#12 2008-09-23 5:56 pm

Chickenhawk
Snark Snark Snark Snark
From: Being Snarky
Registered: 2005-06-01
Posts: 5821

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

/me waits for the partyvan


The recent medical controversy over whether vaccinations cause autism reveals a habit of human cognition—thinking anecdotally comes naturally, whereas thinking scientifically does not. -- Michael Shermer

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#13 2008-09-23 7:07 pm

D'Eyncourt
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Registered: 2001-12-27
Posts: 8808
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Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Some flowering plants need darkness in order to close their flowers--the cells triggering the opening/closing are light-sensitive. If not do not close, then the flowers don't have a chance to replenish themselves (make pollen, build nectar) and likely won't be able to make seeds because they won't be properly pollinated.


BOYCOTT SONY

"I think the question now is not whether you went to Vietnam or whether you didn't, whether you fought in the war or fought against the war. I think the only question is whether we can find a president smart enough never to make a mistake like that again"--Molly Ivins, way back in 1992

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#14 2008-09-23 9:27 pm

Aqua OS X
Shark Sandwich
From: Oakland, CA
Registered: 2000-06-05
Posts: 12669

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

I would Google for a local hydroponics store. Those folks are going to know a lot about growing plants indoors and they usually love to talk shop. You might also want to check out a local nursery.

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#15 2008-09-24 5:58 am

Pariah
James Carville Fan..
From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
Registered: 2001-05-24
Posts: 18415

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Aqua OS X wrote:

I would Google for a local hydroponics store. Those folks are going to know a lot about growing plants indoors and they usually love to talk shop. You might also want to check out a local nursery.

Ordinarily that would be good advice.


"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama

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#16 2008-09-24 9:23 am

Pithecanthropus
Roast Master
From: St. Cloud, MN
Registered: 2002-12-30
Posts: 4452
Website

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Aqua OS X wrote:

You might also want to check out a local nursery.

Totally, dude!  It's usually a MILF-o-rama!

up


Grandfatherly advice:  You can drink 'em pretty, but you can't drink 'em smart.

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#17 2008-09-24 5:31 pm

Pariah
James Carville Fan..
From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
Registered: 2001-05-24
Posts: 18415

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Pithecanthropus wrote:

Aqua OS X wrote:

You might also want to check out a local nursery.

Totally, dude!  It's usually a MILF-o-rama!

up

That's very true. I worked at a nursery when I was in my 20s. Good times hubba


"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama

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#18 2008-09-26 6:28 am

Farmerkev
Official Dementor
Moderator
Registered: 2003-01-03
Posts: 18623

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

zoees wrote:

Start out 18 on and 6 off. That's a good long day. When you're ready for them to mature switch to 12 on and 12 off. Long day to short day, just like summer to fall.

Field crops under security lights won't mature correctly either.
You're right, it's all about the length of "daylight".


Do your part to combat global warming.
Eat a cow.

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#19 2008-09-26 2:06 pm

zoees
Member
From: Maryland
Registered: 2001-08-14
Posts: 2690

Re: Do Plants Need Sleep?

Farmerkev wrote:

zoees wrote:

Start out 18 on and 6 off. That's a good long day. When you're ready for them to mature switch to 12 on and 12 off. Long day to short day, just like summer to fall.

Field crops under security lights won't mature correctly either.
You're right, it's all about the length of "daylight".

I know. wink


"I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do".—D. Dale Gulledge

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