My setup isn't working great

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thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1387753871	Reply with quote #1

So here are some pictures of how I've been growing my cuttings. I think my lights are too powerful and it's burning the leaves. I thought if I got fluorescent bulbs that would keep the leaves from burning, but it doesn't seem to help. It's not the heat of the bulbs (they don't get very hot at all), but I imagine the intensity of the light. The leaves are as you see below. They get dark in the center and some of them turn yellow. I imagine someone on this forum has had experience with this. Any tips? I've started pointing the bulbs up more so they aren't pointed directly at the plants. Btw, all the pictured cuttings are 7 months old. They are the survivors. About half died. Another thing, I don't turn the lights off at night. I don't know if this could be the cause as well. Thanks for any help! Link to the pics: http://imgur.com/a/kcT7X __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1387754802	Reply with quote #2

I think most of us use the linear flourescent bulbs like T8s. These put out very little heat and have never burned leaves in my experience. It also doesn't seem necessary for cuttings that have been going for 7 months to be in a humidity bin. The bin should only be necessary for a few weeks if that. Last year I didn't use lights at all on figs but simply used south facing windows before transitioning them outdoors in the Spring. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

DallasFigs

Registered:1358877623
Posts: 990

Posted 1387756690	Reply with quote #3

How hot are those metal cones on the light getting? I removed the cone on my clip lamp so that the light goes all around. The only time I've had a burnt leaf is if the leaf touches the bulb. __________________ James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a Follow me on EBay Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1387757322	Reply with quote #4

i never used light set up before. the leaves on you pix show sunburn. i root in my study that has south facing window, and that seems to be good enough until spring comes around. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1387758102	Reply with quote #5

I've read on this forum that figs want a ton of light, but I guess there is a limit to that. I figured I could bombard them with light and they'd just grow faster. Doesn't seem to be true. __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

milehighgirl

Registered:1382109709
Posts: 284

Posted 1387759527	Reply with quote #6

I have used T5 and T8 bulbs and have had the leaves very close if not touching and they have not burned. Maybe the twisted fluorescents have a higher concentration of heat because of the spiraled bulb. I have even had lady bugs lay their eggs on the bulbs and they hatched! __________________ USDA Zone 5b, Sunset 2b Looking for: Becane, Dalmatie, Doree, Florea, Hanc's EBT, Italian 258, LaRadek's EBT, Longue d'Aout, Marseilles White , Negronne, Nordland, Sal's EL, Strawberry Vert, ...anything cold hardy and short season. (Willing to pay for cuttings)

WillsC

Registered:1348087628
Posts: 1,698

Posted 1387761604	Reply with quote #7

Quote: Originally Posted by alanmercieca Regular fluorescent bulbs, and energy saving fluorescent bulbs kill off vegetation very fast, I tried that last year Do you mean just bulbs as opposed to tubes?

indestructible87

Registered:1368407095
Posts: 548

Posted 1387764268	Reply with quote #8

I'm having the same thing happen with the leaves turning, and then falling off. I'm using a regular desk lamp with a daylight bulb, some of the plants don't have any discoloration and others do. __________________ Travis Pittsburgh, PA

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1387764484	Reply with quote #9

is it possible the leaves have not acclimated to the light intensity like when taking new cutting out to the sun in spring? __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1387766941	Reply with quote #10

IMHO which is not so humble sometimes you need to water those figs more. The soil looks really dry and pulled away from the sides of the container.

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1387771909	Reply with quote #11

It appears that you just came from vacation. The soil in the pots seems to be on the dry side. Keep it moist and you may see better progress. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1387778145	Reply with quote #12

Are you using fertilizer? Fluctuating moisture levels can cause nutrient levels to get rather high. Using a light amount of nutrients dissolved into water on regular basis is no big deal if flushed through and salts aren't allowed to build up, but if the soil is only moistened with nutrient water repeatedly and then allowed to dry out, the overall nutrient levels or salts can get quite high. The area where the light is most intense will have the most cellular activity and resultant focal fertilizer burn. I think your burn is from this scenario and not from lamp intensity. This is one reason why I avoid feeding my babies much until they are big enough to withstand a good dousing of water without drowning. And if your not using fertilizer or soil with fertilizer in it already...then what do I know. But I have seen this happen. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1387787523	Reply with quote #13

Hi, Because your trees have grown up, you should now to move the lights upwards. You should attach the lights at one meter or more ( at the roof of your room ) sothat the trees keep growing up - they look like willing to grow to the side because of the position of the lamps . Your trees lack water . I would put a wooden piece of one centimeter thick (or less 1/2) under each pot and leave some water in the container. The leaves look thick - it can be from the cultivar - or your room temperature is a bit on the low . How is your room temperature ? IMO, Having such a setup near a window would help . IMO, the pots are now too small, I would up-pot . Did I mention, that last year I lost my 3 little trees that I had in my flat ? :) __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1387846648	Reply with quote #14

Interesting thread. I use t5s on 24/7, they have not burned any leaves yet but I am only 4 weeks on cuttings that have now leafed out. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1387851529	Reply with quote #15

ya know.. if i remember correctly, the leaves burn less if the soil is well watered. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1387884877	Reply with quote #16

I always keep mine on a 12 hour light diet as well. I think everything needs to rest sometime. Been away for a little while and didn't realize how much I miss and enjoy your replies Pete :) LOL. __________________ Tami SE Texas

newnandawg

Registered:1344130335
Posts: 2,535

Posted 1387890255	Reply with quote #17

T-5 and T-8 tubes work fine for me. I keep the lights as close to the top of the figlets as possible without touching them.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1389291820	Reply with quote #18

Those pots looks dehydrated, make sure they are always moist , otherwise just raise the lights a bit and measure the temp with thermostat, make sure the heat doesn't reach 42C, or whatever that makes up in F. Otherwise they seem like doing well.

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1397177728	Reply with quote #19

So just to follow up on this, it was all about the water. I just wasn't watering enough. I read so much here about over watering and I was so determined to make sure I didn't do that that I under watered them. I've since started watering them around every 4 days and they are much better. My outside figs were also suffering from not enough water. I water them every other day or every day if it's summer. I don't know why there's so much stress on over watering here. Are there people who are watering several times a day or something? __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1397179206	Reply with quote #20

It just got mentioned already! There seem to be water deprivation (at lleast when pictures were taken). Keep the pot soil moist to minimiaze the issue you are having. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

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