centaura

Yeah, 600watt is not a florescent bulb. The heat its generating is going to totally defeat the amount of light that its putting out. My advice will always be to buy a 4 foot florescent shop light, as there is very little under that that will give a plant sufficient light. Unless you can find the compact florescent buls that are bigger than your fist, which give out 2000+ lumens, you're not doing much for your trees with any smaller fixture. You are giving light to the top few leaves, and its better than nothing at all, but your growth will be spindly and weak under lower illumination.

A ballast is the mechanism that ignites the gases in a florescent tube. If they are selling them seperately, then they are for fixtures that are probably way too big for what you want. Common shop lights or other florescent fixtures come with the ballast inside, and if you're having a problem with a florescent fixture, the usually culprit is the ballast having failed.

-Centaura

Phil

Sometimes the starter module will also give out but they are very inexpensive and easily replaced.

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Prowler

Matt
Hold on for a while, i have to find a box big enough for them, not because they are huge, but for packing them safefuly, they are 23inch x 14 inch.
There are two tubes but they are joint together at the base making 4 tubes, hell of a light.
They are a plug and play thing, just to short for me. Cheers.

__________________
Its hell out there, give them hell back.

Mortalis

I grow almost exclusively ficus and only indoors. All you need for most ficus is 4,000 to 10,000 lumins as close to the tree as you can get without burning the leaves. If you can get ahold of a "Ficus Midnight" it does great with just about nothing its dark green leaves suck up any light it can get ahold of. You also have to mind your color temp. You want your color temp to be 5000k thats the closest to sunlight as it gets. (yuck sunlight)

Pup

Hey Matt move to Australia, Where you can grow them outdoors with out all the luminous lumons and suchPup

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G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

Mortalis

Lots of sun in Australia.. I cant move there the sun would destroy my pale skin and tattoos even with my SPF 85 sunscreen.

Phil

That in and of itself sounds like a great idea if it would get rid of tattoos!
Got one in 'Nam back in '67 and paid about $1,200 to get the damn thing removed! What a terrible mutilation to ones body. After a few years they just end up looking like a blue blob of crap......disgusting. Then again, I don't understand the mutilation of pierced tongues, lips, eye brows and other unnameable parts of the body although I do have a pierced ear and earring. I just can't comprehend the attraction to them. JMHO.

Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Pup

I remember reading an article about a Canadian couple. They had them, he had one on his toungue, she had one, well they ended up in hospital for separation. Embasrrassing yes painful oh!! yes.
Pup

__________________
G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

Phil

I imagine that would be the true meaning of the term, “Locking lips”!
That would also be the meaning of sheer stupidity…..on both parts!

I never could or will understand this sick and disgusting obsession with body piercings.
Piercing ones eyebrow, tongue, nose, lip and other unmentionable places! People that are in desperate need of some serious psychiatric help!


Ah well, back to the subject at hand here. I just brought in all my Ficus for the winter months two days ago. When the night temperatures get below 50 that is my signal to bring them in. I use the highest lumen CPF’s that I can and place the trees as close to the light source that I can. The only fluorescent strip lighting that I use is for my humongous retusa epiphytic project as the strip lighting is the only one that will cover its area and size. My salicifolia is about the only tree that throws a “wobbler”, as Prowler would say! In about a month or so it will lose all of its leaves. This would more than likely throw one into a panic but I’ve had it for years now and I know how it reacts. As long as the branches remain supple and the small leaf buds have a tinge of green I know it’s OK and will survive until the next summer. That combined with humidity trays and my occasional steaming hot shower treatment seems to do the trick quite nicely. No….I don’t place them under steaming hot water! If you wish an explanation of it I’ll give it to you.

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Mortalis

Well I belive you should only get a tat if you have wanted it for 6 months. I have several and want more. Sorry about your blue blob experience.. If you stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen that wont happen. Especially with the new inks they are much better. I have had my oldest tattoo for 5 years and it still looks exactly the way it did 1 week after.. Because I say out of the damn sun. Mutilation hardly, it is art when properly done and now your really the odd man out if you dont have one. I am shooting for 85% coverage of my body by the time I am 40 myself. And as far as the piercings go If you have your ear pierced then you should understand the rest.. my pierced lip is just like that for me.
Oh BTW and I have wanted to tell alot of older men with one ear pierced this.. Its kinda out to pierce just one ear.. usualy now its just the umm.. la la la kinda guys that do that. Also you have to follow the rules No big rinestones "unless you dress Hip hop" now its gaged captive beads, tallons, or flesh tunnles. If your white wear silver, Black or other dark skin tone wear gold.

Well I'm off to mutilate myself some more.. lol take it easy kids..