FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hello, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to use a light for when its all cloudy or even at night to give it that bit more energy to grow?
Because .. well.. I'm in England, and besides about 6 Really nice days... its Always raining, or atleast Very cloudy and about to rain..

So I was wondering if just having a lamp over the top of it would indeed be good for it?
Or even if doing it through the night would be good for it or if itself needs sleep or not at night?.. well, not sleep, but you get my meaning.

Good question! Extra light certainly wouldn't hurt your Venus Fly Traps. You could use a little fluorescent light about 4 inches above the plant if you wish to add some light to it. Don't leave it on overnight though. I wouldn't go any longer than 18 hours of light on a 24 hour cycle (also called an 18 hour photoperiod). You could get a little timer so you wouldn't have to turn it on an off manually. That's what I use in my terrarium.

Would it be best to use that:

• With the sun
• If its a cloudy day
• Have morning class as Hero 0, and when it gets dark enough turn it on to complete the 18 hours?

I'm not sure...you could experiment and see. If you are getting direct sunlight on the plant, it would probably be a waste of electricity to add artificial light. I would probably only use it on cloudy days and in the evenings to complete the photoperiod.

Sounds like a plan..
I will get a little lamp for it.
Then possibly head down to Maplins (Eletronic store), when I have time.
see if I can get parts that will allow me to setup a photoperiod timer.
Turn on at X, Turn off at Y, if anytime between X and Y the light goes above a level, Also turn off.

I am very forgetful, anything I can automate to keep the plant alive is a bonus.
Plus, should activate when ever I, on the odd occasion, close my blinds.

Hello again.

I was wondering if a Mini/Compact Fluorescent lightbulb, the ones that usually spiral around, would work or does it require a regular straight one to be effective for growing plants?
I have one above my head which is a 15watt Compact Fluorescent bulb that gives out the same amount of light as a 100watt Incandescent bulb?
If they also work, I can get a regular bayoneted light fitting

I am currently looking for a Small Straight Fluorescent lamp+bulb.
So far I have found a 155mm (6inch) bulbs, but I have yet to find a lamp of that size or smaller,
I can always buy the connections for the bulb and build the lamp myself, All Ghetto Boddge Style.
Like most of the things I make

A CFL should work fine. Obviously you won't get much coverage in terms of area, but you are only using it for one plant, right?

Yep, well, technically I found its sprouting from 2 places, [one smaller one under one of the bigger ones leaves] but its in 1 pot at the moment, so yes..

I think I might have found a small T5 lamp holder.. its ment to be one of those small UV lamp things you get in banks... but it holds a 4w 6" bulb, so it should fit perfectly.

Sounds like it will work great! Post a pic or update of your plants once you get things set up.