FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Is the 50 watt per light its equivalent light output or its power usage?

I think LEDs work okay. I've had no experience with the blurple lights, though. I try to stay with white lighting. I've a couple of 3-panel LED garage lights that are like 8000 lumens each and a 5000-5500k temperature that I repurposed as grow lights. Also, three 48" Walmart LED shop lights hanging side-by-side at 5000 lumens and 5000k temperature. The only light I have that is purpose-built for a grow light is a Viparspectra XS1000 panel which is full-spectrum and throws out blinding light...a really nice light. The repurposed lights seem to work really well. The 3-panel LED lights seeming to please the plants better that the shop lights but they cover a smaller area than do the three shop lights. I like to be able to view the plants under the white light.

Btw, what type of growing medium mix are you using? Peat moss brand?

Looks like your leagues ahead of me with your lighting technology!

I was curious about the texture of the peat moss. Being “OCD-Me” I usually sift mine to a fine texture…the coarser texture caught my eye.

It just gives a more finished-look to the surface. It also gives you a chance to get sticks and whatever out. I had some Greensmix peat moss that I got at Tractor Supply...it was the nastiest stuff I've ever seen. Even though it is really cheap it's not worth what they charge for it. I simply quit using it and found a bale of Majestic Earth...much cleaner! But even being cleaner I still screen the ME, but it's not nearly as big of a chore as the nasty stuff was.

ETA: I'm kind of in a rural area...20 miles to a Tractor Supply....30 miles to Lowes....60 miles to Home Depot. So finding the peat moss isn't always a simple thing for me. I got the Majestic Earth at Lowes, but they don't always have it. Home Depot advertises Sungrow but it's usually Premier...I hear from folks that Premier is a pretty good peat moss, too.