How To Plant Roses During Winter
February 27, 2009 by Hanna08
I am building another lamplight greenhouse, so I can expand my study of roses under artificial lighting. I had some very astounding results from cuttings made during the winter and, believe it or not, several are blooming at this very moment in the garden.
My failures were also ever present, but from each 1 learned a lesson, be it in rooting mediums, temperature, hardening off, or what- ever problems beset the indoor gardener. One thing I do know is that it works if you know how to properly balance the lights and take certain other precautions.
I bought a dormant rose the second week in March, planted it in a pot and set it alongside my propagating box under lights. On April 27 I cut my first rose of the year, and I believe the first one in this area. It caused quite a commotion. When I told people I raised it in a basement they said I was nuts. The rose had never seen daylight until it was cut and brought out of the house.
The only limiting factor in this process has been space. The same issue when I was planting caladium bulbs. I am in constant competition with the basement as it is the only place for me to get things done during the winter. Consequently my lighting units will have to be kept within a 3 x 5 foot lighting setup, which limits me to 40 watt tubes six across.
When I mention a lamplight greenhouse, people expect a greenhouse on the order of the type used by nurseries. They hardly think a board of lights that practically blind a person as conducive to growing anything.
Tips on Growing, For the Indoor Gardener:
Chlorophyll reflects green light. It does not transmit it. The colors that must be absorbed are mainly the colors of visible light other than green. We evolved the ability to see the wavelengths we see because they are the most abundant. Lights for growing plants indoors have a purplish tint, so I would guess the "cool" colors like blue and purple would be the most important as opposed to "warm" colors like red and orange. I don't think green glass would much affect plant growth, as plants just reflect green light away anyhow.
I am an accidental indoor gardener. Years ago I started buying plants and seeds and growing them in my moist, warm, well lit, Jacuzzi room. The Jacuzzi hasn't run in over a year, but I grow some awesome hot peppers and incredibly sour oranges in spite of my lack of green thumb.
Even if you've said to yourself “I can't grow weeds” you can probably grow an indoor garden. There's nothing more rewarding than going out to your plants and picking the fresh fruit of your labor and putting it in a meal you eat. The peppers are used on average once a week and grow in a small container I bought at KMart. I had thought they'd never grow, but now they bloom and produce regularly – so much cooler than an outdoor garden with an intense harvest.
Even the sour oranges can be mixed with a little vinegar and some honey for a yummy fish glaze.
I am an accidental indoor gardener. Years ago I started buying plants and seeds and growing them in my moist, warm, well lit, Jacuzzi room. The Jacuzzi hasn't run in over a year, but I grow some awesome hot peppers and incredibly sour oranges in spite of my lack of green thumb.
Even if you've said to yourself “I can't grow weeds” you can probably grow an indoor garden. There's nothing more rewarding than going out to your plants and picking the fresh fruit of your labor and putting it in a meal you eat. The peppers are used on average once a week and grow in a small container I bought at KMart. I had thought they'd never grow, but now they bloom and produce regularly – so much cooler than an outdoor garden with an intense harvest.
Even the sour oranges can be mixed with a little vinegar and some honey for a yummy fish glaze.
Just because you've only got houseplants doesn't mean you don't have the gardening spirit – I look upon myself as an indoor gardener. ~Sara
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