#164

LET'S PLANT!
EP 164 - Planting sempervivum between my echeveria, picking an area for my grow lights, and future plans
Lots have happened in this episode. It is winter here in Australia. We do not usually get snow here in Metro Melbourne so that usually means lots of rain instead.
Because of the weather, I'm unable to do much gardening at the moment, at least not the type you would do outdoors. So I decided to start thinking of what I can do indoors.
This reminded me of the grow lights that I got from Mars Hydro. I wanted to do something with them but I'm an absolute newbie with grow lights so I will be starting by working on a series of experiments, and work my way up to being comfortable with using them on my plants.
I'm using a Mars Hydro TS1000W, you can get them on Amazon:
US Amazon: amzn.to/2khxUoe
CA Amazon: amzn.to/2kGMQfM
DE Amazon: amzn.to/2r3ZOYd
UK Amazon: amzn.to/3gnYqo4
AU Amazon: bit.ly/AUTS1000
For starters, I might have to build a frame from which to hang it from. Thanks to Alex, I also might have to think about my growing setup. I might heavily consider getting mylar tent.
Other than that, I wanted to do another experiment. My Echeveria are constantly getting wet under the rain. I'm not that concerned since the soil drains quickly. But I'm thinking that maybe they will benefit with having winter-growers planted in among the gaps. Maybe that could solve some of the excess water they're getting during the rainy winter?
I picked sempervivum since they do well in the cold, and they can form clumps, which I want to happen. They also do not grow too high vertically, keeping the separation between echeveria and sempervivum, and still allowing for airflow. The great thing about this setup is that the larger echeveria can also help shield the semps during summer, keeping them cool and protected.
I have some semps in the garden but I needed more so I tapped my local swap group for more.
Lastly, I also want to work on my aeonium display area. I bounced some ideas with my friends in my facebook discussion group and got some good feedback. I might consider their suggestions here.
Cerriscapades discussion group:
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[@Cerriscapades]

Do you have any pointers for me about grow lights? What do you think should I know?

[@LuckystrikeGFXer]

From my research I found out that lightcolour is important, should be at least 6500 kelvin, and the amount of lumens the light gives out, ideally 2000 lumens. I also heard that wavelength could be a factor in producing stress colours in succulents. There are these purple glowing growlights which do not really work with succulents. These have to be really close to a plant, even 5 cm wasn't enough for mine. If you want to have stress colours the lights have to be on for at least 12 hours a day. Mine keep their colours this way from what I have seen. Though I recently found out that the LED strips that I use are too far apart from my plants when they are in their growing season. If you find out more about grow lights I would really like it if you could compile it into a video.

[@Cerriscapades]

Thanks for the input. I'm probably going to do a spinoff series about what I learn from using my grow lights. Thanks for suggesting it, that reinforces the idea, telling me that it's worth pursuing.

[@LuckystrikeGFXer]

@@Cerriscapades I think most people live in a climate that is not ideal for plants like echeverias which want a usda zone of 9 or higher. I think the most common zone is below 8 which means if you want to be safe you plant plants like sempervivum and sedum outside which can withstand the colder temps in the winter. Thats why people have interest in growlights and there are many misconceptions. If you are doing the video I would appreciate it if you could include the Metric System Units as well.

[@sdsucculents5143]

I tried the sun blaze vho 8 bulb light last winter for some of the plants that dont like when the weather drops into the 40s. I ended up putting the plants back outside about a month after setting up the grow tent because the plants turned completely green and started dropping leaves , no there was no rot as they hadnt even been watered and I live in an arid environment they just were not getting enough light even though I ran this thing for 12hrs a day on a auro timer with fans for circulation. My more sensitive plants actually looked healthier after moving them back outside even though it was 42-45 degrees overnight for about a month. Save yourself 300$ unless you know for sure your plants will die outside.

[@sdsucculents5143]

@@LuckystrikeGFXer basically just costal California can support echeveria, aeonium and the other cold sensitive succs. South florida and corpus might be able to support aeoniums as they like some humidity but as for most other succs nope they hate humidity especially overnight. Even non coastal cali can get to hot and too cold for most succs because like central texas it can easily get into the triple digits in july and August and can get into the low 20s and high teens in jan and Feb. So unfortunately most succs that dont mind 105+ highs cant survive sub 30 temps and vice versa. I moved to austin from SD and shipped the plants and they haven't been happy since. We built a grow room with vho t5s but some still dropped all their leaves. Others don't seem to mind as much like our madre del sur loves the grow room actually but most of the other plants are not happy. We have 8 tube 6500k vho bulbs that are about 5 inches away and on a 12hr auto timer they just seem to be missing the outdoors and the sun. Anyways I agree that this would be a nice experimental series for chuck that could help a lot of people over here in the us that aren't in coastal cali.

[@maritzavanzyl5487]

hai from south africa i enjoy your show. my 8 year old son told me to tell you to put in a fish pond with your plants around it.

[@WithmeJuan]

4 different types of sempervivum coming my way hopefully by Friday. So excited to plant them.! Your garden is so pretty and colourful!😍

[@leahstrydom8415]

Best succulent channel I've ever come across. Love your videos!

[@ohmyGIDDYaunt100]

Great videos Chuck!!

[@natachaechavarria1321]

The colors in your garden are beautiful 🌷🌿🌿

[@Cerriscapades]

Thank you. Also I like your name! 😄

[@hamchrainga]

Love your succulents

[@jonanna8516]

Love the idea of mixing semps with summer growers. What a great idea! Think I’m going to have to nick it!!

[@tugbatas8330]

Your mini garden at the back looks great 😍😍

[@succulentsbreaktime]

Beautiful Echeveria 😍

[@carmelachavez273]

I don't know anything about grow lights Chuck but I going to learn with you! It will be exciting.🤗👌

[@cholong_succulent]

넓은 정원에 다육과 아이들과 함께 하는 시간이 너무 좋겠습니다. 첫 방문입니다.💞💓

[@ericamanchola4832]

Omg que lindo El jardin !!! ❤️😍

[@stormyadz]

Hi Chuck, great work on your let's plant series. I too am Eastern suburbs Melbourne. I have a big issue with clover! I've been pulling it up (seed and all) for years but it still seems to multiply. I notice you don't have any. Any advice on how to eradicate it? Thanks buddy.

[@gelossanctuary7452]

probably try doing a vertical garden against the wall to save the ground space?

[@atelienz7154]

I really like it Succulents very beautiful and lovely 😍🤩 hope I have like that Succulents

[@erins.5420]

Window shutter planters. It stays high off the ground not interfering with plants below like a window box planter potentially could. Although I don’t think it would be a problem if you move that 1 aeonium.

[@PatKim2023]

Your large echeverias are STUNNING!! Just curious, do they ever grow pups on them?

[@kiharema4070]

Napakaganda po! 🤩😍

[@brinjoness3386]

I wouldn't know if there is a difference between growing succulents and tomato plants in a garage, but all the problems I discovered growing tomato plants under light were due to fans and ventilation. Moving fans aimed away from the tomato plant seemed to produce better fruit.

[@bossleeandfamily4193]

hello sir chuck! I'm so much amazed with your garden and your passion of making such beautiful output.. Me and my partner is also trying to enter world of succulents and cactus too :) I'm also planning to make a vlog regarding these plants. I'm humbly ask permission to you, can i feature your videos and give credits to you sir? Thank you in advance and looking forward for a positive response sir. God bless and more power! #proudpinoy

[@Cerriscapades]

Thanks for letting me know, you may do as you please. Glad you enjoy the videos!

[@bossleeandfamily4193]

@@Cerriscapades thank you so much sir.. God bless. 🙂

[@KaleiPlants]

I actually had problems with those sempervivums, Mr. Chuck. Any advice on how to keep them healthy and make them produce offsets?

[@thatbrickpotguy3548]

Would recommend a small tent

[@sandyjones4393]

May I ask the name of the white 'bumpy' one? You have the greenest thumb.

[@jobalfredotan3239]

im started planting too and I'm echeveria collector also but with a struggle with money and the price of echeverias is increasing and leaving the common ones.

[@AlexeiTacu]

for me sempervivums, attract ever more pests than normal succulents, they leave a lot of dry leaves that will be hard for you to clean. be careful with those :)

[@Cerriscapades]

Yeah I've had success with them in one part of the garden so I wonder if they will be the same in this section. We'll see. Part of the experiment! 😂

[@cello977]

is there any way to prevent echeveria from profucing pups?

[@thatbrickpotguy3548]

Start out on 50% power at around 18" above canopy and slowly turn up the power until you find its happy place

[@Cerriscapades]

Thanks, that's something I can do. Easy to remember as well.

[@Crystal-be9ze]

Do you leave all your plants in the ground all year long? I wish I could do that but we get snow in the winter 😭

[@Crystal-be9ze]

Can you please sell plants to the U.S