A New Direction for Indoor Grow Lights, The Bonsai Zone, Oct 2022

[@7puggiescyndycarruthers193]

Nigel, I hope you are starting to truly understand that your own spirit of sharing knowledge and enthusiasm so generously is precisely why you are so blessed with gifts and good wishes from people everywhere! You really are a source of inspiration and fun! Many thanks.

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Ya saya setuju ia sangat menginspirasi dalam bercocok tanam jenis bonsai🙏🥰

[@7puggiescyndycarruthers193]

@@potkosongbonsai1818 ya memang

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks so much, the bonsai community are so kind!!

[@Listenmorethanyouapeak]

Hi there, Nigel! Hoping you can help me surprise my husband, Mikey, by wishing him a Happy Birthday! He loves your channel and watches all your videos! Thank you!!

[@Robert-ij9ih]

And he reads all the comments 😅

[@bhadrachatterjee9163]

This is so funny 🤣 anyway I wanna wish u happy b'day too!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Anna, can you email me the details? Here is my email..... [e-mail]

[@wesleysantosdefranca7496]

My dream is having a forest like yours! They are SO BEAUTIFUL

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I really enjoy the forests too!! Thanks!

[@patsfreund9164]

Great concept for the lights. Glad you are still making progress in the plant room. Your serissa, as always, is looking GREAT!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Pat, at least I've made a bit of progress in the plant room, maybe now the weather is getting colder, I'll do more indoor work!

[@barbkrienke8400]

I love your new plant lights! I just bought one with multiple arms to hopefully spread light more evenly on my ficus! Can’t wait to see your video(s) of the upcoming show, and to see how your trees do!!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks so much Barb, I had a sour cherry soda today and it made me think of you!!

[@MaybeBonsai]

Great show of fall colours, hope the lights work out well!

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Ya sangat luar biasa idenya 🥰

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Xin, I find fall is a good time to collect seeds, you can pick trees that have great fall colours!

[@MaybeBonsai]

@@TheBonsaiZone yea that reminds me to collect seeds around my neighbourhood 👍

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Thank you for sharing it 🙏😍

[@RosarioCostanzo]

I used this kind of 3 lamps system, last winter. And it worked perfectly for my ficuses and succulents too. It's a good way to let (a kind of) sun shining on trees

[@KakdeG]

One Idea I get is to have the green room with LED strips around that can be managed with a controller that can switch them sequentially and control intensity/brightness.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That would be really good!!!

[@aaronleslie1581]

Awesome video Nigel!! Love the updates on all the trees, fall is awesome for bonsai!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Aaron!! Yes, I love going for a walk in fall!!

[@emmitstewart1921]

Back in the eighties, I used to get hydroponic catalogs for planting supplies. Back in those days High Pressure Sodium and metal halite were the big thing in large scale indoor planting. They came in huge fixtures that burned something like a thousand watts. To make the most efficient use of these Huge lights they used a system that you just reminded me of. Suspended from the grow room ceiling above the growing benches was a track about four feet long.On that track was a little motor that moved itself back and forth along the track. When the motor reached the end of the track, a built-in switch changed the rotation of the motor and it moved back to the other end where the switch changed it back to the original direction. The light fixture hung from this motor, and instead of an area of intense light in one spot and varying degrees of shade between lights the light was distributed evenly along the bench. If your bench was eight feet long, you would use two tracks laid end to end and hang two light fixtures from them. Modern LED fixtures produce the same amount of light while using about 1/5 of the electricity,making them practical for home systems.One could easily convert a fifteen x fifteen foot room into a nice indoor greenhouse

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Wow! Some really cool lights!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It brightened up my day, yuk, yuk!!

[@quemalcy]

I have the 4 lights on a tripod (im in uk n got them from amazon) , same set as your 3 light with clip.. With 4 i can kind of arch them over my tree tray.. They worked great with seedlings earlier in year.. Thanks for upload.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sounds like a great setup!! Thanks!

[@ferasi6944]

Very interesting ideas about lighting indoors 💡 and many inspirational hints in the comments! 🙏

[@dabblingwithbonsai]

Those kind of light would easilly go to a wall also.. A bit further from the plants, but adjustable - and wouldn't take space on the table tops. Very cool! 💚💚💚

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Good idea Aija!!

[@Liisa3139]

Thank you so much for the little autumn color tour; so beautiful! I visited recently a local botanic garden that specializes mainly on trees and shrubs and the fall is perhaps the best time to go there. Such a variety of colors and soooo many bushes had berries. I wanted to get every damn plant to my own garden. Sigh, I don't have quite that much place. But ok, I planted some seeds. I'm trying some larches and Korean Maples and a shrub or two. It would be such a joy if they germinated.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sounds like a fun trip Lisa!! I hope the seeds do well!

[@grobonsai]

Interesting concept!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Darren!!!

[@billyp.1065]

the plant room and the trees are looking very nice Nigel!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Billy!!

[@johnrobholmes]

That chip light can be pretty far from the plants and not have too bad of shading. Fun stuff! I just started on a huuuge boxwood that was ripped out of a neighbors house. Threw it in the dirt and gonna ramify the shape down a few years.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sounds exciting John!@!

[@pubsociology2945]

I use a set up with three grow lamps each on different timers to do this exact thing! The two lights that point to the sides are a lower wattage than the top one (that is a MarsHydro). I have no idea what effect it actually ends up having on the trees, haha! But I just liked the idea of it and it mirrors the outdoor light so that My living room isn’t super lit up while it’s beginning to get dark outside.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That sounds so nice, thanks, a great idea!

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Haha nigel we have kinda of them same personality. I was telling me same gotta work on the garage or " cold frame" this spring, summer, fall but i rather do work on my trees beacuse i like to much 🤣🤣 but now we got frost nights every day so gotta start doing it now! 🤣

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, I'd better get at it too!!

[@mattaustralian6584]

Those lights look good. Love the colours in Autumn, downside though , it means that winter is on its way.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, we get winter, but on the bright side, you get spring!! I love the Australian content, it's like a second spring!!

[@jamesn7156]

I’ve got 9 goose-head lights for 6 tropicals. Along with window light, and ceiling lights, I try to get as much light as I can from every angle.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That sounds awesome James, I'm sure the trees will grow nice and evenly!!

[@DavesBonsai]

Oh to have the room inside to have a revolving light source. I agree with your theory though.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Maybe we need to tilt the tree? Thanks Dave!

[@Candice.BonsaiScience]

I find it cool that my aquarium grow lights for my planted tanks do transition with a sunrise, peak daylight, a sunset and then a twilight light ‘moon light’ before going all dark. - I’ve wondered why we don’t have ‘grow light’ settings to do similar. I try to get full light radius bouncing on the trees using the reflective sheets on the wall. Can’t wait to see you updates for the weekend!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Candice, the aquarium industry is ahead of us bonsai people!! Reflective surrounds sure help!! My last day here before the show, I'm excited and nervous!!!

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Hallo Mr. Nigel , it is so beautiful 🙏🥰

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

I wonder if you could counterbore the top of the screw holes so that the table does not sit on the screw heads. That way the table does not show screw heads, less scratching possible on a table when moved. Would putty covers heads so you have solid legs with nothing showing. Just a thought. Table is now perfect though..

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, a good idea Tom!!! Thanks!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Nice updates. We had 2 day rain already. Coming your way. Rain barrels should fill nicely for you

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Tom, we got the rain last night and it's still raining today!! Full barrels now!

[@mikec3820]

there has been some big upgrades inlighting science recently... its almost as bad as a pc. by the time you get home its obsolete already. ive used all types of lights over the years tho. from cmh and hps to cfl, led. house bulbs lol. some work better then others for sure. use a bloomplus 3000 in my 4x4 tropical tent atm. fall looks so pretty there in the bonsai zone nigel. hope you have a good show

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Mike, sounds like a good setup!!

[@jiijino_bonsai_ch]

good video😍😍😍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you 🤗

[@marysoldeeley2218]

Moving lights would work in a greenhouse. The strips can run on tracks. That would be cool! Here in winter, the sun shines fully in our front windows for most of the day. In the morning it shines in our back windows. Around to the front shining along the entire room, each wall. then in the evening it sets shining into our back windows. In the summer, the sun doesn't shine in those windows at all. It shines in the side window, rises above the house, sets in the opposite side window. No sunlight comes in the front or back windows in summer. Maybe that's why our trees tend to be pointy with more evenly round canopy from low on the trunks? Our pines and cedars shed out the old/inside growth this year too!! I was told this means it will be a windy winter! They don't do this every fall here. Just every few years, some years they lose the needles in spring. This year was the most I've ever seen on pine and Cedar. More so at higher elevations and cones! It was raining spruce, cedar and Tamarack cones for a couple weeks!! Nice fall colours you have going. The legs look fantastic on that stand, well done!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Marysol, light certainly contributes to the shape of the trees! Sounds like a windy winter coming, we have snow in the forecast next week, I'm never ready!!

[@marysoldeeley2218]

@@TheBonsaiZone I tried to hold it back for you Nigel! Seasons are strong! I'm never ready either! It seems like I just get the last tree out for summer and I'm already having to bring the first one back in...

[@zanpsimer7685]

I just set up my clip on bendy lights for winter myself.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice Zan!!

[@ognovapov]

Wow 😯 where can we buy one of the three headed lights from? They look amazing 🤩

[@amyjones2490]

I do hope you are able to give us a peek at the show. I can’t wait to see all the pretty plants displayed.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, I'll be sure to video the show!!!

[@paulschaefer5241]

A little user review. I got a similar light a a gift agout a year ago. I like the timing feature. however I don't know if mine is the same brand, but mine the 12 hour clock is accurate to wtihin about five minutes a day. after about a week, it's nearly an hour off.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks for the info Paul!

[@KakdeG]

Static Earth and wondering how the world would have been with three Suns and a Chinese electronic controller timing and managing.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Interesting, we'd have a cold side of the planet and a hot side!

[@sylviabunch6701]

When can we expect an update on the lights??

[@hsvfanjan17]

Hi Nigel, I'd suggest not to reduce intensity of grow lights to simulate the sun's movement. The intensity of the sun is MAGNITUDES higher than that ot a grow light so in my opinion it'd be best to evenly spread the grow light for the health of the tree during the winter months =)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jan, good thinking!!

[@perlakuanbahanbonsai3530]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Yes teman saya pun ikut 👍👍👍😇salam om🙏🥰

[@jameswalker3416]

They make light movers to they might help

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks James!!

[@bobcatbonsai]

I like your theory behind the way the sun moves through the sky, but isn't the reason we use reflective walls and base to make up for the light not moving? I am not truly sure which is why I ask. Love the repurposed stand!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, having reflective surfaces around your tree helps, but you still get the most intense light from above!

[@bobcatbonsai]

@@TheBonsaiZone that definetly makes sense. So putting the lights around the tree is just giving the intense light everywhere rather than 1 spot.

[@brucedeacon28]

👌👍🙂

[@mattiecreates]

Hey Nigel! Great video as always :) I was wondering if you did only have one or two lights could you use tinfoil to reflect the light back? say tinfoil on left and right side to help bounce some light back? thanks for all the videos you do, they really help me when i need to just feel peace and relax.

[@quemalcy]

Hi, a flat white surface is better than foil or mirrors..

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Ya saya pun sangat termotivasi dan mendapat banyak inspirasi darinya tuan🙏🥰

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, surrounding your tree with a reflective material will help even out the light!! As Mrmrf says, they show a white wall is best!

[@cabowabo75able]

Is that first tree a Carmona / fukien tea? It looks like an Acacia with that Zebra chillin under it. Or is that actually an Acacia?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is a Serissa japonica!

[@cabowabo75able]

@@TheBonsaiZone it's a beautiful one! I'm still a beginner at Bonsai and my first tree was a Carmona. I thought it was because of the tiny cute flowers. But yea the trunk is different

[@sterlingmaynard40]

what is the brand of the grow light?

[@michaelwhyte8529]

wadayareckon nigel? my dwarf jade has crap roots, im thinking about cutting them all off and starting again from a big cutting, its spring here in Queensland, should i do it now or wait till autumn? (i heard aussie bonzai bloke say cuttings go best in autumn) cheers:)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I would wait until you have good sunny days and warm weather, maybe early summer. This will give the tree all summer to generate roots!

[@michaelwhyte8529]

@@TheBonsaiZone ok sounds like a plan:) ill let u know how it goes

[@VinciecBonsaiJourney]

How would mirrors work to reflect light in a similar fashion?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, reflective material sure helps spread the light around!

[@RyanFish825]

Hey Nigel, another great video, always too much to do and too little time! Do you keep feeding with every water like normal this time of year, stop, or do you switch to a different ratio npk when leaves start turning?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I just keep feeding as per normal. In fall we get so much rain and with the temperatures are cooler, I don't need to water my trees much at all, so they naturally get less fertilizer.

[@RyanFish825]

@@TheBonsaiZone awesome, THANKS Nigel!!

[@chrisrose323]

I have no idea why my comment where removed when I mearly tried to correct your idea of grow light. Not really sure why. But I Will try to get one point across. Articles written by growlight expertes used by People growing medicinal herbs for a living would suggests that orinary led from above is fine and wont neglect side branches to the extent you say in this video.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I checked the held for review section for your comment, but didn't see it. I didn't remove it. I'm not sure where it went? Thanks, I think the problem becomes more apparent with taller trees, the light is above the tree and the bottom branches get shaded out. Thanks Chris. If the light is suspended higher on the ceiling, this problem becomes much better, but if the light is just a few inches above the tree, the problem gets worse!!

[@chrisrose323]

@@TheBonsaiZone Maybe it got deleted because I mentioned a group on the book of faces or something. On the group I am a meber of we have ALOT of articles about growlight. Theres 3 things I have learned. 1. Growlight with words like 'full spectrum' is just overpriced and ordinary led armatures work as well. I also have it and it works great. 2. Even on larger trees good led from above gets the job done very well. If you saw the trees I have seen you would agree. 3. To get the full potential from indoor trees, grow light is a must! And again, about the lower branches. I dont talk about spotlights from above, wide led armatures that cover the whole tree. Spotlights are very limiting.

[@michaelcowart6100]

Hey Nigel

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Michael!!

[@longfootbuddy]

i still think you need to go to space, and grow a bonsai around a miniature sun

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Now you are thinking!!

[@evanhb49]

put the bonsai on a rotating table 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Kidraver555]

Thanks for not sharing the brand name or supplier for the lights you were given, I guess you do not want to be used by some corporate giant or something.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I try and keep the commercial side out of the bonsai videos!!

[@potkosongbonsai1818]

Why should a lamp be given as a light, won't a bonsai plant always look beautiful even in the dark?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

We get very short days and dark weather in the winter. It gets to -25 C and all the tropical trees have to come inside for the winter. I find that light from the window will keep the tree alive, but adding an artificial light source helps the tree stay healthy!

[@guilhermeschenadeoliveira5647]

🍃🌱🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@9svm]

always pushing the envelope for canadian bonsai

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Just keeping trees alive is a challenge here!!

[@marcin23228]

Hello

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello!

[@Yurup]

"Toilet Tree" ?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes! What a funny name for a company! toilettreeproducts.com/?sscid=a1k6_d216f&

[@justlucky13]

Foist

[@kevinrandell5189]

🌲🌳🌴🌵Noice🌵🌴🌳🌲

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Very foistly of you!!

[@3nigma.3nc]

I'm always skeptical with those LED bar / flexible lights. Need to get a PPFD measurement to see if it's actually doing anything for the tree. Usually if a horticulture light doesn't have a proper driver, the energy just wont be great enough to get photosynthesis.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They look strong enough, I have a tree under the lights as a test subject!