My African Violets Setup - Stands and Lights

In this episode, I show the plant stands and the light fixtures I use to grow my African Violets.
AVSA Presentation “Spectral Enlightenment: One Light Does Not Fit All”: • Spectral Enlightenment...
- TRINITY 4-Tier NSF Wire Wheels and Liners Shelving Rack Black, 48W x 18D x 72H: www.amazon.com...
- GE 8-Pack 32W Equivalent Daylight T8 LED Tube Light Bulb: www.lowes.com/...
- GE LED 32-Watt EQ 48-in Warm White Linear LED Tube Light Bulb (2-Pack): www.lowes.com/...
- OOOLED 4ft LED 5000K/4800LM Shop Light: www.amazon.com...
- Sunco 4ft LED 5000K/4100LM Shop Light: www.amazon.com...
- Barrina Plant Grow Light, 252W(6 x 42W, 1400W Equivalent), Full Spectrum, LED Grow Light Strips, T8 Integrated Growing Lamp Fixture, Grow Shop Light, with ON/Off Switch, 6-Pack: www.amazon.com...

[@britl.1822]

It's touching to hear how you got your nice plant rack! 💟 When the family had no use for it, it's wonderful that it went to someone who would honour the previous owners memory both with having her prettiest plants on it, and with telling the story about where the rack came from. 🤗 Your information about growing lights is very useful. It's a "subject" that it's difficult to find information about for amateur growers.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you so much! Joining my club has been truly a blessing, and having this plant rack was a miracle! It is still the best setup I've had during the past two years of learning about African Violet care. Happy to share what I've learned with fellow enthusiasts!

[@maryrogers5307]

You have a tremendous collection of violets considering you only began growing 2 years ago. Beautiful variety.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you!

[@nancyriley3929]

I loved seeing your plant set up. Thank you. You have a lot of plants!🤣

[@grayturtleviolets]

For sure - they are so irresistible, I didn't even notice how it happened, lol! :-)

[@samsal420]

I love your set up! Your Babies are so happy! You are a Master!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you! It's been quite a journey - learning about African Violets! Happy to share with fellow enthusiasts!

[@HealingPlaceEnergySchool]

Thank you. You must have been or you are an engineer. You are very thorough with your explanations.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Appreciate your feedback! Being an archivist by trade, providing information in a way that is helpful to my audience is important to me - hoping to share what I’ve learned with fellow African Violet enthusiasts.

[@motled]

Your videos make every topic so interesting. I feel smarter now. 💡🌸

[@grayturtleviolets]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!

[@dmat7148]

Someone in our AV group mentioned your videos to me and I appreciate how well you explain your methods and setups. I started growing violets a couple years ago and gave up in frustration even though I’m an avid gardener! I’m back to the AV world and working to have a better understanding of indoor setups and lighting - your explanation is excellent! Very interesting regarding the distance between the bulbs and that indeed may help my situation…makes me consider getting a “real” AV stand! Thanks and looking forward to learning more from your channel 😊

[@grayturtleviolets]

Happy to help! I was in the same boat when I just started growing my new collection a few years ago, and still learning! Happy growing!🌸

[@edieswearingen9652]

Very helpful

[@daveely2744]

Trial and error. It took me months to get my lighting right. You have a very nice setup.

[@grayturtleviolets]

For sure! It's been my second year, and I am still tweaking it, especially the distance between the shop lights and the plants, and the number of hours to keep them on. What kind of lights do you use?

[@daveely2744]

@@grayturtleviolets The majority of my AV are on LED T5 Barrina lighting. I only have one type of bulb and they are 2200lm 6500k 20w, I think they are considered a bright white and they are CRI rated at 85. I set my shelfing so the AV tops are 8 inches from the bulbs.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you, this is helpful! I am looking forward to trying out my Barrina LEDs too, hope they work well for my plants.

[@karenvknight6516]

Excellent

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you!

[@mariaurbana23]

note to self: get plant stand with magical powers

[@grayturtleviolets]

Magical powers are a must! A light setup that can be customized with two different color temps is helpful, too! :-)

[@lukarriowilliams3205]

Hahaha

[@susanbender7138]

Happy Holidays from Naples, Florida. Most excellent light video ! Always so thorough , always so informative. Thank you for sharing. I’m searching for fans that I can attach as you have on each shelf. I have about 90 in my collection and we share many of the same mini AVs. Would love to get my hands on “Scales”. Let me know if you have extra leaves or plant that I can purchase.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Happy to share! I got my fans on Amazon, similar to this kind: www.amazon.com/Comfort-Zone-Clip-Stands-anywhere/dp/B000U9V47E. Will be going over my propagations inventory during the holiday break, and if I don't have Scales in there, will make sure to put a couple of leaves down. Will start listing my extras on ebay (grayturtleviolets) beginning April 2021. Thank you for your interest!

[@dariahirniak6249]

Also live in Naples! Would love to touch bases with Susan Bender!

[@sheilabroad8192]

That’s a serious set up. Do you ever SHOW your violets?

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you! I was planning to start showing with my club this year, before the pandemic. Hoping to do so in the future, when life gets back to normal. I so miss attending the African Violets shows!

[@147holly]

Wonderful setup. I wish u sold them.

[@ellietobe]

That is really nice set up but I only have a few African Violets and do not have a large shelf for them. My windows don’t work that well for most plants. What kind of grow bulb would you recommend for Africa Violets that I could put in a lamp on a table?

[@grayturtleviolets]

Not sure as to individual grow light bulbs, I’ve never used those. I did use the grow light fixtures, Barrina Full Spectrum - I have a few videos on my channel describing the installation and the effect on my plants, check those out!

[@michellegrovak]

Sweet story about your stand.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you! Joining my club has been truly a blessing.

[@norablackwell5737]

Love your channel!!! I need your help with lighting. What's the distance from light to plant? Looking forward to your response. Thanks, Nora Brownsville, TX.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Appreciate your feedback! The distance between the lights and the top of the plants is about 13 inches. Happy growing!

[@nanettealsop]

I had been meaning to ask you about the lights you use - you must have read my mind 😁 Thank you for the video and the links. What a wonderful story about your plant stand 😍 I have also wanted to ask you if you are originally from South Africa? I have a daughter who lives in the Western Cape in Langabban, formerly Cape Town, which is my most favorite place in the world 😃

[@grayturtleviolets]

Oh, I am so glad! Not from South Africa originally, but I embrace all continents and cultures. Haven't been to Cape Town, adding to my travel list! :-)

[@nanettealsop]

@@grayturtleviolets I do apologize for guessing your accent wrong 😲 Whatever it is, it's lovely 😊

[@grayturtleviolets]

@@nanettealsop Not a problem, as a trained linguist, I too find accents intriguing! :-) Appreciate your feedback!

[@user-fq7ey2md3q]

👍 🍀🌸🍀

[@85sheena]

Wow!! Where can I find light reflectors like these 🤩

[@grayturtleviolets]

The ones I got with the vintage plant stand from my club are amazing - they had fluorescent bulbs originally and I had replaced those with two different color temp LEDs. I was looking to see if there is anything similar on the market right now, the closest I could find was the High Intensity light fixture by Gardener's Supply Co, but with 3 t5 bulbs per fixture might be too much light for AVs. I'd be curious to see what else is available out there, for t8s...

[@conchyruiz2073]

Do ypouse the same lighting for the Episcias too?

[@grayturtleviolets]

I use the same light setup only for a couple of them, the ones that grow in glass bubbles, Cleopatra and Pink Smoke. The other ones grow in natural light. Check out my 2021 Episcia Tour video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXWVg4yLjaiopqs, for more info.

[@conchyruiz2073]

Thank you 🙏 one more question, the same soil mixture you use in the pots you use in the terrarium for the Episcias?. I got me a Cleopatra and I never done a terrarium and I saw yours and looks beautiful… hopefully I can succeed 😥

[@grayturtleviolets]

@@conchyruiz2073 yes, I use exact same potting mix for Episcias growing in terrarium, check out my Pro-Mix BX potting mix video for the recipe. On the bottom, I put some pebbles and a thin layer of horticultural charcoal for the drainage, and then add the potting mix. Happy growing! You can do it!

[@conchyruiz2073]

@@grayturtleviolets you’re the best, thank you fir all your help 🌻

[@grayturtleviolets]

@@conchyruiz2073 You are very welcome! Happy growing!

[@LuvsSno]

How many hours a day do your lights stay on?

[@grayturtleviolets]

8-12 hours a day, depending on the plant stand's proximity to the window, and the season. The one closest to the window, has the lights on for 12 hours in the winter and 8 hours in the summer, whereas the ones far away from the window have the lights on 12 hours a day all year long.