Was really looking for a solar grow light that I could use indoors to start the seeds/plants
“Staying alive”: @ChrisN
- Thread starter ChrisN
- Start date
Bob is confused. Are you searching for a solar-powered light, or a household electricity light that emits a "solar" spectrum of light?
Bob the Baffled
Bob the Baffled
Sorry for the confusion, I’m looking for a solar powered light that I could use indoors to grow the seeds before they go outside. Have seen some lights that could be what I’m looking for but I don’t think they are strong enough. They have an outside solar panel with a wire connection to the light.
Snue
Well-Known Member
why would you want a solar panel charged led light for inside the house? just be easier and cheaper to get one that just plugs into the wall wouldn't it?
leds aren't exactly expensive to leave on for 12-16hrs
leds aren't exactly expensive to leave on for 12-16hrs
Oldfella
Well-Known Member
Does seem unusual. But if that's what you want check out some of the Chinese sites, Wish ect.
Oldfella
hmm, i just dont think the math works out well for small scale solar like that. most people run a 100 watt grow light say 13hrs so 1300 watt/hrs a day. lowest market price on LiFeP04 batterys "like what the product has" is 300 dollars per 1.3kwh, and 24 pounds. and it says 60 watt hours which is very little energy for a plant. i guess its more through putting power rather than needing to store it. but actually getting 1.3kwh to a light after clouds and efficiency loss ect. solar panel area i dont know how big it wold have to be but i imagine several times larger than what your lighting atleast.
i just dont see it be feasible compared to paying 15 dollars to run a grow light for 3 months
if your already willing to spend 80 on amazon id just get a decent grow light like this--> light its efficient, dimmable and comes with ratchet ropes to adjust easy. ive watched it tested before so im willing to vouge for it. but 100 watt grow lights are good for 6 square feet. and if certain times your only starting one 1020 tray you can lower and dim to use very little power. that would be my first recommended way of doing things and best for user enjoyment/convenience.
second would be just brute forcing it with several cheap led shop light tubes. you could get half the upfront cost. at the cost of having to set up more, non dimmable. less efficient and less convenient to adjust / work under. so that would be my second way.
but i recommend sticking to one end or the other, its more the middle grey area that worrys me. like if the shop lights are over 50 cents per watt your getting near grow light price with none of the benifits. or if something is a "grow light" but under 75 cents a watt id start to worry about quality.
i just dont see it be feasible compared to paying 15 dollars to run a grow light for 3 months
if your already willing to spend 80 on amazon id just get a decent grow light like this--> light its efficient, dimmable and comes with ratchet ropes to adjust easy. ive watched it tested before so im willing to vouge for it. but 100 watt grow lights are good for 6 square feet. and if certain times your only starting one 1020 tray you can lower and dim to use very little power. that would be my first recommended way of doing things and best for user enjoyment/convenience.
second would be just brute forcing it with several cheap led shop light tubes. you could get half the upfront cost. at the cost of having to set up more, non dimmable. less efficient and less convenient to adjust / work under. so that would be my second way.
but i recommend sticking to one end or the other, its more the middle grey area that worrys me. like if the shop lights are over 50 cents per watt your getting near grow light price with none of the benifits. or if something is a "grow light" but under 75 cents a watt id start to worry about quality.
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it would be cool if technology cost was at the point where solar powering everything was worth it. but for some things you just end up spending more and being less convenient. i dont know how to accurately do math on it but im seeing things like a full size 6ft solar panel or two to feed a 100 watt grow light after factoring what the panel actually yields per day and i think thats on good days. so if there was a solar kit that runs an average grow light it would be more like over 500 dollars and 50 pounds. making up that cost in electric saving would take many decades.
if someone already owns solar panels and stuff that might be a different story
if someone already owns solar panels and stuff that might be a different story
Thank you very much, everyone! Was just thinking maybe it would be beneficial, save money, not have to worry about cords, etc if they made them for growing plants but it seems they don't really make them and it wouldn't be worth it. So, I am getting regular grow lights.
Powermatic S Whole Leaf Tobacco Shredder $434.99
If you crudely roll leaf into a relatively thin "cigar", it can then be hand shredded into a fine shred with a knife or chaveta.
Bob
If you crudely roll leaf into a relatively thin "cigar", it can then be hand shredded into a fine shred with a knife or chaveta.
Bob
Thank you very much, Bob!
Unless they aren't good/reliable I am good with a manual shredder.
The cheapest of the manual shredders work fairly well, but seem to have a brief lifespan. The "Polish" heavy-duty manual shredder receives the most positive opinions. Regardless, all shredders require regular cleaning of their cutters.
Bob
Bob
Thank you very much, Bob! Is this the heavy duty shredder you mention? If so, was considering getting it.
New Heavy Duty Shredder 0.8mm
This is the most rugged manual shredder we've ever offered. The rollers cut a 0.8mm shred, are made from hardened steel and are nearly 5" wide.
wholeleaftobacco.com
I'll take a picture of the plants to show their growth update. Though also was wondering if this is a "sucker" and if I should remove it? Also, was reading in the "grow your own cigars" book and was reading in the pests section for growing them outside. My wife and I keep honeybees and was wondering if the bees will be ok if I plant them outside? Also, other then using Bayer Advanced Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control are there any other pesticides I should use or will this take care of majority of the possible pests?
That is it. There are other sources, but I don't know them. I seem to recall that some members have been able to directly order them from Poland. Perhaps others can fill in the blank here.
The imidacloprid (that same brand) is added to my transplant water when transplanting tobacco seedlings to outdoors. That is all. Only that one application. I don't use it for anything else. Although studies have shown that the systemic imidacloprid has pretty much exhausted itself prior to tobacco blossom formation (which parallels my experience that aphids begin to show up by the time that the plants mature), and that tobacco blossom nectar contains close to zero imidacloprid, if you top the plants, there is practically no risk to the bees. For honeybees that land on upper tobacco leaves (usually a random act of resting), the nicotine on the leaf surface and within the little hairs (trichomes) on the leaf can kill them and many other kinds of insects. My neighbor raises honeybees. With my 100-120 plants, I typically see maybe a total of half-dozen dead bees on the leaf.
I do the math for square-feet of garden bed, then how much imidacloprid concentrate to mix into 2 cups of water per transplant.
Bob
Thank you very much, Bob!
Does Whole Leaf Tobacco have a notification e-mail list for when items become available? Or when will they have it in stock again? Not sure I really want to order from Poland, I’m sure the cost would be up there.
Is there anything I can do to treat the aphids when the plant matures?
Ok, I will likely top all the plants but one per species to save seeds from. I will do my best to plant them away from the bees.
Plant growth update. These are the same 5-6 plants from before that I got to grow last year. Also, is this a sucker and needs to be removed?
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I guess spring is in the air, as I am really looking forward to start growing my plants. Thanks to Paul at Northwood Seeds I have my seeds/growing plan for this year and hopefully years to come. I also got a tier stand to put my plant trays on. For Christmas my mom also got me this drying rack. I’m hopeful it works out. Seems to be pretty interesting.
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Here is an alternative to the shredder.
Polish G120, other shredders and gadgets
I have had my Powermatic since 2015. Can't get it to stay continuously on but it still shreds. I am not mechanically inclined so do not wat to take it apart could simply be something in the contact switch so in 4 years may have gone through 10 pounds a year. In order to get to work I have to...
Polish G120, other shredders and gadgets
I have had my Powermatic since 2015. Can't get it to stay continuously on but it still shreds. I am not mechanically inclined so do not wat to take it apart could simply be something in the contact switch so in 4 years may have gone through 10 pounds a year. In order to get to work I have to...
If you catch them early, by regularly inspecting the underside of the leaves, then you can just smear them to death with a fingertip.
Do bag any blossom heads that you allow to grow for seed.
Bob
Thank you very much, Knucklehead and Bob! I will for sure bag the blossom heads.
Is this a sucker and needs to be removed right? https://fairtradetobacco.com/attachments/46e2c223-2093-4f6b-b2f6-9aa3ac0b6dcf-jpeg.40550/
Is this a sucker and needs to be removed right? https://fairtradetobacco.com/attachments/46e2c223-2093-4f6b-b2f6-9aa3ac0b6dcf-jpeg.40550/
I'm unable to see to origin of the spindly sprig. If it is sprouting from a larger stalk, then it is a sucker, which can be just ruthlessly plucked off.
Bob
Bob