Dormancy question?

Anything relating to Cacti or CactiGuide.com that doesn't fit in another category should be posted under General.
Post Reply
User avatar
JCcares
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed May 18, 2022 1:21 am
Location: NC USA

Dormancy question?

Post by JCcares »

Thank you all for sharing your experience to give cacti what they need to thrive.

Question? Why should I use indoor glow lights over the winter if my cacti are in dormancy what is the benefits AND how many hours is it best to have them on inside my dark cool basement?

Thank you.
My name is Joe I Live in Hickory NC USA four equal perfect seasons.
User avatar
jerrytheplater
Posts: 1153
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
Contact:

Re: Dormancy question?

Post by jerrytheplater »

Joe, I am asking the same question since I no longer can store my cacti at work. First thing I am doing is to make an inventory of the plants I have and where they are native to in order to see what they take in the field. This way I can really see what I need for my plants. I may end up eliminating some of my plants if I only have a few that need special conditions.

Second, I started searching in the Cultivation sub forum to read what others have posted. I made a few notes for each. Not finished yet, but I can copy it in here. Some don't really apply, but others do.

Here is what I have so far:

Indoor Cacti Growing in Winter in Northeast US Zone 6b
Topic links in CactiGuide.com:

2018-10-6 Winter .... Indoor temps and Watering. viewtopic.php?p=352646&hilit=indoor+growing#p352646
Southern NJ Grower. “Of course the tropical cacti like Melocactus would probably like warmer temperatures in winter and some water.” DaveW.

2018-10-7 Over-wintering fluorescent setup and questions/help viewtopic.php?t=41775&hilit=indoor+growing
Overwintering setup indoors in Canada using fluorescent lights. ” Mammillaria and Astrophytum (also Gymnocalycium & Oreocerus trolli) are not likely to start growing if kept cool at about 15 - 20 C which are winter temps in Mexico. I wouldn't water any of these unless I wanted them to grow. Roots will be fine, thin ones may dry out but this happens in nature during dry periods too.” 7george

2019-1-12 Temperature for Opuntia Dormancy ?? viewtopic.php?p=355666&hilit=Temperatur ... 3F#p355666
CT area grower. Has very warm indoor conditions for dormancy. Not very informative for my questions.

2019-11-22 I’ve Moved My Plants Indoors Under lights for the Winter viewtopic.php?p=366767&hilit=indoor+growing#p366767
Growing plants indoors during winter outside in S. CA. 40F min

2021-1-20 LED Growing (artificial) light viewtopic.php?p=385122&hilit=indoor+growing#p385122
10,000 Lux at plants is shaded full sun.
Has link to light meter app for Android phone. Need good camera. Some doubts posted about ability of these apps to properly measure LED light vs Daylight or Fluorescent light.

2021-4-4 How dark is too dark for cacti dormancy? viewtopic.php?p=384916&hilit=indoor+growing#p384916
“Well, if temps stay below 10 - 12 C (50-54F) even full darkness is OK for winter months.” 7george
“I stored bare root dormant Sulcorebutia's and Rebutia's in a box under a table for a few months.” jerrytheplater. These were in a cool room maybe in 40-50F (4.5-10 C)
“You can winter them in the dark if kept cool and dry, but re-introduce them to sun gradually.” greenknight – Spence.

2021-4-10 Growing plants with artificial light. viewtopic.php?f=25&t=46163
Lux = Lumens/m^2
“Lumens are a measure of the total amount of visible light, lux is a measure of the light falling per unit area, i.e. lumens per square metre. If I have a 10,000 lumen light source and use all of that light to evenly illuminate 1 sq m, the light intensity will be 10,000 lux. (In a theoretical world with 100% perfect reflectors etc).
However, if I use all of the light from the 10,000 lumen light source to evenly illuminate 10sq metres, the light intensity will only be 1,000 lux.” esp-imaging

2021-6-10 Grow light distance according to lux or wattage viewtopic.php?p=387150&hilit=indoor+growing#p387150
Six 4’ T5HO lamps 20” above plants in a 2’x4’ growing area with white reflector boards surrounding gives 20,000 Lux, but generates 74F even with 4 computer fans for air movement. Same setup with an LED fixture at 28” gives 51,000 Lux and 84F at full power, not dimmed. Fixtures cost about $250-350.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Dormancy question?

Post by greenknight »

I winter my cacti without lights, if you keep them dormant they aren't harmed by this. The down side is they need to be gradually re-introduced to the sun or they can sunburn.
Spence :mrgreen:
User avatar
JCcares
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed May 18, 2022 1:21 am
Location: NC USA

Re: Dormancy question?

Post by JCcares »

jerrytheplater wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:59 pm Joe, I am asking the same question since I no longer can store my cacti at work. First thing I am doing is to make an inventory of the plants I have and where they are native to in order to see what they take in the field. This way I can really see what I need for my plants. I may end up eliminating some of my plants if I only have a few that need special conditions.

Second, I started searching in the Cultivation sub forum to read what others have posted. I made a few notes for each. Not finished yet, but I can copy it in here. Some don't really apply, but others do.

Here is what I have so far:

Indoor Cacti Growing in Winter in Northeast US Zone 6b
Topic links in CactiGuide.com:

2018-10-6 Winter .... Indoor temps and Watering. viewtopic.php?p=352646&hilit=indoor+growing#p352646
Southern NJ Grower. “Of course the tropical cacti like Melocactus would probably like warmer temperatures in winter and some water.” DaveW.

2018-10-7 Over-wintering fluorescent setup and questions/help viewtopic.php?t=41775&hilit=indoor+growing
Overwintering setup indoors in Canada using fluorescent lights. ” Mammillaria and Astrophytum (also Gymnocalycium & Oreocerus trolli) are not likely to start growing if kept cool at about 15 - 20 C which are winter temps in Mexico. I wouldn't water any of these unless I wanted them to grow. Roots will be fine, thin ones may dry out but this happens in nature during dry periods too.” 7george

2019-1-12 Temperature for Opuntia Dormancy ?? viewtopic.php?p=355666&hilit=Temperatur ... 3F#p355666
CT area grower. Has very warm indoor conditions for dormancy. Not very informative for my questions.

2019-11-22 I’ve Moved My Plants Indoors Under lights for the Winter viewtopic.php?p=366767&hilit=indoor+growing#p366767
Growing plants indoors during winter outside in S. CA. 40F min

2021-1-20 LED Growing (artificial) light viewtopic.php?p=385122&hilit=indoor+growing#p385122
10,000 Lux at plants is shaded full sun.
Has link to light meter app for Android phone. Need good camera. Some doubts posted about ability of these apps to properly measure LED light vs Daylight or Fluorescent light.

2021-4-4 How dark is too dark for cacti dormancy? viewtopic.php?p=384916&hilit=indoor+growing#p384916
“Well, if temps stay below 10 - 12 C (50-54F) even full darkness is OK for winter months.” 7george
“I stored bare root dormant Sulcorebutia's and Rebutia's in a box under a table for a few months.” jerrytheplater. These were in a cool room maybe in 40-50F (4.5-10 C)
“You can winter them in the dark if kept cool and dry, but re-introduce them to sun gradually.” greenknight – Spence.

2021-4-10 Growing plants with artificial light. viewtopic.php?f=25&t=46163
Lux = Lumens/m^2
“Lumens are a measure of the total amount of visible light, lux is a measure of the light falling per unit area, i.e. lumens per square metre. If I have a 10,000 lumen light source and use all of that light to evenly illuminate 1 sq m, the light intensity will be 10,000 lux. (In a theoretical world with 100% perfect reflectors etc).
However, if I use all of the light from the 10,000 lumen light source to evenly illuminate 10sq metres, the light intensity will only be 1,000 lux.” esp-imaging

2021-6-10 Grow light distance according to lux or wattage viewtopic.php?p=387150&hilit=indoor+growing#p387150
Six 4’ T5HO lamps 20” above plants in a 2’x4’ growing area with white reflector boards surrounding gives 20,000 Lux, but generates 74F even with 4 computer fans for air movement. Same setup with an LED fixture at 28” gives 51,000 Lux and 84F at full power, not dimmed. Fixtures cost about $250-350.

Thank you Jerry this is super helpful🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
My name is Joe I Live in Hickory NC USA four equal perfect seasons.
User avatar
JCcares
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed May 18, 2022 1:21 am
Location: NC USA

Re: Dormancy question?

Post by JCcares »

greenknight wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:48 am I winter my cacti without lights, if you keep them dormant they aren't harmed by this. The down side is they need to be gradually re-introduced to the sun or they can sunburn.
I think my power bill my winter power bill likes this plan the best😂😂😂😂

Thank you GreenKnight 🙏🏽
My name is Joe I Live in Hickory NC USA four equal perfect seasons.
User avatar
jerrytheplater
Posts: 1153
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
Contact:

Re: Dormancy question?

Post by jerrytheplater »

Joe, I reported what I've done so far regarding winter storage of my collection. You may be interested. viewtopic.php?p=397188#p397188
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
User avatar
JCcares
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed May 18, 2022 1:21 am
Location: NC USA

Re: Dormancy question?

Post by JCcares »

jerrytheplater wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 2:18 pm Joe, I reported what I've done so far regarding winter storage of my collection. You may be interested. viewtopic.php?p=397188#p397188
Going there now Jerry. Thank you 🙏🏽
My name is Joe I Live in Hickory NC USA four equal perfect seasons.
Post Reply