My apologies for taking so long to respond folks. Rather typical of me though. Thanks for all of the kind words.
Portuge, the lights are T5's. Four bulbs, four feet long in a reflector.
Joyner, I started out using double cups to allow space for the excess water to flow so the plants wouldn't have wet feet. I used a small piece of Styrofoam as a spacer. When I started having fungus gnats issues because the top of the soil was wet I started bottom watering. I did get smarter this year though. Before I would poke three holes along the sides of the host cup along the bottom and now it's one larger hole in the bottom center of the cup. When the roots would grow through the side holes I would end up breaking a lot of them off when I transplanted the plants into bigger pots. I'm hoping with a larger hole dead center that the roots will just slide right through. Seems even an old dog can learn a new trick. Using a large rubber container sounds like brilliance to me too. Do you have a problem with any exposed roots drying up and dying if the water dries up?
Thanks Dew. As usual I'm procrastinating. I had the lights about 10 inches or so above the plants and just moved them a couple of days ago to 12 inches. The stems are thick and looking woody already. T5's sure make for compact plants.
Yaargh, glad you enjoyed the tarantula pics and thanks for the info on the Japanese spiders. I'm not familiar with them at all. I did get my SB7J seeds, thank you all the same. I'm glad you found some and you have a couple that have germinated. Already found some for sale eh? I suppose that's a good thing but I have to wonder if it's stable. It's possible someone has grown them out for the necessary generations. I hope they turn out great for you.
DJ buddy I'm sorry to hear of the issues you're facing. The only thing I can think of that would make those issues even close to palatable would be getting paid well. I have a sneaky feeling you do OK. Ha! I hope you get the time you need this year. You know you can always count on me to share anything I get. Just say the word. If you could use some powder shoot me an address to send it and it's on the way. I fell into a bit of extra and dude it's wicked!
Yo Mikey! Thanks for the compliment. Exercise program, you're a funny man! I figure the best way to get in shape to ride is just ride. I need to do some stretching prior to taking off, think that will help tremendously. I got started in the tarantula hobby as a way to spend some time with my then 11 year old son. Two years later he discovered girls and I became the spider geek. I'm down to about 28 or so but can't see ever getting totally out of it. Just too easy to care for.
Meatfreak thanks. I need to get some vertical growth so I can have more node room! I'm working on it!
Buddy, thanks.
Time for a couple of update pics. As I said earlier I just now got around to extending the distance between plants and light but just by a couple of inches. I have a few plants that were started later than the majority and I don't want them to get leggy.
Anyway here's a group shot,
Not a lot of vertical growth but I am happy with the overall growth of the plants. They're very full and have wonderful color.
Hard to see in this photo but the stems are beginning to have the "woody" look. I love that. I don't know if it means anything though--ha!
While bottom watering I came upon a few of these where the roots have escaped through the bottom hole. Nice and healthy looking.
Thanks again for all of the nice comments gang.
in the blink of an eye!
