A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum How many footcandles/ do I need for my plants

I have a young Rojo congo Philodendron. And a peace lily that were brought from different places. I have a light tester, but have to wait until next Saterday to use it as its cloudy out. Thats the next sunny day in my area, the 22. I'm wondering how many foot candles of light do I need. I have a glass/plastic cover over two light blubs in my celing. can I just put the grow light blubs in there if need be.

You can replace any light in your house with a grow light if it fits in the fixture. Some plants may need them closer than the ceiling will be though.
I don't know anything about light testers. I do not grow house plants indoors because I kill them regularly. But I am lucky to be able to grow many outdoors in my climate.

I have one of those stick lamps with the five different light fixtures .. Each bulb is on its own arm which is bendable, I have regular bulbs in some of the sockets and grown lights in the others it's nice because the arms bend so I can aim the grow light at either my hanging basket or toward the table where my seeds are.
http://m.target.com/p/room-essentials-5-head-floor-lamp-pink-includes-cfl-bulb/-/A-12242009

First thing, don't worry so much about fc's and light meters. The light that your plants get is cumulative, and changes daily with the weather, season, and time of day. Philodendron and peace lily are both able to adapt to low light, although they do best in medium light conditions.

Low light is that in which you can read a book, but not very comfortably. Medium light is that in which you can read and work comfortably, a condition found in offices. Medium high light is that found near north and east windows, and high light is that found near south and west windows. Windows of course are subject to outside shading from trees and bushes, and curtains and shades indoors.

Grow lights sound all scientific and special, right, so they must be good. Truth is, they do more for the manufacturers than for plants. The best artificial light for plants is cool white fluorescent. Anyway, they need to be close to the plants to do them any good, if the ambient (the average of the light throughout the day)light is too low.

In terms of fc's, under 100 is low, 100-500 is medium, 500-1000 is med high, 1000-1500 is high. This is in reference to indoor plants only. Outside is completely different.