Schefflera dropping leaves

[mc9423]

So, in the setup I have now, only about the top 1/3 of my schefflera is receiving any light. So the bottom 2/3 is dropping leaves like crazy. Any tips on making the cage brighter and getting some light to the rest of the plant?

 

[SliK JiM]

What lighting are you using at the moment and how deep is he enclosure?

 

[Jimturner]

more light!!

i use a 125 watt compact flouresent!! what?!? yes thats what I use! I use a 125 watt full spectrum 6500K bulb from a hydroponic store. along with a uvb bulb. I've read that CFL's (compact flouresent lights) cause eye problems but I've used this combo for years without issues. maybe you dont have to go this route, but simply adding another flouresent tube like a plant light from a hardware store would help your plants flourish! more light = happy plants. you could even run the new bulb verticaly, up the side of your enclosure.

 

[FFSTRescue]

That's a good idea to have the bulb running vertically and then turning it on occasionally, or have it on a timer. The funny thing is that reptiles (and plants) always have the bulbs at high noon, straight above them, well in the wild the sun rises and sets, so it is going to be at all angles, especially different times of the year when the earth is tilted and it is lower in the sky. I like that idea, I am going to use it

 

[SliK JiM]

i use a 125 watt compact flouresent!! what?!? yes thats what I use! I use a 125 watt full spectrum 6500K bulb from a hydroponic store. along with a uvb bulb. I've read that CFL's (compact flouresent lights) cause eye problems but I've used this combo for years without issues. maybe you dont have to go this route, but simply adding another flouresent tube like a plant light from a hardware store would help your plants flourish! more light = happy plants. you could even run the new bulb verticaly, up the side of your enclosure.

It's only the ones that produce UVB that are the issue. Even then, not ALL of them are bad.

I have two different methods on the go atm. A flourescent tube and a compact flourescent "daylight" bulb. I'm seeing which is the better. But just make it bright and you'll be laughing!