Question
hi,I have a n.gentle and n.ventrata and would like to know if a 23 watt cfl with 1600 lumenes would be enough to encourage pitchering  

p.s I don't have a window that supplies enough light for them

thanks
dylan

Answer
Hi Dylan,

For a small plant it would be fine, but both of these plants get big, so it will be difficult with a CFL to provide efficient light coverage.  You'll get much more "bang for the buck" if you go with a two-tube shoplight type fixture with Cool-White or Daylight type tubes.  Either T-12 or T-8's are fine.  Long fluorescent tubes run cooler, so you can get the plants closer, and they give much more light coverage.  A typical T-12 Cool-White 40 watt tube is 3,100 lumens.

If you go with the CFL for now be sure and use one that is 6,500K (Daylight) color temperature.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com