Question
I got a China Doll Tree Plant for Xmas for a local florist.  It is potted in a 10" copper looking metal pot and is over 3 ft tall. It sits in my living room & I have an OttLite shining on it 24 hours daily.  I water it every 2 to 3 weeks and now the leaves are turning yellow, curling and falling.  I have a large picture window in my living room which does not receive a lot of direct sunlight but my plant is across the room from the window approximately 12 feet.  Do you think I am giving it too much light and I will start applying the 1/2" of dry soil to determine when I should water -- should I water sparingly?  You advice will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for assistance.

Answer
Hi Sue,

I did a little research on the OttLite and have not been able to determine what type of lighting it provides. Their website makes a lot of vague and unsubstantiated claims. The best artificial light is standard fluorescent light, but it must be close to the plant and left on for at least 8-10 hours per day, but no more than 16 hours. Better would be natural light about 3-6 feet from your picture window, depending on which direction it faces.

It is not a good idea to pot plants directly in metal pots because some metals, especially copper and zinc, can interact with chemical nutrients in the soil. In addition, many metal pots do not have drainage holes. If necessary, move your plant into a pot that is plastic, has drain holes and is the same size as the existing pot. Avoid the temptation to move it to a larger pot.

When you do water, add enough so that a small amount trickles through the drain holes. Do not water again until the top inch of soil feels dry.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC



Hi Sue,

Thank you for the top ratings and nomination. Much appreciated!

I did find the OttLite site and their marketing information. However, no artificial light is really natural light. What their site does not reveal is exactly which portions of the light spectrum are used in their bulbs. Light that is best for reading (or quilting) is not necessarily good for plant growth. Plant growth depends on light quality (spectral range) and light intensity (lumens) and I do not know what those are for the OttLite.

~Will