Weather The Storm

Environment-friendliness and economy are the two main arguments in favor of fluorescent light bulbs as opposed to the “old” bulbs. The fluorescent bulbs don’t have to be changed as often as the traditional ones, because they last up to ten times longer than the traditional bulbs. They also produce less heat, which means you can save even more cash on air conditioning (valid mostly for bigger office spaces). Furthermore, the environmental bulbs need three times less energy than the “old” ones, which helps to save both the environment and your pocket.

Except for running a MLS GTA agency, I’m always looking for ways to make my lifestyle a bit more greener. When it comes to choosing which fluorescent light bulb to get, you might get a bit confused by the wide selection in the shops. In order to help you choose while shopping for light bulbs, we have summed up some easy tips for you.

Mr. Bulb Right

The fluorescent light bulbs are produced in all types, forms and dimensions, so it would be easy to choose one that doesn’t fit. In order to prevent this, you should take your old bulb with you to the store and compare it with the available assortment. When using the environmental bulbs, check the wattage – the new bulbs use up only one quarter of the energy needed by the traditional ones (60 watt traditional bulb = 15 watt fluorescent bulb). Also read the label if it’s suitable for dimmers, should you wish to use it in a dimmer light.

The perfect spot for your new bulb

Think about the place where you are going to use the new bulb – if it is too warm with no or little air circulation, the environmental bulb won’t be a good choice here (for example in recessed ceiling fixtures). The environmental bulb is not lit up instantly as the traditional one. It usually takes something between one and three minutes for it to give proper light, so it may be damaged if it is lit up and then switched off again in a short time. So the fluorescent bulbs are best to be used in places where the light usually stays on for at least 15 minutes, otherwise the bulb could get damaged too early.

When you no longer need the bulb

Fluorescent light bulbs should be recycled at all times. The environmental bulbs contain mercury, a dangerous heavy-metal. If broken, do not vacuum. You also shouldn’t touch it with bare hands. Instead, try to sweep the mercury bits with a piece of carton paper. Smaller pieces can be rid of with a scotch tape. Then mop the whole room with a wet cloth and open the window for at least 15 minutes to make sure the air circulates properly and you don’t breath in the mercury vapours.

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Fill Your Home With Spring Blooms

Want to have gorgeous blooms inside in the middle of winter? Start growing spring bulbs in the fall. It can be a lot of fun to grow bulbs indoors and make them bloom, and takes up very little room. Creating a simulated short winter does the trick. Potted bulbs placed in the refrigerator, in a cool closet, or in a foam cooler on a patio or balcony, will think that it’s winter. This process causes them to grow sturdy roots and start to sprout in preparation for spring.

Use Good Dirt

You can make your own potting soil, or use any commercial organic potting mix. You can do it pretty quickly.  Use 1 part sterilized potting soil, one part perlite, and 2 parts peat moss. Now, mix these things well together. These ingredients will make a nutrient filled potting soil that is clean, porous, and moisture retaining,.

It’s better not to use unsterilized soil from your outside garden because it may contain bacterial or fungal pathogens that could infect the plant roots.

The Bulbs Need A Pot

When the soil is ready to use, choose the pot you want to use and place a few pieces of broken crockery over the drainage holes. This will prevent the soil from falling out of the hole during planting, and keep the hole from clogging up later.

Begin by filling the pot half-full of soil mix. Keep the pointed ends up when placing the bulbs in the container. Plant the bulbs as closely together as possible, without actually letting the bulbs touch. Fill the pot with soil mix, then water the bulbs thoroughly from the top or immerse in a tub of water. That will settle the soil around the bulbs.

Leave The Bulbs In The Dark

Snowdrops, daffodils and crocus all work well. You can use any early blooming bulb, however.  You can find these bulbs at many places.  Just as an example,click here for Daffodils from Breck’s, plus many other gorgeous flowering bulbs. To force these early bloomers takes about 12 weeks. Tulips and bulbs like them need longer, about 16 weeks. The flowers will be taller if they are left in cold storage longer.

If bulbs aren’t left in storage long enough, the result is smaller plants and sometimes flowers that start to grown then die.

Light Up Their Life.

Once enough time has elapsed, you can begin checking the pots every day or two. When you see fine white roots coming out of the drainage holes, and/or shoots that are 2 to 3 inches above the soil, it’s time to take the pots out of cold storage.

Once the bulbs are at this point, they should be placed in indirect lighting for a while before moving them to direct sunlight. Be sure the soil doesn’t dry out.

It’s best to first move bulbs to a fairly cool location if possible, such as an unheated entryway or closed off back bedroom, where the temperatures are in the ’50s, before moving them on to the heated areas of the house, and into more direct sunlight.

Give The Bulbs A New Life.

If you wish to reuse the bulbs, after blooms die, cut the flower stems off. Let the foliage have plenty of sunlight for continued growth. This will gather the nutrients the bulb needs to bloom next year.

Leave the leaves on after the foliage withers. Leave them be and store the bulbs in the pots in a cool, dry place until they can be planted outside. Being forced to bloom weakens the bulb, so don’t try to make the same bulbs bloom inside a second time. Any bloom from forcing bulbs a second time would be small.

Planting the bulbs in the garden allows them to return to a natural schedule with the seasons. After a year or two they should be back on schedule and making a beautiful display of blooms at the appropriate times.

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