How to Grow a Cactus in Fluorescent Lighting

Cactus and most succulents thrive in bright, natural sunlight. Without it, they grow leggy and the plant's natural form becomes distorted. Without proper light, cacti also fail to bloom and develop fruit. Outdoor cacti remain healthy and perform as intended with a minimum of four to six hours of bright, natural sunlight daily. Growing the plants indoors under fluorescent lighting requires closely mimicking these conditions. Since artificial light is not a strong as natural daylight, compensate by providing a greater number of artificial light hours.

Install at least two fluorescent tube lights over your plants in a height-adjustable fluorescent rig coated with a reflective surface behind the tubes boosting brightness. Use at least 40-watt fluorescent tubes. Plan on 15 watts of light for every square foot of growing space in large growing operations.

Use one cool-white or daylight tube, sometimes called a grow light, and the other a warm-white tube. The combined light range provides a broader light spectrum that better mimics natural light.

Set the lights on a timer switch so that they are on during the same period each day of the year for 12 to 18 hours. Use shorter light periods during fall and winter, and longer light periods for spring and summer mimicking natural sunlight conditions.

Turn each of your cactus plants a quarter or half turn every two weeks throughout the year, so that all the plant is reached by equal strength of light in time.