Do I really need lights on potted up plants?

[ScottinAtlanta]

OK, folks, two weeks after I left the country, my plants are doing great using the remote system described above. The average water loss per 8 ounce cup is a little less than 1/5th ounce per day. Starting at 4.5 ounces fully watered and drained, the plants show no stress at all down to around 2 ounces per cup, at which point the soil becomes brown and dry. When a tray reaches 2.5 to 3 ounces per cup, I direct my water man to bottom water using a 32 fluid ounces or one quart, which is about one ounce per cup. No plants lost yet out of 400 potted up.

I want to thank those who advised me to put them under lights before I left. I put up 20 T12 bulbs before I left, and that is probably the main reason for the growth.

Here is a snap I took through my remote cameras. The temperature in the room has been between 40 and 50 degrees through Atlanta's ice storms, so these hardy little plants are being cold-tempered.

[Doug9345]

Nice looking plants. I'm glad they are doing well and also that you haven't lost power to them for a few days.