Grow Light for Ixora: Helping Flame of the Woods Bloom Indoors
A grow light for ixora gives this sun loving shrub the bright light it needs to form its round flower clusters indoors. Ixora is also called flame of the woods.
The short answer
UF/IFAS notes full sun is necessary for maximum ixora flowering. University of Missouri Extension notes supplemental electric light is usually the easiest way to give plants enough light indoors. Use a full spectrum LED close above the plant on a timer, next to your sunniest window.
How much light does ixora need indoors?
NC State Extension notes ixora prefers full sun plus needs a bright, sunny area when brought indoors for winter. University of Maryland Extension lists over 1,000 footcandles, about 4 to 6 hours of direct sun, for its direct indoor sunlight group. Missouri notes high light plants need at least 1,000 footcandles.
| Factor | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Light level | At least 1,000 footcandles | High light plants (Missouri) |
| Lamp distance | Plant tips 6 to 12 inches away | Light drops fast with distance (Missouri) |
| Hours with window light | 12 to 14 hours | Supplements daylight (Missouri) |
| Daily maximum | No more than 16 hours | Plants need darkness (Maryland) |
| Soil | Acidic | Alkaline soil causes chlorosis (UF/IFAS) |
Source: University of Missouri, University of Maryland plus UF/IFAS Extension.
Where should a grow light sit for ixora?
Missouri advises placing most plants with their tips 6 to 12 inches from the light source, since intensity drops rapidly with distance. Hang the fixture so it can rise as the shrub grows.
How many hours should the light run?
Missouri notes plants with no outdoor light need 16 to 18 hours a day, while 12 to 14 hours may do if some window light reaches them. Maryland advises no more than 16 hours in total. Run lights alongside window light, per Missouri.
How to: step by step
- Place ixora in your sunniest window.
- Add a full spectrum LED above the plant.
- Hang the light 6 to 12 inches above the tips.
- Run the light on a timer for a steady day length.
- Check new growth for buds at the stem tips.
- Tune height or hours as the plant responds.
Troubleshooting
Long, thin stems: too little light. Lower the lamp or add hours.
Pale or browning leaves: too much light. Maryland notes excess light turns leaves pale plus brown, so raise the lamp.
Yellow new growth: soil pH too high. UF/IFAS notes alkaline soil causes chlorosis, so use an acid potting mix.
Sparse blooms after pruning: UF/IFAS notes pruning cuts flowering. Trim lightly.
For lighting see grow lights for cannabis plus led light distance cannabis. Read grow light timers plus cannabis seeds. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Ixora, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Ixora coccinea (flame of the woods), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Lighting for indoor plants, University of Maryland Extension
- Lighting indoor houseplants (G6515), University of Missouri Extension
FAQ
Can ixora grow under a regular LED bulb?
University of Missouri Extension notes LED plant lights can be made to give the red plus blue light plants need. Household bulbs give less useful light. Missouri also notes high light plants are harder to grow under home lights, so use a plant LED close above the shrub.
Should the light run all night?
No. University of Maryland Extension notes most plants need a period of darkness to develop properly plus advises no more than 16 hours of light a day in total. University of Missouri Extension suggests 12 to 14 hours when some window light also reaches the plant.
Does ixora need acid soil?
Yes. UF/IFAS notes ixora thrives in moist but well drained acidic soil, plus alkaline conditions cause chlorotic new growth from iron plus manganese deficiency. NC State Extension also notes alkaline soils may cause chlorosis. Use an acid potting mix for container plants grown indoors.
Do plants need a dark period?
University of Maryland Extension notes most plants require a period of darkness to develop properly. It advises lighting them no more than 16 hours a day in total, especially when artificial light adds to natural light. Set a timer so the lamp shuts off each night.
How cold can ixora get indoors?
NC State Extension notes ixora is intolerant of temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit plus is winter hardy only in zones 9 to 11. UF/IFAS suggests growing it in a container farther north so it can move indoors when temperatures drop. Place it away from cold drafts.
