Pitcher plants are normally inactive during the winter. In order to grow plants large enough to transplant back into their natural setting by Spring, it is necessary to force grow them under lights during winter. The concept is to allow them to enter into their dormant state and then repot them and grow them inside under lights. Previous experience has shown that ordinary cool white fluorescent lights are perfect for this purpose as long as they are placed approximately 3 inches above the seedlings. Excess floor space is hard to find in the classroom, therefore we developed a 3 tier rolling light stand design for this purpose. We decided to build stands when we found that comparable commercial stands cost $700-$900. Our stands cost less than $250 each in parts, but require significant fabrication and assembly. The photographs and instructions below show how the stands were built and list the required materials. Fabrication and assembly requires care, since these stands combine a potentially hazardous mixture of metal, water and electricity. If you have any question about how to wire these shelves safely, please consult a professional electrician. Fully loaded, the stands are also heavy and could be tipped over by small children attempting to climb them. Therefore, except when being moved, the stands should be secured to the wall against this potential hazard, and children should be supervised and cautioned not to attempt to climb up the shelves. This is what one of our finished light stands looks like:
