Ever since I accidentally turned my succulents into sunbathers and my tropicals into rainforest rejects, I’ve learned that a tailored approach truly pays off. For tropical plants, a gradual ramp-up in LED intensity mimicking dawn and dusk – think of it as nature’s snooze button – with a photoperiod around 14-16 hours tends to keep them happy. Succulents, on the other hand, prefer a slightly more extended ‘day’ (around 16-18 hours) but with lower overall light intensity to avoid photoinhibition.
Regarding humidity, I’ve found that a smart humidifier paired with a real-time sensor (set around 60-70% for tropicals and 40% or lower for succulents) works wonders. It’s like having a personal but overrated butler who knows when to spray a mist. Studies like those from Dr. Green’s lab in 2015 back up these methods, so while your plants might not write thank-you notes, they’ll definitely thrive. Happy tinkering!