New lights for seedlings.

[Cole_Robbie]

For germination, if you throw a piece of painter's plastic over the rig and the table, the temp inside will get nice and toasty...obviously too warm for plants, but good for germinating seeds.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

For germination, if you throw a piece of painter's plastic over the rig and the table, the temp inside will get nice and toasty...obviously too warm for plants, but good for germinating seeds.

Cole I'm still mulling over what I am going to do for a cover.

Right now I have a towel draped over the top and a thermometer stuck in one of the seed cells, the temperature is 75 degrees F
This is 5 degrees warmer than what my thermostat is set for.

Update I hung some white 13 gallon Glad trash bags around it and the temp went to 80 degrees.
This is with a gap around the table top.
Worth

[Worth1]

I just loaded up a flat of Aji Amarillo Manzano Guajillo and Fresno seeds.
The Aji Amarillo were from Ted Von Container.
Thank you Ted.
The rest were seeds I saved from store bought peppers either dried or fresh.
Hopefully the rest of my seeds will be here tomorrow Hopefully.
They were shipped last Wednesday.

I have no idea what on earth I will do with 72 pepper plants I expect them all to die every year and the dont.
Maybe all of the neighbors will get orphan pepper plants on their porch nestled in a blanket.

Worth

[greenthumbomaha]

One year I used a stack of books on each end of 2 4 foot florescents to raise and lower them.


Worth[/QUOTE]

Good luck with your system. That is quite and undertaking. Any supplemental light source is better than none for initial seedlings, but if you have to delay planting it'll be interesting to see how your bulbs work. Plants are very forgiving!

Your old method for adjusting height with a combination of boxes and books is what I use. Can you make homemade pulleys cheaper than the 2/$10 hydrostore packs?

- Lisa

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

One year I used a stack of books on each end of 2 4 foot florescents to raise and lower them.


Worth

Good luck with your system. That is quite and undertaking. Any supplemental light source is better than none for initial seedlings, but if you have to delay planting it'll be interesting to see how your bulbs work. Plants are very forgiving!

Your old method for adjusting height with a combination of boxes and books is what I use. Can you make homemade pulleys cheaper than the 2/$10 hydrostore packs?

- Lisa[/QUOTE]

Lisa I have no idea what a hydro store pack is.

These are sash cord and nylon pulleys.
Two on each side made into a block and tackle.
One hooked to the top the other moves.
If I pull the cord 1 foot the frame moves 6 inches.
I cant remember what I paid for them I have had them about 10 years.

I use the brass cup hooks to hook the dog chains to the frame and S hooks to connect the dog chain to the pulley.

I love the brass cup hooks I use them everywhere I must have a thousand of them of different sizes.
Worth

[Worth1]

I used paper plates as reflectors and the wrappers for the seed starting trays I spread out and painted white and stapled them to the wood frame.
Nothing is even coming close to getting hot.
Worth
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[Cole_Robbie]

I've seen people use humidity domes, but I never have. I seem to have fine results without them. Maybe the vermiculite I use to start my seeds hold enough water that I don't need them.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I've seen people use humidity domes, but I never have. I seem to have fine results without them. Maybe the vermiculite I use to start my seeds hold enough water that I don't need them.

Cole the humidity is very low in my house, if I didn't use the domes the soil would dry out no mater what it was.
This year I am using something totally different.
It is the Jiffy Organic seed starting mix.
The stuff contains 50% to 60% sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, coir pith , and lime for pH balance.

I have no idea what is best it is what they had at the store and am lucky to find it.

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

LOL maybe this is why I have to use vermiculite, and everything else crusts over and frustrates me, because the sprouts can't break through the crust. The vermiculite dries out, but only on the very top, and there is no crust, like with peat.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

LOL maybe this is why I have to use vermiculite, and everything else crusts over and frustrates me, because the sprouts can't break through the crust. The vermiculite dries out, but only on the very top, and there is no crust, like with peat.

Cole how did your 65 watt CFL light work with your bucket?

Right now with the reflectors on and the sides up it looks like the atomic bomb has went off in there.
The soil temperature has settled down to 80 degrees.
Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

I liked my bucket lights, especially with those giant bulbs I put in them. They cover 1-2 flats. I do get a little bit of lean from the outside plants, bending in towards the light. They make a little heat, but I'm always starting seeds in the cold early spring, so the warmth is welcome.

[Worth1]

Are you calling the 65 watt lights giant bulbs or something bigger?

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

Yes. They are huge, compared to normal CFLs.

[Worth1]

I have three 100 watt ones for each tray, good lord.

I dug up a struggling pepper seedling I found growing outside today and put it in there with the trays.
We will see how it does.

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

You're looking at the "watt equivalent" number. My 65 is the actual watts consumed. I thought it was a 300 watt equivalent, but the Menard's link lists an "incandescent equivalent" number of 260 watts:
http://www.menards.com/main/electric...4431924759.htm

So we are both fairly equal in regard to our fondness for overkill.