Lights for starting from seed. - Page 2

walkinggin · February 6, 2011

Qweniden, I take it that you're suggesting you will be keeping your plants under lights, inside, for two months? I would think that in your climate, you could safely leave your plants outside during the day and bring them in at night when the temps go below 48 or so.

My average temp in feb is about 68 high/45 low. I move the seedlings outside as soon as the first few start showing green, and move them back under the lights after it gets dark so that they have a total of 16 hours of light.

Of course the moving in and out of the house may not work for you, I usually have about 150 plants that I sow using Craig's dense planting method and once they have been potted up to 16 oz cups, which I do after two weeks, I no longer bother to put them under lights those extra hours.

Initially, you have to be careful about watering them, but it makes for healthy and tough plants that don't need hardening off.

Sorry, I know this was not what you were asking

but I figured I would suggest you let the sun do some of the work.

Ginny

cjbrewer5 · February 7, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSue54

I have a rookie question. At what point in the process do I start using the lights? Mind you - my seed were only put in the Jiffy pellets on February 1, and I'm only just now beginning to see signs of life.

Thanx
BSue

As soon as you see the seedling emerge then they need to be under the lights. If you don't get the lights on them as soon as they emerge, then you will have very leggy seedlings. Keep the lights about 1 or 2 inches above the seedlings so they don't have to stretch for the light. You will have shorter and stockier plants. Hope this helps!

Charles

BSue54 · February 7, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjbrewer5

As soon as you see the seedling emerge then they need to be under the lights. If you don't get the lights on them as soon as they emerge, then you will have very leggy seedlings. Keep the lights about 1 or 2 inches above the seedlings so they don't have to stretch for the light. You will have shorter and stockier plants. Hope this helps!

Charles

Wow - you weren't kidding. After reading your message, I went and checked, and what were not quite unfurled little tiny threads yesterday are TALL (LEGGY) little baby giraffe looking things tonight! And I can't find the lights I was planning to put them under. Guess I'd better find a place with some bright natural light and pray it's sunny tomorrow!
Thanks for the info
Bobbie

ContainerTed · February 7, 2011

My primary shelving is a 4 foot wide wire shelf that rolls around. This allows me to take the plants outside the garage for an introduction to the sun. Four shelves allows as many as 16 flats with up to 72 compartments per flat.

And, the box of 10 bulbs (6400K) at Lowes turns out to be just a bit more than $2 per bulb. With tax, one of the T-12 fixtures with two 6400k bulbs for about $16. Not bad these days.

Ted

Qweniden · February 8, 2011

Thanks for all the good information

feldon30 · February 9, 2011

I would agree with walkinggin. You're going to be able to start bringing your seedlings outside once it's warmer outside and evening temps aren't dipping below 45. Just keep them completely shaded.

OneoftheEarls · February 9, 2011

The answer to your question is yes!

OneoftheEarls · February 9, 2011

Wargamer777 · February 9, 2011

I love those cereal transplant pots!! :-)

OneoftheEarls · February 9, 2011

me too...they're free...from the school breakfast

Wargamer777 · February 9, 2011

Looks like its time to check in with my local schools and see if I can collect some.

Indyartist · February 9, 2011

I have always used a standard two bulb, 4 foot shop light with the cheapest bulbs and certainly have grown and put out hundreds of p;ants that way. this year though I'm going to try different bulbs. These are 40 watt 4 foot bulbs for the same fixture but are for "plant and aquarium". These were about $8.50 per bulb at my local hardware. I'm hoping for a stronger start as my plants are usually pretty leggy. I'll try them this year and see if I can see if there is a noticeable difference.
http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPro...amps_Terrarium

P.S. It claims "Specially designed to promote growth and flowering of plants and aquatic vegetation." I think standard bulbs can only give vegetative growth but not flowering. But then I'm no expert or I would probably not be using "shop-lights".

dipchip2000 · February 9, 2011

I can highly recommend the 6500K daylight bulbs from Lowes that are about 20.00
per box of 10. They will fit your 4ft shoplight fixture.JMHO

ron

Granite26 · February 9, 2011

When I first started looking for lighting I would google and always got directed to sites with pot growers! High Lumen 6500K T8's seemed to be the thing. I have to say they knew what they were talking about. Great healthy green growth. I have 4x8' tables and run 8 four foot fixtures over each table (16 bulbs).
Be sure to keep the bulbs down low over the growth and move the lights up as the seedlings grow. Too high and those little seedlings will reach for the light and get spindly.
I put wheels on my tables and as the weather warms I wheel them out the shop garage door during the day and back in at night.

jamie_savoie · February 11, 2011

great idea Granite!

February 6, 2011	#16
walkinggin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 196	Qweniden, I take it that you're suggesting you will be keeping your plants under lights, inside, for two months? I would think that in your climate, you could safely leave your plants outside during the day and bring them in at night when the temps go below 48 or so. My average temp in feb is about 68 high/45 low. I move the seedlings outside as soon as the first few start showing green, and move them back under the lights after it gets dark so that they have a total of 16 hours of light. Of course the moving in and out of the house may not work for you, I usually have about 150 plants that I sow using Craig's dense planting method and once they have been potted up to 16 oz cups, which I do after two weeks, I no longer bother to put them under lights those extra hours. Initially, you have to be careful about watering them, but it makes for healthy and tough plants that don't need hardening off. Sorry, I know this was not what you were askingbut I figured I would suggest you let the sun do some of the work. Ginny

February 7, 2011	#19
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	My primary shelving is a 4 foot wide wire shelf that rolls around. This allows me to take the plants outside the garage for an introduction to the sun. Four shelves allows as many as 16 flats with up to 72 compartments per flat. And, the box of 10 bulbs (6400K) at Lowes turns out to be just a bit more than $2 per bulb. With tax, one of the T-12 fixtures with two 6400k bulbs for about $16. Not bad these days. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

February 9, 2011	#21
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I would agree with walkinggin. You're going to be able to start bringing your seedlings outside once it's warmer outside and evening temps aren't dipping below 45. Just keep them completely shaded. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

February 9, 2011	#27
Indyartist Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 229	I have always used a standard two bulb, 4 foot shop light with the cheapest bulbs and certainly have grown and put out hundreds of p;ants that way. this year though I'm going to try different bulbs. These are 40 watt 4 foot bulbs for the same fixture but are for "plant and aquarium". These were about $8.50 per bulb at my local hardware. I'm hoping for a stronger start as my plants are usually pretty leggy. I'll try them this year and see if I can see if there is a noticeable difference. http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPro...amps_Terrarium P.S. It claims "Specially designed to promote growth and flowering of plants and aquatic vegetation." I think standard bulbs can only give vegetative growth but not flowering. But then I'm no expert or I would probably not be using "shop-lights". __________________ Indyartist Zone 5b, NE Indiana -------------------------- “Men should stop fighting among themselves and start fighting insects” Luther Burbank

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February 8, 2011	#20
Qweniden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 267	Thanks for all the good information

February 9, 2011	#22
OneoftheEarls Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 660	The answer to your question is yes!

February 9, 2011	#24
Wargamer777 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boiling Springs, SC Posts: 60	I love those cereal transplant pots!! :-)

February 9, 2011	#28
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	I can highly recommend the 6500K daylight bulbs from Lowes that are about 20.00 per box of 10. They will fit your 4ft shoplight fixture.JMHO ron

February 9, 2011	#29
Granite26 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Western WI Posts: 359	When I first started looking for lighting I would google and always got directed to sites with pot growers! High Lumen 6500K T8's seemed to be the thing. I have to say they knew what they were talking about. Great healthy green growth. I have 4x8' tables and run 8 four foot fixtures over each table (16 bulbs). Be sure to keep the bulbs down low over the growth and move the lights up as the seedlings grow. Too high and those little seedlings will reach for the light and get spindly. I put wheels on my tables and as the weather warms I wheel them out the shop garage door during the day and back in at night.

February 11, 2011	#30
jamie_savoie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Grand-Falls, NB, Canada Posts: 33	great idea Granite!