Light Question?????

GIZZARDFARM · April 18, 2008

I have my seeds repotted and they are thriving and doing well about 300 or so. I have been leaving them lighted 24 hours a day. I realize now that that is incorrect and i should black out 8 or so hours a day. My plants have their third set of leaves and are nearly 4 inches or so. will it effect them to start blacking out several hours now??? also have noticed that the ones in peat pots dry out quicker than the ones in styrophone cups should i put them all in cups??? and once they reach a certain size can i keep them under higher lighting and not the 2 inch from the plant light???

Gizzard

feldon30 · April 19, 2008

Some people love peat pots. I've read enough negative things about them that I just don't use them. Between the recommendations to cut the bottom off for roots and their tendency to hold water themselves and wick it away from the seedlings, plus the risk of mold, peat pots are just not for me.

As for the light, I wouldn't expect any problems switching from 24 hour to 16 hour. I just turn em off when I go to bed and turn em on in the morning. Or I could use a timer.

You want the light as close as possible, but you can go 3-4 inches for a little while if necessary. Aren't you getting nice enough temperatures to start putting the plants out in full shade during some days? That will slow them down a bit (preventing legginess) and start to get them ready to go in the ground. Hardening off can be done any time the outside temps are 50+ and not too windy.

GIZZARDFARM · April 19, 2008

I have been putting them outside threee or four days a week and putting them under light at night. I think i agree about the peat pots i dont think i will use them again they do wick water away from plant..

April 18, 2008	#1
GIZZARDFARM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: COMFORT TENNESSEE Posts: 300	Light Question????? I have my seeds repotted and they are thriving and doing well about 300 or so. I have been leaving them lighted 24 hours a day. I realize now that that is incorrect and i should black out 8 or so hours a day. My plants have their third set of leaves and are nearly 4 inches or so. will it effect them to start blacking out several hours now??? also have noticed that the ones in peat pots dry out quicker than the ones in styrophone cups should i put them all in cups??? and once they reach a certain size can i keep them under higher lighting and not the 2 inch from the plant light??? Gizzard

April 19, 2008	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Some people love peat pots. I've read enough negative things about them that I just don't use them. Between the recommendations to cut the bottom off for roots and their tendency to hold water themselves and wick it away from the seedlings, plus the risk of mold, peat pots are just not for me. As for the light, I wouldn't expect any problems switching from 24 hour to 16 hour. I just turn em off when I go to bed and turn em on in the morning. Or I could use a timer. You want the light as close as possible, but you can go 3-4 inches for a little while if necessary. Aren't you getting nice enough temperatures to start putting the plants out in full shade during some days? That will slow them down a bit (preventing legginess) and start to get them ready to go in the ground. Hardening off can be done any time the outside temps are 50+ and not too windy. __________________ [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]