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Garden Gate:  Grow Lights  |
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sonshine4u
Chapter Guru
1205 Posts
April
New Prague
MN
USA
1205 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 25 2010 : 10:08:17 AM
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I have my seedlings going already with a regular cool white bulb, but my tomatoes are getting really leggy, so am thinking that I need a full spectrum bulb to give it more of a natural lighting.
I am researching what kind of grow lights to use for my seedlings, and am looking at using the Plant and Aquarium T12 fluorescent bulbs that you can get at Home Depot and Lowes. Anyone know what I am talking about!?
What do you use?
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2010 : 12:55:24 PM
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I also try to put a fan over them to stimulate the wind and the will get stronger limbs.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2010 : 3:10:01 PM
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I just use a plain old shop light and have for years. It works just fine and you don't need to spend more money. The secret is placing the light about 6-8 inches above the seedlings and moving it up as they grow. They get leggy when they are "reaching" for the light. Just like Diana, I use a fan to blow a breeze across them and it helps build a stronger base.
Lillian |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2010 : 07:30:03 AM
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I have a 2-light set up (4 bulbs)...I alternate warm light bulbs and cool light bulbs. That will give you almost a full spectrum, but without the prohibitive cost of "grow lights". But Lillian is right...it's how far away from the growing tips that the light is. I keep mine closer to 4 inches away. I don't have a good set up for a fan, so I brush my hand across them each day.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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mrsamy
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Amy
Milwaukee
WI
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2010 : 07:37:42 AM
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I haven't started seeds since my youngest was born (3 years), but when I did I used a fan, too. I did it because it kept the cats away, but I do think it made my seedlings a little sturdier. The cats thought the light was there to warm the surface for them, not the plants, but the fan freaked them out!
Prayer costs nothing, but is worth the most. |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2010 : 07:45:19 AM
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The key here is also temperature. The amount of light and the amount of heat. Most plants indoors are too warm for the amount of light they receive. I gave up on the florescent lights and finally invested in a hal light and solved the problem. I start so many plants - several hundred that it works out much better.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4860 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4860 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2010 : 11:21:59 AM
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I have lights from Home Depot. I start my seeds out very close to the lights. As the seedlings grow, I slowly lower them away from the light. Once they get a few inches high, I put a fa on them. Good luck with yours!
Dawn in IL |
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sonshine4u
Chapter Guru
1205 Posts
April
New Prague
MN
USA
1205 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2010 : 1:50:40 PM
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Thanks ladies! I have been keeping the light 3-4 inches above them. Some of them seem spot on and others are really leggy, but seem sturdy. Their second set of leaves are arriving too. Perhaps their okay and I've just been worried for no reason.
I did price out the bulbs and they are $9.99 a piece, so I am considering investing the $20 to see if this helps them not reach so hard! Last year everything totally flopped and this year I don't want that to happen again! So far legginess seems to be the only issue. I may try the fan too.
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
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LBP
True Blue Farmgirl
81 Posts
Linda
Goodview
VA
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2010 : 08:18:52 AM
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If legginess is an issue, repot them deeper! I use plain old flourescent lights too. Ditto with the fan, it will make them sturdier.
Come visit me at:
http://lbpsews.blogspot.com |
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Garden Gate: Grow Lights |
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Grow Lights
