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Seed starting with artifical light... (Original Post) H. Cromwell Mar 2014 OP
You don't need anything fancy. Elad Mar 2014 #1
I'm building mine out of 1" PVC Major Nikon Mar 2014 #3
Also... sendero Mar 2014 #4
Howdy - actually, light is not at all needed to start most seeds....warmth helps. NRaleighLiberal Mar 2014 #2

Elad

(11,400 posts)
1. You don't need anything fancy.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 02:30 PM
Mar 2014

I wouldn't trust that light. Simple flourescents tubes are fine. This system is cheap and easy to use and comes with everything you need, and use a T5 flourescent bulb which is a little better than traditional ones. I have a few of them, have been using them for 3 years, and have yet to need to replace a bulb or anything.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=jump+start+grow+light+system

Major Nikon

(36,900 posts)
3. I'm building mine out of 1" PVC
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 03:08 PM
Mar 2014

But same basic design. My plan is to have one 4 bulb 48" fluorescent fixture which will cover up to 2 1020 seedling beds.

sendero

(28,552 posts)
4. Also...
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 08:17 AM
Mar 2014

.... We use flourescent fixtures and they work fine. In fixtures with 2 bulbs, you might want to use a different "color" bulb for each instance.

You need to keep your seedlings close to the bulb, which is easy with flourescents as they don't run hot.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,500 posts)
2. Howdy - actually, light is not at all needed to start most seeds....warmth helps.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 02:34 PM
Mar 2014

Think about it - the vast majority of seeds get covered up by a soil layer of varying thickness. A very few flowers (impatiens and columbine are two) are surface sewn, but the rest are covered. Warmth is a factor for speeding things up - there are inexpensive heat mats (such as these - http://www.amazon.com/Growers-Supply-Company-GSHM-Discontinued/dp/B002LVU4Y8/ref=sr_1_14?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1395862371&sr=1-14&keywords=seedling+heat+mat ) that you place the germinating pots or flats atop.

Once they germinate, light becomes important to minimize "stretching", which makes young seedlings leggy - I just use shop lights with typical fluorescent tubes, in my unheated garage, ensuring the light tubes are within a few inches of the top of the seedlings.

Good luck! Ask anything....

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