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Growing under Lights

My Simple Method with Pictures -Starting Under Lights

15 years ago

I've just started to share our experiences with other bloggers on "how we start plants under lights".

Thought it might be useful for some.

This link with pictures may be informative to look at.

We like to keep it simple. :)

Patsi

Under Lights from start to finish

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Comments (8)

anniebetannie
15 years ago
Again thanks Patsi....DH looked at the pictures and figured how to make mine.
I made a mistake on my zone. It is 5 not 7. I did call our Extension Office and found out that May 1 is our safest date for planting regarding last frost.
Are you or any others starting seeds yet?, and what are your starting. Annie
patsi
Original Author
15 years ago
Annie,
Tried to e-mail you at earthlink. Didn't go through.
E-mail me if you need more details.
We're in Zone 7a and won't put anything out before Mothers Day. Husband put his tomato plants out late last year around the last week in May...no problem...just had fruits a week or two later than normal. We start most seeds come mid March.
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simple question... what indoor light to buy for peppers?
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The best all around lighting system is an HID metal halide bulb. It provides the necessary light for vegetative growth. If you are going to have sunlight during the day, you should look into getting a High Pressure Sodium (HPS) system. HPS provides orange-yellow light which promotes flowering and fruiting of plants. It's recommended that you don't use HPS by itself, or the plants will be leggy and have a funny color. A Conversion Bulb is supposed to allow the best of both the HPS and MH systems, but I think they are pricier and provide less light effectiveness than the other bulbs. A 4x4 room should do fine with a 400W bulb. Admittedly, I am new to all of this myself. I have read up on growing plants in lights, but I have yet to actually put my knowledge into application. So, if I am wrong someone please correct me. The only site I know of where to buy some of these items is Home Harvest Garden Supply. Google it. I hope this helps.
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How do you post pictures here in simple terms?
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Comments (9)
The way I do it is to first upload my photos to Photobucket. A basic account is no charge. You can set the upload size to something reasonable like 640X480, or load the pics full-size and then re-size them individually to whatever size you want. Below each of your pictures will be 4 separate link options. Copy the link for the "HTML code" and paste that directly into the text of your GardenWeb message wherever you want the photo to appear, preview your message and the photo should be there.
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Pictures of Under Cabinet Lighting
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Comments (2)
Here is mine. The large switch on the end operates the puck lights inside the glass cabinets. Angled plug mold is seen in the back (it is actually flat plugmold mounted on an angled wood block). The UC lights are Xenon. They operate from a master switch near the door, but can also be turned on and off individually. I like them positioned in front. Lights up the work area well, and leaves room for the plugs in back. Hope this helps.
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Simple house+Simple yard=Not so simple landscaping.
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Comments (24)
Well, Sherry, we'll disagree on how nice those lower branches on the tree are. When the leaves come out, they're going to obscure a fair amount of the first floor of the house, so visually -- artistically -- it's crowding the house. Knowing that every year branches and limbs grow lower as they extend and weigh more, there's going to be quite a few of them in danger of touching or hanging on the house. To me, it sounds like the love for the tree-as-it-is is in spite of house. Some people periodically voice the sentiment that they crave and miss discussions of landscape design academia. This would be a perfect subject for just such a thread.
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sip734
15 years ago
Your pictures are helpful,but where do you find someplace warm enough to germinate? Our house is never that hot.
patsi
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Sip,
We put up a shelf in our laundry room that is about 2 feet
from the ceiling where the temps are higher since heat rises.
You can always use heating pads if your not growing as many plants as we do.
Or some people use the top of their frigerator.
Try and find someplace up high it should work.
You may want to get a room thermometer and lay it down next to your tray or trays.
This way you'll know for sure if it's warm enough.

Good luck,
Patsi
kandm
15 years ago
Great post!

It really is amazing what those lights will do for seedlings. My confidence as a gardener has sky rocketed thanks to my t12s.
patsi
Original Author
15 years ago
I agree...it's amazing!
It's also amazing how many people still rely on window light. :(
We've been at it for 6 years and our method of growing under lights which I believe is common...works like a charm.
kandm
15 years ago
I never realized how affordable a fluorescent light set up could be. I paid $10 for a 48 inch two bulb shop light and $8 for two t12 bulbs. A lot of gardening catalogs sell set ups that cost hundreds of dollars. Another reason I relied on window light was that I didn't realize how cool running and energy efficient the lights are. Live and learn I guess.
patsi
Original Author
15 years ago
I'm stunned by what they charge in the catalogs for a very small lighting set-up.
But If you don't know any better or have hundreds to spend...I guess it's fine.
Ours is expensive BUT for $250 we get a 5 metal shelves($50) and 10 double light fixtures($200).
With that in mind..I can put 3 trays on each shelf times 5 is 15 trays.
We grow alot of tomatoes and flowers!

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