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Growing under Lights

I need your advice on grow light setup please

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi

I've read, searched and researched on my topic and cannot find a proper answer, so I'm putting myself at your mercy and kindness.

I would like to start a fairly large quantity of Japanese Maple seeds and grow them from seedlings to about 2 to 3 feet high under lights and heating mats. I will need to fully illuminate 16 1020 trays at a time, or 4 areas of 48"x22" either separately or combined.

I have been looking at T5 HO fixtures, but wanted to stop and get your input before I go any further. Please pardon me for my newbitity, and ask me if there is any other info you might need to help me decide on what might best work in my specific case and where I might go to find what I need.

I really appreciate all of the advice and time you each dole out and want you to know I won't forget any help that you might throw my way.

Thanks a lot!

Timothy

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Comments (4)

D Z
8 years ago
Hi Tim! I'm a bit of a noob myself, but from what I understand, trees need lots of light. I would think hid lights would be your only option. Someone else here should be able to provide how much. Best of luck!
Al Sharp
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, D Z! I have looked at all types of lights, but I would like to get the most economical setup for exactly what I need. If I can accomplish growing Japanese Maples to a healthy height of 3 feet with 12 T5 HO bulbs over an area of 4 feet by 22", then I would probably jump on that. If I need more light, I am willing to explore that also.

I really thought that I would get a few more experienced opinions. I may post this, with an explanation, on another GardenForum site hoping to get more answers.

I really do appreciate you answering, my friend! Thank you very much!!
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That's a good set-up, Macky77. I wish I had a dedicated space. DH had to build the shelf in the bedroom so I wouldn't have to have the light hanging in the living room(we're in a rental). To keep cats off of your type of shelving, I would attach chicken wire or fencing on the sides and hang a separate piece on the front with maybe S-hooks so it could easily be removed for working with the plants. I'd also make sure the shelving was secured to the wall. It's nice your DD wants to grow things! If your toms get too leggy, you could always take cuttings to keep them going until spring. Ann71, the cats are indeed individual. One ignores the plants, two like to be near the light for heat and one will rattle the chain to wake me up in the morning(at the risk of being squirted with water). He's the same one that knocked everything over on the range...he's just a rascal that knows how to push our buttons. Once the weather is nice enough for them to go outside, they don't really bother with the plants. I keep a container of wheat grass growing for them all winter to chew on too, instead of chewing on my few houseplants.
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That's a pretty wide table. I used a shelf that is 48" long by 18" wide, with four 4' long tubes. T8's are OK, T5's are better but cost more. Assuming this is a short term setup for starting seeds, get whatever bulbs are cheapest, it's not going to matter much, cool white, or a mix of cool and warm white, or daylight. For your table, you really need at least six 4' long tubes so that you have light directly above the entire area, and that still doesn't deal with the ends of your table, since it is six feet long. You could use 2' fixtures there, but they are not quite as efficient as the 4' long ones. Keep the seedlings within about 2" of the bulbs by propping them up on whatever is handy (boxes, wood, milk crates, old phone books, etc.) Depending on the size of the plants you want to grow, this setup should be good for 6 to 8 weeks of growth, after that they will need more light.
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You might not want to keep the best plants in the window for very long. The lights can actually produce a more robust plant than the window, that's one reason why a lot of people use them. If you don't have enough room under the lights and need to use the window for extra growing space, I would plan to rotate the plants every couple of days from one location to the other so that they all regularly spend some time under the lights. Rearranging them periodically will also help them grow a straight stem, since plants tend to lean toward the direction that the strongest light is coming from. For your window this will be the outdoors and for the light fixture it will be the center of the fluorescent tubes, because even though you may not be able to see it, the light intensity falls off dramatically as you go from the center toward each end of the tube.
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way2maykids2003
8 years ago
I grow a variety of herbs and other plants indoors under lights-specifically t12-without any growth issues. These are mostly plants that require full sun such as basil, rosemary and agave. That being said Japanese Maples do not require as much light as those full sun plants and in fact leaf scorch can occur if given too much light. I grow Japanese Maples in my garden and most are in mostly shade positions, so I would assume that the seedlings require the same growing conditions as their parents. So, I would not overthink the lighting if you want to grow them-I am sure they will be easier than you think.
Al Sharp
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for responding, way2may. I am also looking at a quantity of T8s instead of the T5s as a solution. And, I have an opportunity to pick up a 400w Floralux MH, used, on Craigslist for $75. I can get one new for less than $150, so I don't know whether to jump on it either. I am vacillating big time as I am new at this and don't want to spend money and then regret it.

I really do appreciate your kindness in responding, my friend. Thank you!

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