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Fairport,NY

When do most of you turn on the grow lights? as soon as the seed pushes up thru the soil or do you wait till the cot opens fully? just want to make sure everything is "perfect" come launch time:)
Bumkin

1/19/2008 10:20:14 PM

Leamington, Ont.

As soon as the seedling pushes through the soil, get the lights on 'em! Otherwise they will become long and leggy!

1/20/2008 12:59:00 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I was told a couple years ago that it is wise to turn the light off for a few hours at night. This simulates day and night to the plant and helps it once you set it out in the patch. I tried it this past year and it seems to work. I put a timer on the light to shut it off for about 7 hours each night. A very heavy hitter passed this info on to me by the way.

1/20/2008 10:32:13 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Put a fan on them to make them stocky

1/22/2008 1:56:23 PM

Georgia

I put the lights on them as soon as they pop up. I also shut the light off at night for about 7 to 8 hours. Im gonna try to use a fan this year like shannon suggested. I dont use grow lights though I just use floruesent lights and keep them about 6 to 8 inches away. What distance do you guys reccomend at having the lights? The 6 to 8 mark worked preety good last year.

1/22/2008 3:23:26 PM

Fairport,NY

Shannon please explain how the fan helps to make them "stocky"? I can consistantly get them from seed to cots showing first true leaf in exactly one week but they seem to be about 3 inches tall as far as the stem length? what should I be doing to keep them stocky? Should I turn off the heating pad as soon as they push up thru the soil?I have been leaving it on (~85 degrees)and then turning on the grow light when the cots open up?Any help would be greatly appreciated
Bumkin

1/22/2008 10:34:56 PM

Klickitat Washington

this may sound like a dumb question but im a 1st timer and was wondering about the floruesent lights is there a certian wattage you guys use. Thanks 4 any info you can give.

1/22/2008 11:26:07 PM

Georgia

Bumkin Ive always heard and experienced with starting other seeds that the bottom heat should be cut off as soon as the seedling pops up..other wise it can actually damage soem roots. Huckleberry the wattage doesnt have to be really high 40 watts is plenty as long as the lights are fairly close to the plants.

1/23/2008 8:12:34 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I know it's fun to starts seeds now but when the time comes to actually "start seeds" the properly started items will roar past aything started now in a matter of a week. I hope that no one is really thinking to start their primary seeds NOW. By May 1st they'll be pretty weak.

Shannon recommends a fan to simulate the wind which makes the plant sturdy.

I get our "real starts" outside & in real sunlight as soon as the cots are visible above the soiless mix. Grow lights are only used here if the temperature in late April is cold & the plants have to stay inside during the day.

A 4 lamp shop light with 40 watt tubes is good for a cutting until it makes a secondary vine but I wouldn't recommend leaving secondaries on a cutting (clone) as they get in the way.

1/23/2008 11:39:39 AM

Somers, CT

I found flourescent grow light bulbs. They are more expensive than the regulars. I use a 3' strip from the hardware store Mine has 2 lights or you can go with 4. I use it year long and when starting seeds I just lower the chain just above the plants.

2/15/2008 1:43:05 PM

Georgia

If yall gotta use the lights do you keep them on all day and night or turn them off at night. I havent noticed much diffence during my practice tests. I have two plants right now im experimenting with one I shut off at night one I keep going all night long. I havent noticed any difference neither one has become more leggy then the next.

2/15/2008 3:11:22 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Jason, from all I have read here in the past few years, shut lights off for 6-8 hrs per nite...will make more "real" for yer plants once they ar outside. Rob T...I was at Lowes today, and saw 48" bulbs, labled as "sunshine" ?? would these be as good as, gro-lite bulbs...sorta wishin I woulda grabbed a lable off one of them!!! so I could quote the lumens, etc!! Peace, Wayne
PS...Jason, temp in Ga. today??? Plantin outside soon!!! KGPG is rockin!!!! See ya in Sept!?

2/15/2008 3:20:12 PM

Georgia

I seen the sunshine bulbs also at Lowes also and they also sell the flouros for plants. So far regular ones during expierements work fine but I might try some of the sunshine or plant bulbs. Their sussposed to mimic the suns uv rays better couldt hurt Wayne. Mid 50-s here Wayne but well still get a cold spell in March and in April I still got some time to go and work to do. Yeah you Kentucky guys are getting a great club going..congrats.

2/15/2008 3:50:02 PM

Georgia

But also Wayne I think regular shop lights work good for seedlings beacuse the lights probally a little brighter or more intense the sunshine or plant bulbs..dont really know though. Ive used plant bulbs before on seedlings and they just dont seem as bright or intense..but again not too sure.

2/15/2008 3:55:54 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Jason, we consider you as a member of our group...the KPM!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

2/15/2008 10:15:26 PM

Somers, CT

Wayne, yes my math is bad. 48". Mine said grow light and they were $8 each. I will check out the Lowes ones. I need more and the hardware store does not carry them anymore. I was the only one who bought the one they had I guess.

2/16/2008 9:07:34 AM

Georgia

Thanks Wayne appreciate that..your club is growing nicely and Im sure there are gonna be some big ones at the KY weigh-offs. It was awesome to see how well the auction went for yall. Keep up the good work Wayne. You Kentucky growers are doing a great job helping promote this hobby down south.

2/16/2008 9:19:16 AM

South Hadley, Mass

I've seen many spectrom charts for bulbs of all kinds. Frankly I don't see much advantage to the floro. "grow lights", they are almost exactly the same as the cool white bulbs, and with the money you save you can buy more lights. It wouldn't hurt to mix up the bulbs used too. ex. 3 cool white and 1 warm white. Don't forget about compact floro.'s (energy saver bubs) (CF's). CF's mostly come in a warm white spectrome, but they are very convnent because you can place them with clip lights just where you whant them. And they sell relitivly big ones for around $10 (26-45watt).

5/5/2008 4:50:37 PM