Seed help

[Powertech]

So I’ve got one grow under my belt, but I didn’t start the seed somebody else did. Now I’m starting seed, could use some help. I got the seeds in rapid rooter starters in a tray, first one just popped its cover (I rip off little pieces and place it over the seed hole, makes sense to me to keep the light out till it needs it?). My question is lighting. My weakest option is my Spider Farmer SF1000, a 100watt QB. Would I be ok with the light at the very top of my small 3x3 tent. Basically 5ft above the seeds? I know I want not much light but not sure how much. Thanks in advance, and if you are in NorCal let’s burn!

 

[turbobuzz]

Yes. Could probably even be closer. If you start getting to leggy move the light closer.

 

[Boatguy]

They dont need any light till they sprout, just warmth. A humidity dome helps too.
I dim my light to about 100w and keep it about 2' from the seedlings. If they start to stretch, i move it closer.

 

[CanadianJim]

For seedlings I use a one bulb 2 ft t5 fixture with the light 5 to 10 cm from the plants. You're probably okay to move the light closer.

 

[Brettman]

Yeah 5 feet would be tons, even 3’ should be fine for seedlings.

 

[Powertech]

Cool, thanks guys, I’ll lower the light once they pop all the way out

 

[mustbetribbin]

They dont need any light till they sprout, just warmth. A humidity dome helps too.
I dim my light to about 100w and keep it about 2' from the seedlings. If they start to stretch, i move it closer.

Hi Boatguy,

I just wanted to clear up a misconception that you've chosen to include in your post, seedlings may not absolutely need light to sprout from their shells, they do respond faster than you might assume when light a light source is present, plants are living organisms whom whose entire lifespans are dependant on the amount of light and light intensity/spectrum that they receive, it's probably not the wisest thing to do to just go around deciding for each seed what is best for them, when it's already written in their DNA to respond and begin certain cycles immediately after the seed shell/coat is broken through, so therefore I myself am a believer in allowing the seedling decide when it's ready to receive light, not the other way around.

I grow in organic composted soils, and when my seedlings break the soil, they have a fluorescent light above them to show them which way is up (besides gravity of course) when I'm germinating my seedlings I am checking them every 3hrs for any break in the surface of the soil, most of them already have lifted above the soil and have already begun photosynthesis by the time I get to them, others below the surface receive light when I discover that the surface of the soil has broken through, and I just carefully remove the top layer of soil from above them so that the stem can stand up straight, typically I notice a change in the colouration of a newly hatched seedling within 1hrs time. So for myself I won't germinate without some kind of light above my seedlings if I really care about what's best for their life cycles that is.

Light is one thing, UV is another thing entirely, seedlings absolutely do germinate faster with added UV light, it's scientifically proven, fluorescent light (imo) is the best way to go to replicate the springtime environment and light/UV in the adequate amounts/levels of intensity that a small seedling requires to grow optimally within.

Here's a excerpt & link to help anyone who would like any further reading/research into this topic.

"UV light can also speed up the germination process for starting seeds when grown indoors. As growers transplant seedlings to more intense light sources, UV strengthens the plants, better preparing them for high intensity light. Transplanting seedlings from low intensity lighting to high intensity lighting can shock or slow the plants growth. Exposure to UV in the early stages of plant growth reduces shock time and speeds up the production process."

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[Boatguy]

Hi Boatguy,

I just wanted to clear up a misconception that you've chosen to include in your post, seedlings may not absolutely need light to sprout from their shells, they do respond faster than you might assume when light a light source is present, plants are living organisms whom whose entire lifespans are dependant on the amount of light and light intensity/spectrum that they receive, it's probably not the wisest thing to do to just go around deciding for each seed what is best for them, when it's already written in their DNA to respond and begin certain cycles immediately after the seed shell/coat is broken through, so therefore I myself am a believer in allowing the seedling decide when it's ready to receive light, not the other way around.

I grow in organic composted soils, and when my seedlings break the soil, they have a fluorescent light above them to show them which way is up (besides gravity of course) when I'm germinating my seedlings I am checking them every 3hrs for any break in the surface of the soil, most of them already have lifted above the soil and have already begun photosynthesis by the time I get to them, others below the surface receive light when I discover that the surface of the soil has broken through, and I just carefully remove the top layer of soil from above them so that the stem can stand up straight, typically I notice a change in the colouration of a newly hatched seedling within 1hrs time. So for myself I won't germinate without some kind of light above my seedlings if I really care about what's best for their life cycles that is.

Light is one thing, UV is another thing entirely, seedlings absolutely do germinate faster with added UV light, it's scientifically proven, fluorescent light (imo) is the best way to go to replicate the springtime environment and light/UV in the adequate amounts/levels of intensity that a small seedling requires to grow optimally within.

Here's a excerpt & link to help anyone who would like any further reading/research into this topic.

"UV light can also speed up the germination process for starting seeds when grown indoors. As growers transplant seedlings to more intense light sources, UV strengthens the plants, better preparing them for high intensity light. Transplanting seedlings from low intensity lighting to high intensity lighting can shock or slow the plants growth. Exposure to UV in the early stages of plant growth reduces shock time and speeds up the production process."

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eyehortilux.com

It's not really a misconception. Nothing there says germination requires light.
Personally i start mine on a windowsill, let them stretch till they hit the dome, then move them into a pot burying the long stem.
Then they go under my light in the tent.
The process can be a simple or complicated as you want.
I used to mess with paper towels or soaking in cups of water. Now just start them like i would any other plant.

 

[PrometheanLeaf]

I'd put the hlg 100 about 24-28 inches above your pot surface and just let the plant grow up from there, keep it about 16-18 inches above your canopy when they get that high.

 

[mustbetribbin]

It's not really a misconception. Nothing there says germination requires light.
Personally i start mine on a windowsill, let them stretch till they hit the dome, then move them into a pot burying the long stem.
Then they go under my light in the tent.
The process can be a simple or complicated as you want.
I used to mess with paper towels or soaking in cups of water. Now just start them like i would any other plant.

I appreciate your reply, I like your method of keeping things simple, and just going along with the natural flow of things, such as placing your seeds in the windowsill, I really have had no real issues germinating seeds this very same way and I do know it does work, but what I've found is if you can get the seedlings under some weak intensity light within an hour of them breaking the surface, they seem to take and stand tall much faster than those seedlings that are found growing hours later in a dark or dimly lit area.

Far red and Red light have been proven to enhance seed germination, as well as UV, both are easily attainable in technology such as incandescent and fluorescent lighting, this is what I recommend to anyone who wants to take their seed germination game up a notch, I've had some fast and positive results using this combination, viable seeds pop right out of the dirt, I wouldn't trust any other method after seeing the results that I've been able to achieve, quite simple really.

I will add that I don't turn on the lighting setup until about 36hrs after the seedlings have hit the dirt, the earliest I've ever had seed germinate from has been around the 48hr mark, so I feel lights on around 36hrs is a good rule of thumb to follow to not waste electricity and dry out the soil unnecessarily, etc.

If you don't mind doing a bit of reading, here is a 58 page PDF that has some information on this subject that hints to the notion that light does effect seedling germination and growth, I do apologize for the above information being kind of indirect to the subject at hand, there really isn't a whole lot to be found of the subject, but if ye seek ye shall find.

Hope this helps, take care friend.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3739&context=open_access_etds&ved=2ahUKEwiIoO3i8qvlAhVMKa0KHcZQBf4QFjAQegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw1LjTI5XwCGflbit43foP8o

 

[Powertech]

Well one popped out and is doing ok. Once the roots are out the bottom and she’s tall enough she’ll get buried a bit deeper in her next pot

 

[Budzbuddha]

Just throw a simple CFL / FLOURO or T5 over a little sprout to keep stretch controlled.
A simple cfl bulb ( few inches away ) is plenty.

Then after the Quantums can do the real work ....

 

[Powertech]

Would be cheaper too. I’ll dig up an old desk lamp and go get a couple bulbs

 

[Nizza]

CFL's are dope. They're bright af, cheap, and what I started with
but after a while t5 HO lights were easier to work with as far as positioning above multiple seedlings.

I have now switched to HLG. We'll see how I like these. Still adjusting to how to use them for now!

 

[Budzbuddha]

Yep ... T5 are still valuable lights to SET UP new sprouting plants . The diffused light doesn’t overpower them - you can keep close to temper stretch and 2 foot or 4 foot tubes can cover a tray easily if popping more than a couple of plants.

But if popping a couple at a time - simple cfl spiral works very well . They come in 5000k and 64/6500k . Plant isnt stressed under more powerful lights and lets germed seedling root out without stress.

 

[Budzbuddha]

The pic of plants under 5000k .... Bluish white spec.
Tighter node spacing from soil to top . I often start seedlings this way when i plan to mainline / hub them. You can throw this kind of light ( even double up ) on them as they grow out then move to primary light and distance to facilitate more branching.