Lighting for just a couple weeks of growth?

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noxnoctum

Active Member
Hey guys what kind of lighting do I need to just grow my seedlings a couple inches? I plan on having all 15 of them in VERY close proximity in a rapid rooters tray.

So ya, not looking to buy the whole full scale thing, just something that'll get my plants a couple inches of height at which point I will be moving outdoors.

I've read a few guides but I'm not sure if I really need to go all out since I'm only growing a couple weeks inside...
 
bobbyhopefeild

bobbyhopefeild

Active Member
noxnoctum said:
Hey guys what kind of lighting do I need to just grow my seedlings a couple inches? I plan on having all 15 of them in VERY close proximity in a rapid rooters tray.

So ya, not looking to buy the whole full scale thing, just something that'll get my plants a couple inches of height at which point I will be moving outdoors.

I've read a few guides but I'm not sure if I really need to go all out since I'm only growing a couple weeks inside...
Click to expand...
cfl's are definately your best option ,cheapest way is to make your own, but enviro-lights and other ones are pretty good too. up until 2 weeks old you'll only want around 4000-6000 lux and around 8000 lux after that.
hope that helps.
 
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slomoking13

Well-Known Member
a couple cfl's will do the trick... get 6500k temp if you can. the cfl's work or you can get a 2 foot flourescent tube. just try to get a higher color temperature whatever you do. You won't need much light at all, i use a 25 watt flourescent tube for my seedlings and it does the trick just fine. If you are going outdoor in a couple weeks then you really don't need much light, just enough to keep them alive and healthy
 
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slomoking13

Well-Known Member
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noxnoctum

Active Member
Ya I'm just paranoid about using the internet :p.

What kind of distance should I put it from the tray?

And how do I hang it above the plants?
 
veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
I do a lot of starting, indoors.

I have five of these:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100010739&N=10000003+90006+501161+2192

They produce a blue spectrum that seedlings, clones and young plants seem to love.

They are strong enough to keep seedlings short and broad as they grow and strong enough that no "hardening off" is necessary before placing them in direct sunlight.*

*Nevertheless use caution. I've never had a problem, but sure as shit, someone will, sooner or later.

These fixtures last about three years when used with a timer(I've worn out four, so far. The wiring goes before the bulbs do.)

Keep the light within six inches of the plants.

Ignore the one review. These things DO wear out, but really put out a lot of light. If you are handy, you could build a mogul fixture and your own reflector.

The fixture needs a cord. I buy inexpensive extension cords and cut the female end off for this purpose.

When I replace these, I intend to buy an eight bulb T5 HO fixture.
 
jr22hockey

jr22hockey

Well-Known Member
You should just go to Home depot or Loews and buy some CFL's with some bulb splitters.
For 15 dollars you can buy a 68 watt 2700k CFL which will sufficiently veg a plant for a month. Plus your plants will grow better and faster with it than with any other bulb in the price range
 
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noxnoctum

Active Member
OK well I was thinking about buying this it's cheap as shit:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh9/R-100134615/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053#BVRRWidgetID

Would 2 be enough?

It doesn't have a kelvin rating but it says it's good for plants...

Really silly question but is all I need an extension cord to plug these things in? And do they come with a way to "stick" them to something or how should I suspend them above the plants? Cause I know lights around the house have fixtures put in already... do I need to have a fixture for these fluorescents (obviously I don't have any fixtures a couple feet above the ground :P)
 
jr22hockey

jr22hockey

Well-Known Member
You need a special lighting fixture with a "ballast" to use that bulb...and its not a great bulb for growing marijuana anyway. It's only 20 actual watts. You're really best off going with this bulb http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&productId=100676712&navFlow=3&keyword=68+watt&langId=-1&searchRedirect=68+watt&storeId=10051&endecaDataBean=com.homedepot.sa.el.wc.integration.endeca.EndecaDataBean@11aefb&ddkey=THDStoreFinder
Idk how much you know about lighting but you should keep lumens in mind. Lumens are basically penetrating power...how intense the light is, and that bigger bulb has more lumens than two smaller bulbs that equal the same wattage. And lumens don't add up either.
Trust me on this one you should buy that bulb. You can fit it into a normal screw in light socket, it only uses about as much power as an incandescent bulb, and its bright as f**k. It'll grow you're plants really well
 
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