Post a reply

Image
Jan 17, 2016 12:53 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanne
Lansing, Iowa (Zone 5a)
Birds Region: United States of America Vegetable Grower
How many hours a day should I be running the grow lights on my seedlings? Do they need to be in darkness for a while each day/night?
Yard decor, repurposing, and flowers,
Image
Jan 17, 2016 11:48 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Hi Jeanne -- this might depend on what kind of seedlings you have growing... but for pretty much everything that I start under lights, veggies and flowers, I have the lights on for about 16 hours/day and keep them pretty close to the plants. That depends, again, on what kind of lights you have -- mine are just the "old-fashioned" shop lights, with T12 bulbs. (The newer, high-output bulbs don't need to be as close to the plants, from what I've read.)
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
Image
Jan 18, 2016 7:58 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
If in an area that gets little bright, natural light, I too would burn the lights about 16 hrs./day. In greenhouses, with lots of light, I still burn my fixtures 6 hrs./day, from around 3:00 PM till 9:00 PM. I'm simply supplementing light while the sun is very low in the sky and during early evening.

You are correct, @weedwhacker. You can position plants extremely close to T12 and T8 tubes. T5 tubes produce some heat so you would want to keep the plants further away. T5 HO tubes produce a good bit of heat (as well as intense light) so plant position would have to be altered pretty drastically. The number of tubes/fixture is very important too. Just place your hand near the fixtures tubes and you'll immediately know what heat is produced by what.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )