Grow lights are NOT needed for starting seeds. You aren't growing the seedlings to fruition.
While it may not be grown to fruition, It is important to promote strong top growth once germinated. Spindly plants stretching for any available light will produce weak plants. Every seedling will be competing for the same light. Air movement is just as important to produce strong stalks. Most any light placed above the seedlings will help. Just don't use a light that will get too hot and dry/burn the sensitive seedling.
I'm not singling anyone out, Just quoted to get some information out there to folks that may have never or has a hard getting plants started. Light is very important to prevent stretching/ producing leggy, weak plants. Air to provide movement to help develope strong stalks.
Any LED light that is 5000k or 6500k is considered daylight spectrum. These lights are good for seedlings. You can put the plants close to the light since they don't put off much heat. This will keep them from getting leggy too.
Good information in the above two posts. Lights are not needed to sprout, BUT as soon as spouts appear get them under a light. Fluorescent lights work also about an inch above the plants. This will prevent leggy stems and failure of plants. As plants grow the light will need to be moved up also. Light air movement will also prevent fungus at the stem / ground contact point. I transplant my seedlings to get more of the stem in the dirt to give more root system.
From early February to end of March my kitchen table is a grow house.
From early February to end of March my kitchen table is a grow house.
Thanks for all the insight.
I got the warming mat under the trays today.
Should it stay on or maybe just for 6 hours a day while the light is coming through the window?
I got the warming mat under the trays today.
Should it stay on or maybe just for 6 hours a day while the light is coming through the window?
I leave mine on full time.
Doesn't take long with that warm soil
Like Need1 said..get a fluorescent light right above those. I made a little stand out of PVC and suspend my light with small chain, so I can raise it up as the plants get taller. Tomatoes and peppers will look better than the ones you buy if you do it right. The heating pad is 100% the way to go in combination with the light.
Those plants need more light, they are stretching trying to find it.
Ok. Thanks, I'll get some lights on them
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