Seed starting with artifical light...

[H. Cromwell]

All of my available windows have metal awnings. I want to start tomatoes, peppers and some herbs for a self watering box set up. Has anyone tried the grow lights from the ebay link below? I was going to use them to supplement the natural window sill light to start the seedlings. Ideas?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Indoor-225-LED-Grow-Light-Lamp-14W-Blue-Red-Orange-White-Hydroponic-Plant-Panel/251281434119?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211132617%26meid%3D5763888458944018421%26pid%3D100085%26prg%3D20140211132617%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D400674352861%26clkid%3D5763889956490431025&_qi=RTM1562571

[Elad]

1. You don't need anything fancy.

I wouldn't trust that light. Simple flourescents tubes are fine. This system is cheap and easy to use and comes with everything you need, and use a T5 flourescent bulb which is a little better than traditional ones. I have a few of them, have been using them for 3 years, and have yet to need to replace a bulb or anything.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=jump+start+grow+light+system

[Major Nikon]

3. I'm building mine out of 1" PVC

But same basic design. My plan is to have one 4 bulb 48" fluorescent fixture which will cover up to 2 1020 seedling beds.

[sendero]

4. Also...

.... We use flourescent fixtures and they work fine. In fixtures with 2 bulbs, you might want to use a different "color" bulb for each instance.

You need to keep your seedlings close to the bulb, which is easy with flourescents as they don't run hot.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Howdy - actually, light is not at all needed to start most seeds....warmth helps.

Think about it - the vast majority of seeds get covered up by a soil layer of varying thickness. A very few flowers (impatiens and columbine are two) are surface sewn, but the rest are covered. Warmth is a factor for speeding things up - there are inexpensive heat mats (such as these - http://www.amazon.com/Growers-Supply-Company-GSHM-Discontinued/dp/B002LVU4Y8/ref=sr_1_14?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1395862371&sr=1-14&keywords=seedling+heat+mat ) that you place the germinating pots or flats atop.

Once they germinate, light becomes important to minimize "stretching", which makes young seedlings leggy - I just use shop lights with typical fluorescent tubes, in my unheated garage, ensuring the light tubes are within a few inches of the top of the seedlings.

Good luck! Ask anything....