The Lightpot
Seed starting with grow lights is fun and economical. It allows you to choose from a wider variety of seeds, get a jump start on spring planting, and is less expensive than buying the seedlings at the local nursery.
The light you choose to grow your indoor seedlings is crucial for healthy, stocky seedlings. This can be accomplished rather simply with some tips, the proper bulbs and growing systems.
Seedlings need lots of bright, close light, and when they don't receive enough of it they get tall and leggy. Some gardeners use east windows to start seedlings; others try south lighting, but neither of these is optimum for promising yields. In winter, the angle of the sun is much too low, and the days aren't long enough to provide the amount of sunlight young seedlings need. The best solution is to grow your seedlings under fluorescent lights.
Fluorescent bulbs are ideal for seedstarting because they give off very little heat. Growing plants under lights, lets you control light intensity in two ways: the wattage of the bulb and how close the bulb is to the plant's foliage. You can start by positioning the bulbs just 2-3″ above the foliage. Raise the height of the lights in pace with the growth of the plants about once a week to maintain a 3-4″ distance between bulb and foliage. Having a fixture that adjusts makes the task much easier.
How much light is required? The average need is 14 to 18 hours of sunlight (or artificial light) each day. Eight hours of darkness is essential to let plants rest. If you would rather not fuss over the shcedule of lighting and timing, consider using an automatic timer to regulate the on and off periods.
To get the next best thing to natural sunlight, you will want to use full-spectrum light bulbs. This allows for a nearly 90% closeness to the actual light spectrum of the sun. Fluorescent bulb technology has made great strides to become higher in efficiency than standard fluorescent bulbs.
Some manufacturers have taking the work out of setting up a system by making ready made systems for your home of various sizes. Companies like hydrogrow and Gardener's Supply have systems to suit your needs, from tabletop seed starter lights that adjust, to larger multiple shelf systems. Search around for some of the available choices and have fun this winter seeing your future harvest grow in your home.
