Seed Starting--What kind of lighting?

[Andora]

For those who start seeds early and use florescent lights, what kind of bulb do you use? I've been trying to read online to figure it out, but now I'm more confused than ever!

The light fixture I'm using (just for one 50 space seed tray) is from my frog tank. It's 24 inches. Right now there's an actinic blue coralife bulb in it, but I'm not sure that's good enough? I also have a 20 watt regular white bulb that will fit in it. It takes T12 bulbs. The fixture fits only a single tube.

Will either of these work? Or should I pick up a different kind of bulb? Some of my seeds are starting to sprout and they're going to need more light fast!

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

You need a plant & aquarium bulb.. It does specify plant on the label. Make sure it says it has red and blue spectrum lighting. You can find them at Home Depot and Lowe's. Just tell the attendent what you are needing it for if you can't find it. Not sure about Wal-Mart.

 

[3goodeggs]

Gee, we have over 16,000 square feet of greenhouses, but we can not afford the fuel to heat them.
I guess I am just burnt out on buying more stuff for PLANTS, but I use my brooder light with a high watt bulb, hung over a broom stick that is balancing on the curtain rod and a book case. So far the peppers, tomatoes, and basil have been happy, strong and true... but I also germinated my seeds on a heating pad covered with a flannel covered rubber sheet. The cruciferous plants and my lettuce can handle the cooler green house temps, so I let them.
High tech had it's turn.

I do have them on a table by the big picture window, and when the sun shows itself, I pull back the curtains.

 

[mamaKate]

My Wal Mart sells them, too. They're with the light bulbs.

 

[Hunny]

I just have one of those silver light cans, like you use for your brooding box. But I put a "grow bulb" in it. Bought the bulb from the greenhouse

 

[vfem]

I use a southern facing window, or a 100 watt bulb with a cheap electrical clamp light you find in the electical department of Home Depot or Ace or Lowes. Its cheap and you can adjust the closeness to your plants with it.

Some plants get leggy if you are more then 18" away.

Also, you don't need a lamp to germinate your seeds. So start your seeds without light and add the light when they are above the soil line.

We are have a great # of discussions about starting seeds right now on BYC's sister site: www.TheEasyGarden.com come visit us on the forums and become addicted too!!!

I'm vfem over there too btw.

 

[Andora]

The light I have is a plant grow light, but my confusion was because it's very blue light. I can't figure out if lots of blue spectrum lighting is good or bad for seedlings--googling came up with insanely confusing results! (I have a blue light because it doesn't freak out my clawed frogs like brighter lights do. I took it off of their tank...they don't mind no lighting, we just can't see them as well, lol.)

So far the broccoli is just starting to sprout and the catnip grew leggy seedlings overnight somehow. The basil is sprouting too and looking good so far--it's usually pretty hardy. I just got the light fixture over top of them this afternoon.

I have habanero peppers, bell peppers, three kinds of tomatoes, broccoli, three kinds of basil, cilantro, oregano...I'm forgetting some things...

I also started some gerber daisy seeds, black eyed susan seeds, and a yellow wild flower because I had trouble getting them to sprout last year when I just tried them in the soil in the spring. I read gerber daisies are pretty difficult to start--I saved seed from my dying flowers last fall. I got excited because I thought one sprouted the other day, but it turned out my 3 year old had added some basil seeds to that little pot when I wasn't looking.

I'll come over to the gardening forum and check it out. I think I joined it a previous year, but I never posted much.