Grow lights

[Anton]

I usually chit seeds and then sow them in peat pots or a tray and then put them on a table up in the attic. They do grow but tend to get a big leggy, even though I put tin-foil-covered board around them (especially the tomatoes) to intensify the light. This year I bought a grow light and it arrived today. I've never used one before. Any advice please? Should I apply the brightest setting or would this be harmful to my tomato seedlets (surrounded with tin foil)?

[rary]

I have never used a grow light though I do use an LED strip light over my seedlings,but don't see how a grow light would harm any seedlings, unless the light also provides heat, though I think most lights nowadays use LED which dont provide much if any heat, again using a grow light is to prevent plants getting leggy, so I think the brighter the light the stronger the seedling, no doubt some one will be able to give you a definite answer and info on the light spectrum used by grow lights

[Peanut]

I use grow lights. Mine has white, blue and red lights that apparently all give different benefits (I forget what they are) and you can use individually or together but I just have mine with all colours on together, on quite a bright setting (I imagine they all differ slightly) and about 12-18 inches away from the seed tray.

I think it's trial and error Anton with your extra foil reflection giving a boost, maybe start on a medium high setting and go higher if you think you need to. Your seedlings will let you know if they're unhappy

Good luck

[Anton]

Thanks for all this helpful advice.

Anton

[rary]

Heres a true story about lights, when I worked a fellow worker asked me how I kept my plants growing in the winter as his lights got too hot, so after saying I don't really provide light for my plants but for my aquariums I used to fit aluminium foil above a 60 watt light bulb and that kept my plants growing but if he could afford it he could buy grow lights which were strip lights with the proper light spectrum. The following winter I asked him how his plants were growing, the answer was "my grass is growing great," foolishly I asked why he was growing grass , evidently I led a sheltered life

[Anton]

Heres a true story about lights, when I worked a fellow worker asked me how I kept my plants growing in the winter as his lights got too hot, so after saying I don't really provide light for my plants but for my aquariums I used to fit aluminium foil above a 60 watt light bulb and that kept my plants growing but if he could afford it he could buy grow lights which were strip lights with the proper light spectrum. The following winter I asked him how his plants were growing, the answer was "my grass is growing great," foolishly I asked why he was growing grass , evidently I led a sheltered life

That's funny.