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Daylight bulbs for seedlings

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  • #1

    Daylight bulbs for seedlings

    Hey folks.

    I don't have a heated propagator, so to get some of my seeds going I've got an unheated one on a desk in the office and put a desk lamp (standard 60W pearl bulb) directly over it to provide both heat and, when the seedlings push up, light.

    I've just had the first seedling break the surface today and it's made me wonder if I might be better replacing the current bulb with one of these:
    Daylight Simulation GLS Lamps : Specialist Bulbs : Maplin

    More blue, less red, colour temp around 5000K (I believe).
    I don't know if any of that makes any difference to plants, but if it does, they are so cheap it almost seems daft not to use one.

    So - worth using or not?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    I use an eco 20w daylight version (off ebay) in a fake angle-poise desk lamp and it certainly helped with starting the toms/chillies/aubs early in the heated prop.

    I think (if you check hydroponics sites) that the blue spec is good for growing vegetative and the red spec better for flowering fruiting, but I can't remember exactly - sorry.
    To see a world in a grain of sand
    And a heaven in a wild flower

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    • #3
      Those bulbs are no good for growing.

      You want the fluorescent daylight cfl's.

      The daylight GLS bulb in your link is no more than a coloured lens

      Chris

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      • #4
        I will add i'm using a blue led panel I made, a 20w daylight cfl and a 20w 2700k cfl in a wardrobe. I have used reflective black/ white sheeting to prevent wasted light:

        Just leds:


        Both:

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        • #5
          I use a couple of these from Argos.

          Bulbs are 6400k (11 watt) and seem to do a pretty good job.

          Buy Large Silver Energy Saving Desk Lamp at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

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          • #6
            I posted a while back about using lights http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lbs_42539.html
            I've grown my chillies under artificial light since 26/12 and I've got jalapenos set, with buds in the dorset nagas, scotch bonnets and choc habs. I've just started moving them out onto windowsills to cut the electric bill a bit. I also found it only took 6 weeks from sowing to showing buds in tomato plants, but they grew too big for my cupboard. Next year I will know how to calculate the sowing date. The french beans have been cropping for 3 weeks, not many as I only put the plants in to 'use up the light', but I've been amazed at how quickly they grew tooI did post a while back explaining exactly how I'd set it up, but the post was attracting spammers apparently and was taken down.
            Last edited by BarleySugar; 05-04-2010, 07:15 PM.
            I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!
            Now a little Shrinking Violet.

            http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Toleman View Post
              Those bulbs are no good for growing.

              You want the fluorescent daylight cfl's.

              The daylight GLS bulb in your link is no more than a coloured lens

              Chris
              Oh, pants. Just what I bought of course. So, to be extra sure next time, would you mind spelling out what to look for? (mystified face from googling '20w daylight cfl')
              The Impulsive Gardener

              www.theimpulsivegardener.com

              Chelsea Uribe Garden Design www.chelseauribe.com

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              • #8
                Somebody on a chilli forum is using these:
                UMBRELLA 36W DAYLIGHT ENERGY SAVER LIGHT BULB (BC) - £4.29 : XClusive Supplies, bringing innovation to you

                Chris

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Llamas View Post
                  Oh, pants. Just what I bought of course. So, to be extra sure next time, would you mind spelling out what to look for? (mystified face from googling '20w daylight cfl')
                  'Daylight' bulb is a lightbulb giving out light in a certain spectrum ie daylight or 6400k. Another spectrum might be infrared, etc.

                  So if you are looking for something to help your plants grow then there are certain spectrums of light that are needed...

                  What do you need?
                  Red and Blue light is essential for plant growth. It is well known that chlorophyll, which is contained in the green leaves of plants performs photosynthesis. Red and Blue are the wavelengths most essential for photosynthesis. The blue absorption region is 430-450 nm and that of red is 650-670 nm.

                  Red Light
                  Red Light is in the vicinity of the first peak of a plants light absorption spectrum (660nm) and it contributes to the plant photosynthesis. Red light, when combined with blue light, encourages flowering. It can also be used in higher doses to stimulate flowering, seeding and fruiting.

                  Blue Light
                  Blue light is responsible primarily for vegetative growth (leaf). It is known that chlorophyll has the second distinct absorption peak in the vicinity of blue light wavelengths (450nm). The blue light is also indispensable to the morphologically healthy growth plant. There is also more sunlight energy in the blue-green wavelengths
                  A daylight bulb provides both 'red' & 'blue' light, but you can get bulbs that provide either and use a combination.
                  To see a world in a grain of sand
                  And a heaven in a wild flower

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                  • #10
                    Just a quick post to say thanks a million for the responses to this thread.
                    You've given me far more information than I can act on right now (though I'm very glad I've been saved from buying those blue bulbs when there's a better option) but I'll be sitting down to read this thread properly during the week so hopefully will be able to take in a lot more next time.
                    Pats on the back for all of you!

                    Llamas... might you be able to take them back to the shop? Could be worth a shot.

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