Do I really need a fluro to germinate?

[Mazatec]

This may seem like a dumb question to the experts on here but please don't jump down my throat bcoz I've scoured this forum for an answer and haven't founfd one.

My grow cupboard is 5.2 sq ft (57cm W x 85cm L x 183cm H) I'm growing 2 plants from seed in medium. There is 140cm between the top of pots and where the 250w hps lamp will be attached. With proper air flow ventilation for the space - my question is: will the 250w be to harsh for germinating the seeds (remember it will be 1.4m above the pots). My plan is to germinate them in rock wool cubes immersed in coco fibre/perlite mix - large pots. Or will I need two 30w fluro's (cfs?) dangling 5cm above the pots until they germinate and grow 4 sets of leaves - then change to the 250w? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[offmeface86]

good Question.

 

i need to learn to. got the same set up kinda

[merl1n]

It isn't just the heat you need to worry about

HPS and MH lights are both called High Intensity Discharge or HID lights. The intensity of the light can kill youngsters. So in short I'd be playing it safe and starting with a CFL or good old common daylight to start then CFL before HPS, much safer than straight HPS IMHO.

 

Merl1n

[wietlover]

Hi mazatec,

I run a cupboard with about the same dimensions as you with a 250 watt mh/hps in a cooltube.

All my seedlings go straight under the hid..not had any probs myself.

So to answer your question.......no you don't need cfls for seedlings/germination. But as merlin said,if ya a noob cfls are prob a safer way to go.

Cheers mate

wiet

[smashed1]

hay bro never grown under lights ,well i litle, what i know is , cfl's are much cheaper , an what ive seen on here do JUST ! as good job for seedling / veging , other than that i dont realy think it maters to much ,

just make sure you keep that big hps heaps away from seedlings

[YourLocal420]

Ok hopefully I can help you. You dont need a floro to germ! However using a HPS is less than ideal. Young plants dont like to be blasted with alot of light especially in the wrong spectrum, I wouldnt use your HPS till flower. Most HPS bulbs are in the 5500k to 6500k (kelvin) temperature range or orange spectrum. The orange simulates fall flowering and can confuse your plants or make them stretch and what not. Imagine your plant trying to figure out why its getting fall sunshine on a spring lighting schedule.

 

What would be more suited for your seedling would be a soft white CFL or a T12 Floro with agrigrow bulbs around a 2800k spectrum or more and blue light, that simulates spring and is more what the plant is looking for. More lumens isnt necessarily better if its in the wrong spectrum and the plant cant utilise it as well. And also the high intensity light on your plant could stress the little guy, I hope this helps CHEERS!