when to start lighting?

[high_hoper]

hey all,

I'll soon be planting my seeds for my first grow and was just wondering should I have the lights on 24/0 before the plants emerge from the ground, or wait until I can see the stem?

 

high_hoper

[boulder]

There are different methods that prove successful. Seeds can be placed between folded, wet paper towels that are kept moist and warm in an area between 70-85 degrees, such as on the top of the refrigerator. After a period of 48 hours to 2 weeks, the vast majority of viable seeds will crack open with a white root tip emerging. At this point, the seed is gently placed in the growing medium approximately 1/2 inch deep with the root tip pointed downward.

 

Seeds can also be placed directly into the grow medium with the pointed end facing upwards to germinate without the transplanting step. The medium is kept uniformly moist until the young seedling emerges on the surface.

 

It is not necessary to provide light before the seedlings break the surface, but it is beneficial to have strong light present from that moment forward to prevent excessive stem elongation. Fluorescent lighting is satisfactory with cool white or higher color temperature tubes being preferable. Metal halide lighting is beneficial, if heat and moisture are monitored.

 

http://www.overgrow.com/faq/browse.php?qa=34

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http://www.overgrow.com/faq/browse.php?topic=166

[Pete]

hi high hopper,

i'm a first-timer too .. when i was germinating i followed all the steps ppl have said, cept the warm area, left it for a couple of days and nothing happened. then i turned the lights on and the heat from the transfomer must have heated the grow area because it wasn't long before i had 90% of the seeds become lil seedlings .. from this concluded that warmth is as important as moisture during germination. (i fink)

 

hope this helps

Pete

[pipeman]

take this for what its worth since I have never grown, but the only issue I could see with using lights to warm your seeds is that they will tend to dry out whatever medium you are trying to germinate in, which should be kept moist.

[high_hoper]

thanks for the tips guys.

 

pipeman, thats a good point which i didn't think about, is there a way to stop the soil (im growing in soil) from drying? covering it with paper perhaps?

 

high_hoper

[Pete]

i jus checked them when ever i thought of it and watered when they looked like they needed it

 

i used a water spraying bottle it gives a even distibution of water without over doing it. i used fluros n they didn't seem to dry out the soil that fast.

[nouseforaname]

hey,

When starting seeds under high intensity discharge lamps you are better off to create a humidity dome over the pot. Either with a cut 2 litre bottle or cling wrap. Will help keep the moisture up but cant be over 75% relative humidty (100% humidity will make seeds moldy and mushy) The main thing that kills young seedlings is over care.

[sols]

g'day; i put seeds straight under fluoro as soon as i have sown them,18/6 is my preferred time.spray with atomiser every few hours to keep humidity high.

[crazychicken]

Is it a good idea to pop them on a reservior if you're doing hydro, or will that over water them?

[staflo22]

Hello everybody , hey my seedlings have just broke the the top of my rockwool starter cubes and i had them in my grow room under a 400 watt hps, i was wondering do i have to wait for roots to show thru the bottom of the rockwool before i stick them in my new hydroponic system, or can i do it as soon as it breaks thru since its probably already adjusted to the light, i also have some under a full spectrum t5 florescent, but i think the hps light will be too strong for them but i also ordered a MH conversion Bulb that should be here later on today can i put the ones under the T5 Florescent in the Grow room or do i have to wait for roots with those also , please let me know im so anxious to use my new hydroponic setup OH YEAH IM A NOOB I also have been Growing this what at 1st appeared to be a female it had the 2 white pistils and everything but then these started to grow i think they are pollen sacs