help with lights for seedlings

[Farm Hobbit]

hi all,

 

i have a 600W HPS lucagrow light i think its called and I also have 2 seeds. I would prefer to not put 2 new seedlings under the 600W so would like to know what I could use instead for like the first month just to get them up and a few leaves out.

 

is there anything in bunnings that I could use for this purpose ? I dont know much about lights and cfl's and wattage and lumens so if you could be specific that would be very appreciated. 

 

thanks for your help

[Matanuska Thunder]

 CFL's (compact fluro Light) are what you want

you will need a few 

I've used 80watts of CFL with lots of success 

 

should be a few topics on them if ya do a search

[Farm Hobbit]

thanks  for our input Thunder

 

have found this one 

Phillips Energy Saver CFL Hydroponic Lamp 80W / 6500K at around $75

 

does that sound about right ? if it's only for 2-3 seedlings how many do you think would be needed if its just for the 1st 4 -6weeks ? 

 

 

[Matanuska Thunder]

that is one, yes

does it have the extra big metal part (vs a reg size bulb?)

 

those are great lights!

1 light will easily work for 3 plants  and it works great for cuttings too

[Sir PsychoHashy]

Hey Hobbit, I've used a couple of 24w daylight cfl's in cheap desk lamps before, only really good for a week or so though then they need more power to get on with it.  The 80w Phillips is a good seedling/clone lamp, and will always be a handy lamp to have lying around.

 

Having said that, I generally use a digi HPS turned down to 250 or 400w these days, and have started them off under 600w HPS more than once, with no problems.  Trick is to start off a little bit too high and bring it down as the seedlings get established enough to deal with the radiated heat and light intensity.  I don't really ascribe to the theory that they can't handle HPS as seedlings, but I do agree that 600w for 1 or 2 tiny seedlings is not sensible economics.

[Farm Hobbit]

strongest cfl at bunnings is a 24w. 

 

any idea how seedlings react to spending the first 4-6 weeks outside in the sun so normal day night conditions before being brought inside under artificial lights for like 22on2off ? beginning to think screw the electricity bill and just use the 600w HPS.

 

thanks you both for your help and input

[Sir PsychoHashy]

They're the ones I meant, 2 of them in cheap arse bendy desk lamps (with the matching fitting) with the directional cone shaped hood, also from bummings.  Only good for a week or so.  If you're that worried about power costs that you want to start them outdoors, get the lamps and give em an extra 4-6hrs/day under them to keep them in veg.  Personally, after 2 weeks or so they really need strong light to perform, so I'd just go HPS from the start if I had nothing else.  Just don't start too close.