What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.

--

a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

simy1 wrote:
Al Dykes wrote:

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.


Most people here use commercial fluorescent lights, which have a broad
spectrum and relatively low consumption. usually seeding trays are 2X1
feet (I have both the 72 cell ones and the 288 cell ones), and it took
me a while to find 4 feet lights (two trays side by side), because 3
and 6 feet are most common......................................

Where in the world do you live that you can't easily find 4 foot
fixtures? That's about all I ever see and I didn't even know they make 6
foot ones.

Steve

Al Dykes wrote:

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.



I start my garden plants in the basement. I use a bank of 8 four foot
long fluorescent tubes above a single shelf. For a week or two I run out
of space. Then I leave the lights on 24 hours a day and rotate the trays
of plants through so that they take turns being directly under the
lights. Soon the cold tolerant plants are moved outside to harden off
and the space is enough again.
You'll want the plants to be almost touching the lights. As the plants
grow, you'll either need to raise up the lights or lower the plants.
Cool temperatures are good. You wouldn't want to be much warmer than 68
degrees.
I keep the newly planted seeds warm so they get up and growing quick. I
use an old electric blanket folded flat so that it fits neatly into a
garbage bag. (yes, I fully expect that doing this will burn the house
down one of these years.) Any way, keeping the newly planted seeds at 80
to 85 degrees will get most seeds growing in about 3 days. As soon as
several seedlings are up, they get moved over to the lights.

Steve

Al Dykes wrote:

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.



I start my garden plants in the basement. I use a bank of 8 four foot
long fluorescent tubes above a single shelf. For a week or two I run out
of space. Then I leave the lights on 24 hours a day and rotate the trays
of plants through so that they take turns being directly under the
lights. Soon the cold tolerant plants are moved outside to harden off
and the space is enough again.
You'll want the plants to be almost touching the lights. As the plants
grow, you'll either need to raise up the lights or lower the plants.
Cool temperatures are good. You wouldn't want to be much warmer than 68
degrees.
I keep the newly planted seeds warm so they get up and growing quick. I
use an old electric blanket folded flat so that it fits neatly into a
garbage bag. (yes, I fully expect that doing this will burn the house
down one of these years.) Any way, keeping the newly planted seeds at 80
to 85 degrees will get most seeds growing in about 3 days. As soon as
several seedlings are up, they get moved over to the lights.

Steve

In article ,
Steve wrote:
Al Dykes wrote:

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.



I start my garden plants in the basement. I use a bank of 8 four foot
long fluorescent tubes above a single shelf. For a week or two I run out
of space. Then I leave the lights on 24 hours a day and rotate the trays
of plants through so that they take turns being directly under the
lights. Soon the cold tolerant plants are moved outside to harden off
and the space is enough again.
You'll want the plants to be almost touching the lights. As the plants
grow, you'll either need to raise up the lights or lower the plants.
Cool temperatures are good. You wouldn't want to be much warmer than 68
degrees.
I keep the newly planted seeds warm so they get up and growing quick. I
use an old electric blanket folded flat so that it fits neatly into a
garbage bag. (yes, I fully expect that doing this will burn the house
down one of these years.) Any way, keeping the newly planted seeds at 80
to 85 degrees will get most seeds growing in about 3 days. As soon as
several seedlings are up, they get moved over to the lights.

Steve


I take it that "under the lights" does not include the heatpad.



--

a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

In article ,
Steve wrote:
Al Dykes wrote:

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.



I start my garden plants in the basement. I use a bank of 8 four foot
long fluorescent tubes above a single shelf. For a week or two I run out
of space. Then I leave the lights on 24 hours a day and rotate the trays
of plants through so that they take turns being directly under the
lights. Soon the cold tolerant plants are moved outside to harden off
and the space is enough again.
You'll want the plants to be almost touching the lights. As the plants
grow, you'll either need to raise up the lights or lower the plants.
Cool temperatures are good. You wouldn't want to be much warmer than 68
degrees.
I keep the newly planted seeds warm so they get up and growing quick. I
use an old electric blanket folded flat so that it fits neatly into a
garbage bag. (yes, I fully expect that doing this will burn the house
down one of these years.) Any way, keeping the newly planted seeds at 80
to 85 degrees will get most seeds growing in about 3 days. As soon as
several seedlings are up, they get moved over to the lights.

Steve


I take it that "under the lights" does not include the heatpad.



--

a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

Al Dykes wrote:

In article ,
Steve wrote:

Al Dykes wrote:


What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.



I start my garden plants in the basement. I use a bank of 8 four foot
long fluorescent tubes above a single shelf. For a week or two I run out
of space. Then I leave the lights on 24 hours a day and rotate the trays
of plants through so that they take turns being directly under the
lights. Soon the cold tolerant plants are moved outside to harden off
and the space is enough again.
You'll want the plants to be almost touching the lights. As the plants
grow, you'll either need to raise up the lights or lower the plants.
Cool temperatures are good. You wouldn't want to be much warmer than 68
degrees.
I keep the newly planted seeds warm so they get up and growing quick. I
use an old electric blanket folded flat so that it fits neatly into a
garbage bag. (yes, I fully expect that doing this will burn the house
down one of these years.) Any way, keeping the newly planted seeds at 80
to 85 degrees will get most seeds growing in about 3 days. As soon as
several seedlings are up, they get moved over to the lights.

Steve



I take it that "under the lights" does not include the heatpad.


That's right. My "heat pad" goes on a counter top on the other side of
the room. It would be nice sometimes to have it under the lights. That
way I wouldn't have to check so often to see what is sprouting. If I
don't catch it soon enough, the early sprouters would look like
spaghetti. Under the lights, I could also continue the heat until most
have sprouted instead of just the early ones.

Steve

you are probably right. I just went to Home Depot that day, found no 4
footers but plenty of the other ones, and went to a shop for
contractors to find some. But they should be available.

you are probably right. I just went to Home Depot that day, found no 4
footers but plenty of the other ones, and went to a shop for
contractors to find some. But they should be available.

After years of shop lights, I bit the bullet and got propagation mats and a
1000 watt light system 4 years ago. Plenty of light and even heat. I would
never go back!

John!



"Al Dykes" wrote in message
...

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.