I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

Thanks once again
Titch

I have a 3 foot UV tube,

THREE feet? I've never seen one!

You'd be better off with a simply daylight
flourescent tube.


------------------------------------------
The Hemyock, Devon, UK branch of The Residents Appreciation Society.

http://english.aljazeera.net

On 28 Mar 2004 14:35:16 GMT, (Dcjtee) wrote:

I have a 3 foot UV tube,

THREE feet? I've never seen one!

You'd be better off with a simply daylight
flourescent tube.

Yes. You want as close to full-spectrum sunlight as you can get.
Fluorescent is better than incandescent; UV has a deliberately
restricted spectrum.

On 28 Mar 2004 14:35:16 GMT, (Dcjtee) wrote:

I have a 3 foot UV tube,

THREE feet? I've never seen one!

You'd be better off with a simply daylight
flourescent tube.

Yes. You want as close to full-spectrum sunlight as you can get.
Fluorescent is better than incandescent; UV has a deliberately
restricted spectrum.

"Titch" wrote in message
...
I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat
mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have
a 3 foot UV tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays
so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold
for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

It is not UV which is required for photosynthesis, but a
good balance between the red and the blue components of the
light.
A daylight fluorescent tube is OK, but you will have to
suspend it just a few inches above the seedlings, otherwise
they will become leggy.

Franz

Titch wrote in message
...
I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV
tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

Thanks once again
Titch
Hi again

Its a 3 foot tube UV light the sort you see in reptile tanks. I used to keep
water dragons which require these light on for 12 hours per day to get their
nutrients. Just wondered if this type of thing could replace sun as I
haven't any space left. My house looks like a pot plant from the outside
with leaves out of every window. Dont ya just luv gardening lol
Thanks
Titch

The message
from "Titch" contains these words:

I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

No. UV tubes are of little value for anything except for illuminating
fluorescent materials.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Titch wrote in message
...

Titch wrote in message
...
I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to
propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV
tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

Thanks once again
Titch
Hi again

Its a 3 foot tube UV light the sort you see in reptile tanks. I used to
keep
water dragons which require these light on for 12 hours per day to get
their
nutrients. Just wondered if this type of thing could replace sun as I
haven't any space left. My house looks like a pot plant from the outside
with leaves out of every window. Dont ya just luv gardening lol
Thanks
Titch


PS.

Found some info on the tube C&P below, Thanks
Repti Glo Desert UV Tube 8.0 - 15W 18" / 45cm
A purpose made reptile Ultraviolet light, ideal for lighting terrariums and
vivariums for reptiles and plants from desert areas, supplies 33% UVA and 8%
UVB. Promotes essential Vitamin D3 synthesis, required by many reptiles to
utilize the calcium in their diet, stimulates appetite, activity and
reproductive behaviour.
Recommended for reptiles with a high UV requirement e.g. Bearded Dragons,
Tegus, Chameleons, Desert Iguanas, Uromastyx, Monitors.

The message
from "Titch" contains these words:

I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

No. UV tubes are of little value for anything except for illuminating
fluorescent materials.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Titch wrote in message
...

Titch wrote in message
...
I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to
propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV
tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

Thanks once again
Titch
Hi again

Its a 3 foot tube UV light the sort you see in reptile tanks. I used to
keep
water dragons which require these light on for 12 hours per day to get
their
nutrients. Just wondered if this type of thing could replace sun as I
haven't any space left. My house looks like a pot plant from the outside
with leaves out of every window. Dont ya just luv gardening lol
Thanks
Titch


PS.

Found some info on the tube C&P below, Thanks
Repti Glo Desert UV Tube 8.0 - 15W 18" / 45cm
A purpose made reptile Ultraviolet light, ideal for lighting terrariums and
vivariums for reptiles and plants from desert areas, supplies 33% UVA and 8%
UVB. Promotes essential Vitamin D3 synthesis, required by many reptiles to
utilize the calcium in their diet, stimulates appetite, activity and
reproductive behaviour.
Recommended for reptiles with a high UV requirement e.g. Bearded Dragons,
Tegus, Chameleons, Desert Iguanas, Uromastyx, Monitors.

The message
from "Titch" contains these words:

I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

No. UV tubes are of little value for anything except for illuminating
fluorescent materials.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Titch wrote in message
...

Titch wrote in message
...
I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to
propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV
tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.

Thanks once again
Titch
Hi again

Its a 3 foot tube UV light the sort you see in reptile tanks. I used to
keep
water dragons which require these light on for 12 hours per day to get
their
nutrients. Just wondered if this type of thing could replace sun as I
haven't any space left. My house looks like a pot plant from the outside
with leaves out of every window. Dont ya just luv gardening lol
Thanks
Titch


PS.

Found some info on the tube C&P below, Thanks
Repti Glo Desert UV Tube 8.0 - 15W 18" / 45cm
A purpose made reptile Ultraviolet light, ideal for lighting terrariums and
vivariums for reptiles and plants from desert areas, supplies 33% UVA and 8%
UVB. Promotes essential Vitamin D3 synthesis, required by many reptiles to
utilize the calcium in their diet, stimulates appetite, activity and
reproductive behaviour.
Recommended for reptiles with a high UV requirement e.g. Bearded Dragons,
Tegus, Chameleons, Desert Iguanas, Uromastyx, Monitors.

In article , Jaques d'Alltrades writes:
| The message
| from "Titch" contains these words:
|
| I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
| seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV tube,
| would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
| sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
| trying to grow to place them outside just yet.
|
| No. UV tubes are of little value for anything except for illuminating
| fluorescent materials.

And boosting the skin's vitamin D production in the winter :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I mentioned in a previous post about using a reptile heat mat to propagate
seeds, they are coming along great. My question is I have a 3 foot UV
tube,
would this be OK to place over the top of the seed trays so they get
sunlight? My window sills are full and its still too cold for what I am
trying to grow to place them outside just yet.


Blimey . . . I never thought I'd see someone with this idea. I have just
done exactly the same thing with an old heat mat I had for a cane toad and
some salamanders. The patio chillis and sweetcorn just shot up when I put
the mat under them. It seemed to work as an antidote to the "spring"
weather, which seems to have been holding everything back here up North . .
..

I doubt whether a UV tube would be any good, but as you've got the fitting,
just replace it with a normal 'white' fluorescent tube - job's a good 'un,
perfect for seedlings of all description.

Andy

In article ,
(Franz Heymann) wrote:

A daylight fluorescent tube is OK, but you will have to
suspend it just a few inches above the seedlings, otherwise
they will become leggy.

I've just started experimenting with a low-energy bulb. It's the sort
with 3 U-shaped prongs and is rated as 20W in 100W out (sort of)

It's 6-12" away from a tray of marigold seedlings and they are
definitely bending towards it. A check with a photographic light meter
suggests it's giving them fairly bright days.

Actually, I wonder what would happen if I left it on 24/7?

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/