How far should 400 watt bulb be from seedlings?

[TaprootErection]

How far should seedlings be from bulb in inches? I dont want to burn my babies..
Then once they start growing a lil (vegative stage), I move bulb as close as possible without burning, correct?
ps. I will also be using 400watt for flower

 

[ft100]

as long as your seeing no negative effects yes. i like to start at least 3 feet away from the seedlings and move it down slowly as they get stronger and used to the light.

 

[Socrates]

Yeah, the plants are more vulnerable to heat and excessive light when they are that small. I actually like to start them under fluoros for the first week just to be safe, since I've had some bad experiences starting them immediately under the MH, but as long as you keep them a good distance away (I'd say at least 3 feet) from the HPS and have the heat well under control, you should be alright.

 

[cadillachydro]

Man you could be savin yourself some real dough if youd find or buy some flourecents. You dont need to be burnin 400w on seedlings anyways, its like a waste of energy. Technicaly, you can buy some of the cheap shop lights, or if your feelin spendy buy a T5 setup... but buy atleast the 2' x4 bulber... perfect for humidome and rooted clones. Theres also the plain aluminium wing reflectors with the big 125-150w flouro bulbs. Maybe $60 to $100 will make ya happy. Dont forget that flouros can be put wayyyyy close to the tops without burn. Lower temps, and a seperate light schedule from whats flowering, ya cant lose. Keep it easy ~caddy

 

[Guest]

I can grow a healthier 4 or 5 inch plant under a 2 lamp 4 ft shoplight than I could under a 250,400 or 1K HID,I've tried both ways.You cant be flo light for babies.

 

[Socrates]

Agreed...and trust the man on this, he knows what he's talking about

 

[Skunkenstein]

I believe my 125cfl is my most used, and favorite light.You can have beautiful and compact growth without the extra heat issues.For the initial phases of development they work wonders..Eventually you need Hid lighting.I think some of the magazines should have more articles featuring'Floro' lighting and it's applications.I've never seen a burned-up, mutated looking plant under a CFL ever...!!!

 

[hogleg hunter]

I've been using 2 of the fourfooters in our seedling room, glad to see that seems to be best. I really like that you can get the floros right on top of the babies. they're so damn cute at that age.

 

[TaprootErection]

Thank you all for thr replys..Ive decided to use 120watts in flouros for the first few days until their first real leaves are out all the way, then switch it over to my HPS

I would like to just do 24/0 for the first few days as well just to give it an early bright start...then switch to 18/16 when I turn on the HPS...would I be risking hermie messing with light scedule at such a young age?

 

[weed_snob]

No give them a dark cycle, this is the time when the roots extract energy from the stems so they can take off. the dark cycle is espcially important for clones and seedlings.

I dont think puting them on 24 hrs light will harm them or cause hermies but it wont help.

 

[Guest]

I agree I'll go 20/4 if I'm in a hurry,but always give them some dark hours.I'd also give them more than just a couple days under the t-12's,if you go 3 weeks or even two you'll se a beautiful compact little plant

 

[hogleg hunter]

this is the kind of thing that makes this site so endearing to see everyone offer advice and hints to make the most of everyone's grow. cause we're all after the same thing some kickass smoke withvery little cost. peace.

 

[TaprootErection]

indeed! its great to be here
lil ones are doing great under 120watts of cfl @ 18/6.
Gonna give em the 400 once I feel the time is right...maybe another week or 2, or once my babies outgrow the 120watt range.

THank you all for the replies!!

 

[Guest]

Make sure to keep the lamps literally 1/2 inch above the plants at all times,I usually have to adjust every other day.The closer you keep those lamps,the more compact the plant will be when you go under the HID.This is for T-12 tube floros I think cf's get a lot hotter I dont have any of those

 

[Guest]

A good breeze across the tops of the plants with a rotating fan, and keep the light as close as possible like SKELETOR said. Keep those plants as compact as possible before you flip 12/12 and they start stretching. The only time I've had problems is when there wasnt good air flow.