Seeds

[o.gkushowns]

Hey everyone I have a question about seeds.

I know seeds like warmth and dark to germ but once they have germed and they are in the soil is it better to have the light on or off? thanks
peace

 

[deefirl]

Im new to this, I think wit light, but on flo`s ya... keep well out HIDS man.Great site ere IM sure you wil be told anyhing u need to know

 

[Gantz]

if the seedling is out of the soil then turn the light on. use cfls -small, compact, great.

 

[Guest]

if the seedling is out of the soil then turn the light on. use cfls -small, compact, great.

yep... I use a coiled flo in a desk lamp. I got about 4 which does 6 plants some good. See my link for a sure fire way to get a sprout, and you can also see my flos in there on the seedlings...

Soon as they pop, they will search for light. If there is no light, they will stay somewhat shut and stretch rappidly trying to find some. If they find it right away they will stay shorter and open up, which is what you want

 

[Dan42nepa]

the only advantage of having them under lights before they pop the soil is possible warmth. I leave them under lights for this reason.. Once they pop I usually put them under fluros but have had them under HID lights a safe distance away.

 

[easyrasta]

i put them under light
because i dont want it to pop
and start streching right away.
hate the gangly seedlings.
peace
Ez

 

[Guest]

There is a lot more advantage having them under a light than just warmth bro,the major reason you want a light at germination is to reduce vertical stretch.I put the pots under a 4 ft shoplight before they p[op the ground,then when they're up I keep the lamps 1/2 inch away at all times until they're 4 or 5 inches,then I switch to HID's.If you dont use a light and keep it close when they pop up,you are going to experience a whole lotta unwanted stretch,the flo light takles care of this.Its also a good idea to leave an inch on top of the pot with no soil so that when The seedling goes through its initial stretch,you can fill the pot the rest of the way with dirt supporting the stem.

 

[jcsmooth]

I like keeping a light on just above the soil (A few inches away if it's a cfl) to help direct the seedling to the right direction. I think the warmth helps it to know which way (much like the sun).
Conversely, I like using a heat mat when I'm cloning to help the roots know which way to go.

Don't know if my logic makes sense but it works for me

JC

 

[Mackawber]

Another good question is how much light should freshly popped seedling get? 24 hours, 18 hours or 16 hours?

 

[Guest]

It doesnt really matter,I like 18/6 most of the time but I may switch to 16/8 or 15/9 to save elec towards the end of the month.The most important thing is to keep those flo tubes close all the time,no farther than 1/2 inch

 

[Dan42nepa]

There is a lot more advantage having them under a light than just warmth bro,the major reason you want a light at germination is to reduce vertical stretch.I put the pots under a 4 ft shoplight before they p[op the ground,then when they're up I keep the lamps 1/2 inch away at all times until they're 4 or 5 inches,then I switch to HID's.If you dont use a light and keep it close when they pop up,you are going to experience a whole lotta unwanted stretch,the flo light takles care of this.Its also a good idea to leave an inch on top of the pot with no soil so that when The seedling goes through its initial stretch,you can fill the pot the rest of the way with dirt supporting the stem.

My point was that this time of year, i have grown from seed using both 400w MH lights and fluro shop lights and had success at both. When i used the 400w about 48 inches from the light, the warmth of my closet actually helped germination this time of year. Early fall I used fluros but the house was still warm. I have grown both ways from seed and both worked for me but this time of year when my house is about 50 degrees at night, having them under 400w 24/7, the warmth actually helped germination.

 

[smokeymacpot]

as soon as u put them in soil after they sprout, turn the cfl's on. if they get light as soon as they come through the soil, they will not stretch.