[cedricmeier]

Good day All,

I've done a bunch of research online and most people are saying that placing fluorescent t5 or t8 bulbs about 2-4 inches from the top of the seedling is about right. I have also read that 8-12 inches from the top of the seedling is to be used for LED bulbs. I bought a few Barrina 4ft 6500K 2200 lumens LED (t5-like) bulbs that are diffused. Since the LED lights are diffused and not shining directly on the seedlings, do you think that I could place the LED bulbs closer (e.g. 2-4 inches instead of 8-12 inches)?

Thanks all for any help
These are the bulbs i bought on amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Barrina-Integrated-Fixture-Utility-Electric/dp/B07F2WMCP2

 

[DoomsDave]

Good day All,

I've done a bunch of research online and most people are saying that placing fluorescent t5 or t8 bulbs about 2-4 inches from the top of the seedling is about right. I have also read that 8-12 inches from the top of the seedling is to be used for LED bulbs. I bought a few Barrina 4ft 6500K 2200 lumens LED (t5-like) bulbs that are diffused. Since the LED lights are diffused and not shining directly on the seedlings, do you think that I could place the LED bulbs closer (e.g. 2-4 inches instead of 8-12 inches)?

Thanks all for any help
These are the bulbs i bought on amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Barrina-Integrated-Fixture-Utility-Electric/dp/B07F2WMCP2

Hmm. Interesting!

What kind of seeds are you sprouting?

 

[cedricmeier]

Trying out a whole bunch of different seeds...this is my first year growing. So far i have lettuce, a bunch of different tomatoes, peppers and spinach. Gonna do a tray of microgreens too once the seeds arrive.

 

[DoomsDave]

Maybe about 12" above the seedlings, if the lights are fluorescent. If incandescent, more like 18"; if anyone has more recent experience than me, defer to them.

The reason for the difference is that incandescent lights, particularly those used for indoor growing can put out a lot of heat.

Also, where are you located? That will matter when the time comes for planting out in the garden, unless you're doing the whole pot in the greenhouse thing.

City/County and State/Province is perfect.

 

[Old Thomas]

In western NY I used to start peppers in February and tomatoes in March for planting around a Memorial Day. Fluorescent light is not really intense so 6 inches should be plenty. I tried fluorescent and it worked but the plants were kind of thin and spindly. For the last few weeks before transplanting them put them outdoors during the day. It will harden them to outdoor conditions and thicken them up. Good luck.

 

[DoomsDave]

@cedricmeier, what @Old Thomas said. I concur.

I've been out here too long; I'd forgotten how important it can be to harden seedlings off before you plant them.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. We hope you can have a great gardening experience. That's where our food comes from.

 

[chandler48]

This is an argument I have with wifey when she seeds her plants. HEY, light travels at 178,000 miles per second, so 2" or 2' won't make a lot of difference. That's my take. Of course, our lights are 2" above the seedlings for a while, and I'll raise them as she sees fit.