Leggy plants under lights

martha 3/6/2010, 11:10 pm

Someone (you know who you are! I won't blow your cover!) mentioned on another thread that no matter what he did, his seedlings grown under lights always get leggy, no matter how close he keeps the light to the plants.

Has anyone started plants inside and have them look like the pictures in the "How to" books?

I sure would love to have mine come out great this year!

boffer 3/6/2010, 11:21 pm

Dang it, woman, I read this post cause I thought you were gonna tell me the secret to getting normal seedlings! Leggy plants under lights Icon_razz

SirTravers 3/6/2010, 11:47 pm

Make sure to use full spectrum lighting..mix in a daylight, plant gro bulb with a normal bulb.
Don't use bulbs that produce a lot of heat..LED's are best but costly right now, fluorescent tubes have their size and power limits, metal halide is hot, incandecent...well that's old school y'all.
always keep the lights 2 to 4 inches above the seedlings...this gives an intense light that should slow the plant seedlings growth down to normal and doesn't cook them in the process.
keep the soil moist and warm....think greenhouse environment. You can cover the open trays with perforated plastic wrap to retain moisture while the seeds are germinating.

HawaiiAl 3/7/2010, 12:13 am

drop the lights to 1" above the plants after they come out of dome.make sure your fan is on when ever the lights are on. 16 hours

boffer 3/7/2010, 12:27 am

I've heard of using a fan before, is that for good ventilation, or does it really help strengthen the stems?

HawaiiAl 3/7/2010, 2:35 am

makes plant stems much stronger,keeps damping off at bay, Leggy plants under lights Icon_lol

**Theresa** 3/7/2010, 10:27 am

To warm of temperatures can cause leggy seedlings too. Once the seeds have germinated the ideal temperatures should be between sixty five and seventy five degrees during the day and about ten degrees cooler at night. Air temperatures that are to warm will cause plants to get leggy, and temperatures too cool will produce short stalky plants.
Crowded seedlings can become leggy also.

boffer 3/7/2010, 10:43 am

Everybody says it's easy, and I can't do it! Leggy plants under lights Icon_cry

HawaiiAl 3/7/2010, 3:59 pm

keep trying don't give up.with all the help here. you will get over the hump,remenbering all the details is a pain, but after you do it it will seem Leggy plants under lights Icon_biggrin

simple.

martha 3/7/2010, 5:30 pm

c'mon, boffer, we can do it!

(And if we can't, well, misery loves company!)

SirTravers 3/7/2010, 8:38 pm

Aww Come on Boffer...! Leggy plants under lights Index

Leggy plants under lights L_431e3f7b2b2b4d7a98ae25057ed5f037

Just keep plugging along and you'll get it.

Sponsored content

Leggy plants under lights

Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

a Few tips

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Re: Leggy plants under lights

Keep Trying

Re: Leggy plants under lights


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.