Growth in Different Light Stages

Dubstepsoldier

Hey everyone, I hope you can all help me out a bit. I am doing a small grow box (about 4 square feet) with CFL and hydro. I am getting my seeds germinating but I am wondering what I should do for the first stages of growth. Can I have them sitting out near the window sill until they sprout or should I put them in the grow box right away?
If I do put them in the box should I cut down on the lighting as not to burn them? I have 10 100w flouro bulbs (1500 lumens each). I am starting to think that the early stages of sprouting is really important, but I am not sure if it is better to put them in the grow box right away or not. If anyone with experience has some tips please let me know!

digital

It's not the amount of light you have to worry about, it's the heat. Make sure you have a fan blowing across the tops of the seedlings, and you'll be good to go under your lights. Also, remember that since your flouros aren't very intense, you'll want to get them VERY close to your new seedlings to prevent stretch

EDIT: To answer your question, I would put em right into the box after they have germed.

jangel

Introduce them to the light slowly and wait for them to turn green before getting them too close. Move them a bit closer the greener they get till you are close to the light. You could probably do it in a few hours or a day. Then you won't shock them or burn them. Even flouros can burn seedlings if too much too soon.

Peace

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Ron

I would only have a single bulb on to start with and cover them with a humidity dome. If the temps get high then for sure ventilate and make sure not to fry them. Once they get bigger I would start turning more lights on and also having a fan blow across them. Also, avoid being to impatient and blasting them with fertilizer. During the first stage of growth if you do fertilize make sure it is a weak solution, perhaps 30% of recommended strength. I'm still on my first grow so if I've goofed in my advice someone please correct me. :-)

peace,
R

jangel

It is better to not have them under the dome. They could damp off. Much better to keep them open to the air and let them get more light as well. And have a small fan gently blowing on them. This will strengthen the stems and make them hardier.

Peace

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My Little Grow LST'ing w/Hardware

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Cloning a Flowering Plant My Little Grow Blueberry

Ron

I live in a very low humidity zone. Jangel is correct (as always) about the damp rot but I would be careful about having too much fan hitting them for the first week or 2.

R

jangel

Why thank you sweetheart. You are a dear. That is why I said gently, not blowing them out of the dirt ! LOL! I use a little computor fan for those first few weeks, until they get some stem strength. Like this first pic, I have the seedlings raised up so they reach the light and the fan is only big enough to hit them.

Peace

Attached Images

	52 seedling veg 7 july 29 08.JPG (132.8 KB, 14 views)
	52 seedling 4 july 29 08.JPG (126.9 KB, 10 views)

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My Little Grow LST'ing w/Hardware

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Cloning a Flowering Plant My Little Grow Blueberry

Dubstepsoldier

Thank you everyone. That is really helpful. I will put them in right away, and introduce them to the light slow but steady. I also have a fan in there as to keep the air circulating and once they get bigger I am going to add turn on the squirrel cage blower and put in a bigger fan.
Maybe this should be in a different thread, but one more question....What do you think about adding a a few lights below the plant as well as having lights hanging above it. Do you think this has any benefit?

4kaan4

Hey Dub,

Lights lower down would be good when the plants get big enough to shade the lower portion from the overhead light. I'd say not before a foot tall.... others might feel otherwise, tho.

Later,
4kaan4

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jangel

I have a 4 light bar hanging for side light in my veg area. Just one you can get from the hardware store, wired with a plug. I got mine from a salvage store, 4 bucks. My plants are going on 18 in. high now. I hang the lights down, so the sides of the cfl's send off light, and the back of them is reflected by flat white paint nd a reflector. I get great side growth, but you really have to watch the heat. Here is a pic. I have 3 little fans in there and it is pretty open. All my lights are on chains so I can raise and lower them. I have a T-5 flouro in there as well.

Attached Images

52 seedling 1 july 29 08.JPG (113.3 KB, 10 views)

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j-angel


My Little Grow LST'ing w/Hardware

My Outdoor Odyssey 2008 BONSAI MUMS

Cloning a Flowering Plant My Little Grow Blueberry