Distance From Fluoros for Seedlings?

[rrog]

My less that 1 week old seedlings are getting a bit long. Look very good, deep green, red stems but some are 3" now. My untrained self says this is a bit long.

I can cover more stem with more Promix when I feed a bit of EWC this weekend, but I'm thinking I need to lower the fluoros.

Assuming I watch the seedlings closely, How close can I bring the lights? I have a fan aimed up at the underside of the bulbs to move hot air away from the system. Temps are maintained at 65F.

The lights started at 6" away and are now at 4"

Can I move to 2"?

 

[KONY]

get it as close as possible. Inch or 2 is perfect.

 

[TACOE]

should have been 2" from the gitgo... as Rx'ed. the fluoros aren't going to burn your shits... and if you don't move em to 2" they seedlings will try to grow taller - so they are 2" from the lights...

bend some paper clips to hold em up if you think it's necessary. don't watch too closely... you wont need to watch all that closely for a number of weeks. I planted a bunch of seeds a few days back (pot, brocc, sorrel, beets, chard), and i've been away for 3 days... money says they will be just fine when i get home.

 

[rrog]

They are all quite erect and not falling over so no paperclip needed at this time, but I'll lower the lights more.

Thanks!

 

[mad librettist]

almost touching

 

[rrog]

Got it! Thanks again for accommodating my newb-ness

 

[habeeb]

well, that's why with floros, you don't fill the pot fully, give some room to bury the stems once they stretch, so when you fill the soil up, the plant is supported, can grow roots out the stem, and looks nice and compact..

also 65f is a little low, 72-75F sweet spot

 

[rrog]

well, that's why with floros, you don't fill the pot fully, give some room to bury the stems once they stretch, so when you fill the soil up, the plant is supported, can grow roots out the stem, and looks nice and compact..

also 65f is a little low, 72-75F sweet spot

Some other kind soul here told be to fill the pots 1/2 way. Now I see why. Great tip!

I know the temp is a bit low. I'll see how that changes now that the lights have been dropped. It's a cool basement, so I may need to bring in my tiny space heater

 

[habeeb]

also you could bring in some "walls" around the grow to conserve more heat.. anything that acts as a barrier would work fine. you could also add a heat mat to the bottom of the pots if you have one laying around

 

[rrog]

I could do either of those or the space heater. I'll check temps now that lights are lowered. Thanks very much for the helpful advice!

 

[rasputin]

Using T5's? Drop the light as close as possible, they'll be fine.

 

[TACOE]

Being that you plant weed in thespring it should be able to handle 65 degrees. You won't find a single thermometer or humidity thing in my room or tent. I had them in my previous grows but it's easierwithout em. If u can't be under the light or in the room. Then the plants can't either. That's how I check temps. They like it how w like it

 

[rrog]

I actually have quite a collection of thermometers and probes. I can monitor soil temp, are several air temps simultaneously. Not necessary for the experienced out there, but that ain't me...

 

[TACOE]

I got shit for experience. Real talk. The less you do the better

 

[Mighty Seed]

I think it depends on how many T5s you are running. I can veg full 1' plants and the bottom branches are tight so I think 4" or so should be fine. When you have a larger plant you need a deeper penetration so getting the light 2" from the tops means deeper growth.

That said, I don't mind a little stretch from my seedlings. When it's all said and done they will be lollipopped and have a foot of useless stem anyway. I call it circulation clearance.

 

[rrog]

When it's all said and done they will be lollipopped and have a foot of useless stem anyway. I call it circulation clearance.

Good point. Mine will be also