Comments on: Light Stand for Seed Starting

By: ron t

ron t — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 11:47:04 +0000

how many hours of full spectrum light do you all recommend for seed stating in the NYC area?
Thanks

By: Cherie

Cherie — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I am basically a lazy person and although the wood built stand is great, I feel my solution fit my needs and only took me about 1 hour to ‘make’. I purchased, on sale, a heavy duty metal stand with compressed board shelves. Then I screwed cuphooks into the bottom of each shelf, from which to hang shop lights. This allows me to raise the lights as the seedlings grow. I too use ordinary florescent lights, one cool and one full spectrum from each unit. There are two units hanging from each shelf. I also used an inexpensive power strip, timer and purchased a seedling heat mat. This has it’s own temperature control and was probably the most expensive item. My total cost was around $100 and I was able to do it quickly. So this is another option for those without carpenter skills, tools or time.

By: Chan S.

Chan S. — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Sounds like my set up is similar to Cherie’s. It starts with a chrome shelving unit (on wheels, so that it can be rolled away to a corner of the basement after seed-starting season’s over) with modular shelves. (The chrome shelving units have come down *a lot* in price in the past year or two.) I use lightweight link chain from the hardware store–you can use pliers to open up the last link and hook it onto the chrome shelving, then use cup hooks to hook fluorescent light sticks onto the chains (which are raised or lowered to different links as needed)–I use 3 strips per shelf. The light cords are plugged into an extension cord strip, which is plugged into a timer (both of which were inexpensive). I haven’t had to use a heating mat since my basement is heated–my germination problems tend to be with seeds that require chilling or lower-than-room temperature.