Lighting overkill

[caregivermac]

The blurp has been brought up a couple times, I have one to and I think my plants are extremely slow.

1. I see CFL's can be used for seedlings and Veg growth, is anyone doing this, and does it work well?
2. Pretty sure a TS 1000 Mars Hydro for 4 seedlings is overkill.
3. Plus TS 1000 power use is overkill @ 4 plants.

Looking for alternatives Seedling and Veg times.

I have 4 seedlings in Dixie cups in a small closet

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

A bluer cfl would work well (like 6000K or more).
Isn't the mars hydro dimmable? It's got a bluer spectrum as well.

 

[MIMedGrower]

I really like my 2’ T-5 H.O. Flourescents for seedlings and short veg plants.

i have the sun blaze fixtures which come with 6500k generic bulbs but i have replaced them a few times and prefer GE 6500k ho bulbs. They go 18 months no problem and i have had no failures like e generics.

Heres an example includes bulbs.
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Blaze-T5-24-2-Lamp/dp/B0792SWJTG

 

[mysticepipedon]

Bag the CFLs, your Mars Hydro is far superior. Dim it if it's too bright.

If you're new, overwatering (and over-thinking) are your greatest hazards. It's easy to murder seedlings — their roots need oxygen and water pushes air out of the soil. Water also keeps the root temperatures down, which can slow growth, but too much water causes the roots to rot.

The reason I mention over-thinking is that staring at your seedlings while thinking, "What can I do to move things along?" is usually what people think just before a self-inflicted disaster.

Edit: BTW, when roots rot, the upper part of the plant remains living for a while, but pretty much stops growing.

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

Bag the CFLs, your Mars Hydro is far superior. Dim it if it's too bright.

If you're new, overwatering (and over-thinking) are your greatest hazards. It's easy to murder seedlings — their roots need oxygen and water pushes air out of the soil. Water also keeps the root temperatures down, which can slow growth, but too much water causes the roots to rot.

The reason I mention over-thinking is that staring at your seedlings while thinking, "What can I do to move things along?" is usually what people think just before a self-inflicted disaster.

Edit: BTW, when roots rot, the upper part of the plant remains living for a while, but pretty much stops growing.

I agree with everything here^