How to Grow Plants using CFL and Florescent Lights - Growing Indoors Cheap, Easy and Effective
Tips, Tricks
In a recent episode we discussed a few of the different grow light technologies including compact florescent, high pressure sodium and light emitting diode. Based on the resounding feedback and a few requests we are going to dive a little deeper into growing with Florescent lights. Florescent lights and Compact Florescent work on the same principal. Electricity excites mercury atoms emitting ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light is converted to visible light when it hits the florescent coating. Compact Florescent bulbs are more compact versions of regular florescent tubes, and have effectively facilitated the nearly worldwide replacement of incandescent light bulbs. The benefit that Florescence bulbs have for those of us who want to grow indoors is they are able to emit the wavelengths that plants need for photosynthesis. For more information on the wavelengths needed for growing and a discussion on Kelvin Watts and Lumens there will be a link at the end of this video and in the description below. So lets talk about how we can use them to get an early start on our summer crops and grow vegetables over the winter. The first thing you will need is a warm space and electricity. The location of your grow room is important. Generally I recommend keeping the humidity down and temperature around 21c or 70F. If the soil temperature is too cool you may have decreased germination and increased pest issues such as fungal or insect. In a basement like mine keeping the plants off the concrete floor helps with both humidity and temperature. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of gardening with my parents and brothers. This channel is about low cost organic urban gardening in zone 3. I am by no means an expert gardener however I love to share my experiments and journey garden year round. Please feel free to join the conversation and if you think you might like this channel subscribe. Have a great day! Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stephenlegaree14 Webpage: www.albertaurbangarden.ca Google +: google.com/+StephenLegaree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaUrbanGarden Twitter: https://twitter.com/northern1485 Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/ABurbanGarden/
Comments
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iget it grow a little in each corner cool it add up to about 2pounds
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intresting that you start off on a 12 12 cycle! i use 18 12 then 12 12 2 months in
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Get a LEC and quit playing with toys
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What do you recommend for a lemon tree that's about 4 ft, a banana tree thats 2 ft and a mandarin tree also 2 ft? I just got the banana tree and mandarin ealier this year and Ive had the lemon for about 4 yrs. they aren't fruiting yet. The lemon flowers but no big lemons as this past summer. I have a shop light I can mount and use.Just need to know which lamps I should get. T-5 will be good for these kinds of trees? Also how far away should the lamp be? The banana doesn't require direct sunlight believe it or not so Im thinking maybe a foot or two above them all and rotate them out and around. Hope to hear from you.Thanks for great videos
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hi is t8 36w with a 4000spectrum cool white good enough for seedlings. 20cm away from tray
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Awesomes videoss, thanks a lot, i have plants indoors that get sun a lot of time but not always directly so as a help for them to grow them bigger i was planning to use CFL lights after seeing your videos but i will have to put then like a regular lightbulb because its on the front garage so i want to put then in a way that it looks like a regular illumination in a house, it will improve a little at least if i use strong lights or it have to be close to grew plants to have an effect? thanks in advancee and awesome work!!
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What wattage would you recommended for growing peppers? You make very useful videos btw.
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Hello, I'm getting ready to bring in my dwarf musa banana trees. I have a hydrofarm 400watt metal halide setup. I want them to grow just like they're outside and keep producing leafs. Could you give me any advice.
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thank you
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So if I start seedlings with the lights,can they continue to grow into mature plants with the same lights?
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led grow lights 12w
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZGA1MDS/ref=ag_xx_cont_xx -
PAR with LEDs. Cheapest most reliable by far and no mercury vapor if broken.
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You are very kind and generous to share your gardening wisdom and knowledge with us- thank you so much!
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When growing from seed, do you keep the CFL's on 24/7, or do you run on a timer set to say 12 hours on, 12 off? How would you modify this light schedule after germination?
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Hi Steven, another great little video of yours I've come across! When buying CFL lights, are lumens a factor I should look out for? I'm thinking of setting up a grow room to start chilli seedlings and maybe if it's cost effective, overwinter my plants. Is there a minimum range of lumens I should be aiming for? I have around 4 23w (130w equivalent) CFL 2700k 1450 lumen bulbs, and have just purchased 5 23w (125w equivalent) 6500k 1500 lumen bulbs, I'm also wondering if I should use something reflective, maybe Mylar, or reflective paint (which I prefer the sound of) would really appreciate your advice 👍🏻
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So one of the bulbs I have is good I should probably switch out the 3500k for the 2100k, in your opinion do you think that would make a noticeable difference? Thanks again for all your help. My first attempt at growing this year was a disaster with the most leggiest plants I've ever seen. LOL
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Is there better bulbs I could get to do a better job than the ones I have? I have 40 watt fixtures?
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Hello, I already have two T12 4' shop light fixtures with two 6500k bulbs and two 3500k bulbs is that good enough to germinate some tomato and pepper seeds indoors with heat mats under my trays? I just want to start indoors then move to outdoors.
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I am giving my Trinidad Moruga Scorpion seedlings a mix of sunlight and several 4100-5000K fluorescent and CFL bulbs. I am hoping they like it! Living in Pennsylvania, I am not entirely sure if the scorpion peppers will start producing by the fall cool down, so I might end up expanding my indoor plant growing operation!
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Cheap NOT
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