Propagation: cool vs. warm fluorescents?, 1 by turtle_girl

turtle_girl wrote:
Hey All!
Thanks for all your input. I've got everything set up now and will be sowing seeds this weekend. I bought the Lowe's wire shelves with three Agrosun double 4-foot fixtures and Agrosun full spectrum bulbs (40 watt, 2200 lumen, 6400K color per bulb). I also got a couple of the HydroFarm Hot Houses with heat mats. The humidity domes on these things are flimsy and cheap, considering the cost, but I think they'll work out okay. I'll probably start with shorter humidity domes until my seedlings get bigger so I can get the lights closer, then switch to the taller Hot House domes. I'll let you know how it works out.

Critterologist--I think I found my previous probem: I looked at my old lights. They were WARM white and too old. I was also moving my plants to a large SE facing window when they got too big to fit under my lights (2-single tube 3 ft. bulbs). I'm hoping this was the cause of my problem.
In answer to your questions: I'm growing a large mix of vegetable, herbs, and beneficial flowers...FAR too many to list. :-) I only use heat to help germinate seeds that need 75+ degrees for germination, then turn it off once that is achieved. I used to use plain peat for seed starting, but this round I'm going to try the Miracle Grow seed starting mix with your suggested sterilization technique (thanks!). I always bottom-water and have never had many problems with damping off or die offs. My seedlings always just looked wimpy, though I think this was due to my afore mentioned lighting problems.

Claypa and BBinnj-- LOL...actually, the turtle girl reference is to my profession, though I did get my bachelors from UMD (go Terps!). I'm a Wildlife Manager who is currently working to study and protect Eastern Box Turtles. I love my job!