Propagation: Where are the inexpensive grow lights?, 1 by critterologist

critterologist wrote:
I replace my seedling light bulbs every 2 or 3 years... My aquarium lights get replaced every year, but they are on every day of the year, while the basement light shelves are in use for only 3 or 4 months...

You're right, though, I think seedlings appreciate light more than anything else we can give them! I use two double bulb fixtures (four 40 watt tubes) over each shelf also, but I squeeze in 4 flats per shelf. I think if you've only got 2 flats on a shelf, one double fixture should be enough (that's the amount that Tom DeBaggio recommends, anyway, and he's my seed starting guru). Putting the lights as close as possible to the tops of the seedlings is definitely a good thing.

For anybody else using the gorilla shelves (or something similar) from Sam's, the keyhole openings in the legs are perfect for running a piece of 1/4 inch dowel through, front to back... a 4 ft. shop light can rest right on top of the dowels, and it's pretty easy to adjust the height of the light. (From experience, it's risky not to take the extra 2 minutes to move the flats off the shelf before you start juggling the lights and dowels though... I thought I was coordinated enough for that maneuver, but I was wrong!)

Here's a look at what I mean... I also covered the shelves with plastic (garbage bags) because they're particle board, but I noticed that the ones that Sam's carried now are plastic coated (I'm planning to switch out my shelves with the new units DH just bought).