Growing under lights forum?

Would this be something that would benefit more than just me? This is my first year doing this. If it would only be a few that could use it, then it probably wouldn't be worth it, but I know I sure could use lots of help, ideas and suggestions.

Would that fall under the propogation forum? I know that's mainly seed-starting under lights, though. If I could come up with some type of atttractive lighting for growing things in our living quarters instead of our basement, I'd be interested. :o)

I'm not sure if that would fall under the propogation forum or not Kimberley. I'm still in the learning stage, so I don't know for sure. I don't really have any place to attractively do this either, since I live in a 14x70 mobile home with many teenagers (the number changes daily), dh, 6 cats and 1 frog. But, I really don't care about attractive either! LOL! Come visit me, you'll see. This is a house that's well utilized. I'm putting the grow lights in our master bathroom. It won't get any natural light, just the grow lights. I don't even know if this will work. I am searching for a way to make it work though. LOL! I have 36 baby crab apple trees started from seeds that people were so kind to send and I want at least some of them to make it without them stretching out to be 6 inches tall with only two leaves. This is what has been happening to me in past years with my plants. This year I'm going to have growlights. One way or another. If anyone has any advice, please email me. I have lots of other seeds to start too. I'm so hopelessly addicted, but don't have the room or setup to do this well.

Know what you mean Joan don't have much area to propogate plants either' Our mobile is a 16x80 but the kids are gone now. We didn't raise them in this' Our 850sq.ft home, which is now next door is being restored,if we live that long,lol' Being a "saver"and raising sons,I decided(when they were teens)to make the most of it,saving old truck windows' The window behind the seat'We worked on vehicles for friends/neighbors and usually the first to go was the radio/windows' I'd take the windows and place them upon cinder blocks in a "bookshelf fashion" with shoplights(4footers/grow tubes)Primitive but works'The windows are very strong and wide enough to hold many flats' As for "looks" we are the same and know we'll never be in a magazine for the latest issue of BHG,lol' Oh,nearly forgot' The lights I hung from brackets(anchored with mollies)they are the really big ones and suspended the shop light from it,works great,the light shines through the glass very good too' A humidifier too is a must for seedlings and a fan to circulate the air' I have light timers another must for gardening(or propagating) HTH,good luck and let us know how your seedlings are coming along' Sis'

I think it's a very good idea JoanJ. For me, lighting has very little to do with propagation/seed starting. I have 44 feet of shelving currently (about to add 8 more) and none of it is used for seed starting. There are over 700 plants under lights with at least 4 or 6 tubes over the shelving. The standards, brackets, shelving (coated wire) and end covers are all white. The trays that everything sets in are all the same color - light green, attractive and durable - and all of my pots are clay. The light that is given off is very natural looking because I use full spectrum "sunlight" bulbs and cool whites - no pinkish or purplish hue. The fans and lights are all on timers - I change the hours of light with the seasons. I know many others who grow under lights, some with as many as 4,000 plants!
I'm not permitted, by covenant, to put up a greenhouse in my neighborhood so for me it's my only choice. As we have been talking about in another thread, there can be a lot to consider when growing under lights. I think it would be nice to have a place where we all can learn from each other. Not ALL gardening is done outside.

Also someone should add that growing under lights can be an expensive venture if you go into it uninformed. I have just gotten set up on a very small scale. The information I am gathering on that 'other thread' is going to help me decide weather large scale indoor gardening is for me as well as hopefully helping me save money by avoiding mistakes. A forum on this subject would personally help me in the future learn as well as save.

Good Point Gwydion
I usually begin to start my plants in Feb and keep the lights on through the first two weeks of May.
I use 8 fixtures (16 bulbs 40W each) for 16-18 hours a day.
My wife tells me our eletric bill goes up $25-30 a month with the plant lights on>

You sure don't save any money but I like the enjoyment of starting my own plants.

Paul

I hadn't thought of the added expense. See? I really do need help. LOL! But I'm only going to have a small system. It can't be any more expensive than the winters we have to plug 4 vehicles in every night so they will start in the morning. And I really need to do this if I'm going to have anything other than the marigolds and petunias walmart sells. I don't have a very good selection to pick from here.

I started small first years ago and now depends what other things are going on before I plant anything' Sometimes we have to take our vacations when we really dont want to or lose them' So,in that event,I don't start anything,if we're leaving' Joan what helped me is that I go to all the fall clearance sales and always(all year)look for bargains' Plus another saving idea,is when my neighbors purchase plants,I remind them to save the containers for me. I pick them up and clean them for later use,no expense there' Now, they remind me, as I always have seeds started and share with them' Free plants,works for both of us,lol' I did train them well though as now they don't rake leaves anymore,mow them' But that is another way to save,no extra lawn bags to purchase,lol' I'd say so start small and then you won't get overwhelmed,this has happened to many of us'

Did I mention that I've been diagnosed as having obsessive-compulsive disorder?? LOL!! Medicated too!! (I guess it hasn't worked too well, huh?) LMBO I still have enough money to eat so I'm OK.

JoanJ - Have you read about winter sowing seeds outdoors? No lights required and many of the hardy perennials and annuals will do just as well. Of course there are some plants that need a head start indoors but if you do some winter sowing it will save a lot of room in the house.

poppysue - yes, I have the winter sowing information. In this zone, I figured that the hardy perennials would be okay this way, but not the tender veggies and annual flowers. Our weather is way too unpredictable. I sowed some seeds late late last fall, and a few weeks ago we had some real unseasonably warm weather. Some of them came up, and now it's down to close to zero again, with very little snow cover. I'm afraid those will be lost. What I want to grow under lights would be my bedding plants like tomatoes, peppers and cabbage. I also want to start some annual flowers so I can have some different things than what they sell at walmart and kmart.

Joan, you're doing exactly what I would - trying winter sowing for the perennials which should know enough to keep their heads down until it warms up more, and growing under lights to get more variety than you can buy as bedding plants.

I don't know whether a separate forum is warranted, but I am thoroughly enjoyed the threads regarding grow lights and plant stands. Good information being shared by all!

have to laugh about the trailers we have a 14/60 may living room is only 12ft wide 2ft by 12 ft three tier grow stand is on the wall another 4 ft in the bedroom dw won't let me use the other 4 ft in there have casses of peat pots there anyway lol want more plants happy gardening

way to go dave!! LOL!!