Lights.....

Mornin' Yaul!!!

Question: Burpee is selling a table top grow light for 109.95. My question is can I get the same effect from buying a shop light at Lowe's/Home Depot and jerry-rigging it so that I can put plants under it? Or is this some special bulb that Burpee has that simulates sunlight? I am getting ready to start my seeds within the next week and I need to know.

Thanks, guys!!!

I've just used shop lights for years now. I do not grow plants for more than 6 weeks under them though. Seedlings do just fine...just remember that you need to keep the lights about 2" from the top of your leaves.

Thanks, Melody. Now how did you make a stand for the light? I'm not really handy with that kind of thing and I am going to enlist my hubby's mind to help, but any advice from a pro is much appreciated!

Hi Noobie,

I asked a similar question some months back. You might find this info helpful....

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/552604/

Also, this is the grow light stand I built from PVC.

http://www.carlnet.org/~ttsdaly/plantstand.html (edited to fix link)


It was very easy to make. I printed out the plans, went to home depot and told one of the guys this is what i need and they got everything together for me. Once home it took me about an hour or so to put it together but keep in mind I am not mechanically inclined. I am using 40 watt shop lights that were suggested to me. Nothing fancy, just cheapies. It is working out very well, my seedlings seem to like it. The best part is that when I am done with it I can take it apart and store it till my next go round. The only adaptation I made was to put wheels onto it so I can push it around if need be.

here is another thread that shows the stand and some other good info too!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/467210/

Pretty much everything that was suggested to me from everyone here at DG has been terrific! Dave's is such a valuable resource I don't know what I ever did without it!

Hope this helps!

Tia

This message was edited Mar 11, 2006 9:19 AM

Thanks, Tia!

But for the price to build that one, I just went ahead and bought the one from Burpee. It fits my space needs. Thanks for all the help guys!

I built a cheapo light garden using some existing shelves. The shelves are slats of wood and there was a big enough space to fit a chain around that connects to the lights with an S hook. My investment. 34.00 for two 4 foot shop lights, about 6.00 for the bulbs and 5.00 for extra chain so I could move them up and down.

One thing I am bummed about. I spent about 34.00 for a heat mat (including shipping) and just saw yesterday that B&B has them for 21.00! Live and learn.

noobie- bronx boy once posed a nice plant stand that he got from www.farmtek.com in the product nbr on the left type in 102445. it it just a mini greenhouse that cost about $39.00 and he just added the lights to it. he hada picture of it on one of the forums but can't remember which one and when.
i have been using 4 ft shop lights with grow light bulbs for years now. i just put them between boxes of different sizes as my plants grow.

i just went and looked at it........I want one!!!!

I think it appears to have more room between the shelves than mine does. I might pick one up. Thanks Herbie for that link!

Tia

Update... I have used shop lights for years with one warm bulb and one cool bulb.

Well, it turns out that many of the new "shop lights" sold by HD and Lowe's NOW only take 34 watt bulbs, not 40 watt bulbs. Bummer.

Check carefully!

I made my plant rack out of the vinyl coated wire shelving that you cut to fit. It comes in 8' sections and you get the leg braces and the attachments extra. I put mine in my utility room and it does double duty during non-seedling times. The hooks that come with the lights just slip over the wires.

Beaker:

What is B&B? I need to buy a heat mat. Please let me know if this is an online store or a brick & mortar. Thanks!!

Brent and Becky's Bulbs

http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/summer/index.php

I saw it in their print catalog. I haven't looked to see if it is offered on-line, but it probably is.