fluorescent lights

[420F4i]

that was just some img i pulled off the web.

mine says it is 15w with 75 watt output

if you had about 10 of those you'd be good

[dontbugme]

I know you guys are gonna laugh, but this is my setup right now. I figure I'll just see if the seeds actually sprout, and then i'll worry about moving to a bigger place. This place is much too small right? I'd have to add a fan and probably another light right?

[dontbugme]

bump!

The temperature in there is 73 degrees.

I sprouted one seed in a paper towel after about 4 days. The sprout wasn't very long at all. I'd say the little white sprout coming out of the seed was only 1/4 the length of the whole seed. I left it for a day after I saw that, but it didn't come out anymore so I planted it. Barely under the soil, maybe a little more than 1/8". nothing has come out of the dirt yet.

what y'all think?

[stinkyattic]

With a pair of tinsnips, cut the rims of those cups RIGHT down to the soil surface. You should never have more than an inch of rim above the soil at any life stage; air flow is necessary or pythium wilt of the seedlings is a real danger.
And get the cups RIGHT up to the light. The leaves of the plant should be about an inch from the tube.
You need another tube in there pretty soon if you are going to grow under tubes. I consider a pair to be the minimum; the multiple points of light are really beneficial and you'll see how when you add it.
Temp is good. Ventilation is necessary. A small fan circulating air IN the cab, plus an exhaust removing air FROM the cab, are both needed.

[dontbugme]

With a pair of tinsnips, cut the rims of those cups RIGHT down to the soil surface. You should never have more than an inch of rim above the soil at any life stage; air flow is necessary or pythium wilt of the seedlings is a real danger.
And get the cups RIGHT up to the light. The leaves of the plant should be about an inch from the tube.
You need another tube in there pretty soon if you are going to grow under tubes. I consider a pair to be the minimum; the multiple points of light are really beneficial and you'll see how when you add it.
Temp is good. Ventilation is necessary. A small fan circulating air IN the cab, plus an exhaust removing air FROM the cab, are both needed.

what about now? no seedling has come though the dirt yet. should i cut the cups and move them closer to the light or should i leave them be and put a bowl over the cups until the seeds start to come out?

[stinkyattic]

The light matters after the seedling breaks soil. The air flow is always important.

[hybridlove420]

You're doing great, and on the right track. Your current 230w of cfl's is plenty for 5 seedlings.
Once they get bigger you'll want more coverage.
What I would do is add the tubes vertically as side lighting, to ensure good light penetration.
How big is your space?

my space is an entire freezer room in the basement. (4X6 maybe?)

unfortunately, the downside of this is that i have nothing to ideally contain the lights to only the plant area, besides some whiteboard thats stapled to the sides of my light board (hanging 2X2 corkboard with the lightsockets screwed to it.)

[psteve]

my space is an entire freezer room in the basement. (4X6 maybe?)

unfortunately, the downside of this is that i have nothing to ideally contain the lights to only the plant area, besides some whiteboard thats stapled to the sides of my light board (hanging 2X2 corkboard with the lightsockets screwed to it.)

I'd use 1 inch foil coated foam core insulation from someplace like Home DePot..
You can cut it to fit, and it will reflect almost as well as white walls.
Be careful not to restrict air flow to your plants. It's more important than a little more reflected light.
Eventually you won't need anything. Those 5 plants should fill a 4x6 space nicely, with a bit of room for good light penetration.
Keep the lights as close as possible (like less than 6 inches) to the top of the plants.

[dontbugme]

Well, I've actually got some teeny little seedlings that broke through the soil, well, 3 have, 1 hasn't but I think it will soon.

I went and got another light and I got a T8 tube also. So right now I've got two flo lights, one with whatever bulb it came with (prolly T12) and a new flo T8 bulb. I cut down one of the cups to be even with the soil as stinky suggested, TY. I also got a little mini fan (what a pain in the ass, I had to buy a big adapter also). How strong should the breeze be?

Also Stinky, you said I need ventilation. What happens if I don't add ventilation? Because I really can't, short of just opening the cabinet.

This cabinet is 20 inches tall. This is much too small to flower any decent plants right? Anybody have any ideas how I could make it work?

[SantaClawz]

Havin stationary lights isnt gonna work, you have the right idea, but those are gonna have to be able to move.