The timer thing is a sort of a separate problem, by the way. I just seem to get duds and wondered if I was alone there. That's an annoying problem but not my biggest question.

Quote Originally Posted by Weedhound
Dont keep changing your lighting patterns around.....nature doesn't turn the lights on and off so you shouldn't either.

you CAN leave the light on 24/0 for seedlings if you're not worried about the cost of electrical but constrantly going back and forth is bad for your plants. Give them a night and a daytime......one each in a 24 hour period.
I am only using the HPS for its HEAT, the seedlings are in total darkness underneath a dark coloured catchment tray. I suppose I might not have made that very clear with my questions.
I am just unsure when I am supposed to expose them to light.


Quote Originally Posted by Chronic Chrissy
So you have only the hsp turning on every few hours for half an hour, and no flouros? this is your only light source? Just to let you know my power in Can is a whole lot cheaper than the US. Also the power up phase of a light is when it draws the most power and puts a load on the ballast and bulb. That means alot of wear and tear on your system.

If you can keep the temp right I would just put them in the window for now, that's what I do. If you don't I would get a cheap socket and put an incandesent bulb for heat, and a cfl for light. Save you HSP because you're wasting it right now and the plants are barely using the light it's providing.

:hippy:
I'm in the UK, as with everything here our power is horribly overpriced, but even still to run my HPS is only 20p per day, so I chose that as my heating option instead of a heating pad. (that's a good idea about just using an incandescent for heat though, can't believe I didn't think of it) They are in the dark 100% of the time right now, the HPS is only being used for its heat to maintain a temp for the seedings, which are under a dark tray seeing NONE of that light.

Yes, the HPS is my only light source for the plants. It would have cost me considerably more to buy a ballast which could switch to Metal Halide and then the additional cost of the MH bulb. I thought of fluorescents on a separate thing but ended up deciding the HPS was enough, perhaps this was a mistake but I am trying to keep costs down where I can. This is just where I am at currently.

I'll take a photo of them and post it. I am just trying to work out if they should be in any light at this stage. The wording I keep finding about it is unclear.
Will leaves form in total darkness or do I need to expose them to light in order to get green leaves and begin photosynthesis?

Sorry for the dumb question, it sucks being a n00b.