My general approach to lighting is this...

Seedlings: Once their cute little heads emerge from after you've germinated them, immediately put them under florescent lights...and keep the light as close to the top of them as possible, 24/7. This will help prevent severe stretching.

Once the seedlings roots spread past the initial growing stage, and start poking out to the point ya gotta put 'm some where...you plant them either in soil of a hydro basket...


This is the time you get the little things under the big light. When initially placing the light, start out at a nice, conservative distance. Let the plants get used to the intensity.

After a couple of days, start lowering it an inch or two at a time. The plants will let you know when the light is too close (If you don't trust the "hand" system)