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Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

To start my seeds I have been using a shop light that is mounted on a movable, hinged arm. I use it on my work bench. When starting seeds I have been using a clear 100 watt light bulb and it has seemed to do alright. So far every seed I have planted in the pst couple years has germinated. Is there a better bulb for the purpose of starting seeds that will screw into a standard light socket?

4/6/2007 4:01:19 AM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

I think a fluorescent bulb would be better

4/6/2007 12:16:55 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

Those new compact flourescent bulbs will work good and they will fit in a regular light socket. They also use a lot less electricity! They are a little more expensive than a regular light bulb but they last longer and are cheaper to use. Well worth it to me! I have replaced every light bulb in our house with them. Environmentally friendly way to go!

4/6/2007 12:37:42 PM

Deer Park WA

In my humble opinion a full spectrum flourescent grow light bulb works the best.

4/6/2007 3:43:52 PM

Syracuse, NY

so. i am confused. no i'm not, lol.
but, "using" the light bulb...is it
ABOVE the seeds you are trying to start or
near them or below them. if above or near and not
BELOW, the seeds may be germinating on their own,
unassisted, as though there were no light bulb involved at all.
see, BOTTOM heat is what is needed to START the seeds,
in their, as is the norm, 4-inch peat pots filled with moist seed-starting mix.
to GROW the seeds/seedlings until they are ready at
10 days or less, my own humble opinion is to use
a 4-foot flourescent light fixture, with one (1)
Grow-Light, Gro-Lite, etc., or similar, and one (1)
Full-Spectrum bulb in it. these two together side-by-side
i think would provide a lot of light from each that the other might not have a lot of.
the full-spectrum one i believe
simulates sunlight. if the fixture was a one-lighter,
i would go with the Gro-Lite one solo. OR in your case, perhaps the spiral, low-wattage ones that were mentioned would be okay.

i keep the flourescent tubes about an inch above the plants.
no more, no less without actually measuring it.
the fixture is raised as the plants grow, as my fixtures are suspended by ropes that enable me to do so---
i hope this helps. eric g

4/6/2007 6:07:08 PM

Syracuse, NY

look at this also:

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=24000

look forward and back a few...
this accomplishes MAJOR bottom-heating and
regulation of temp. eric

4/6/2007 6:32:37 PM