What Distance Should My Grow Lights be Above My Seeds Starts? & How Long Do I Leave the Lights On?
What Distance Should My Grow Lights be Above My Seeds Starts? & How Long Do I Leave the Lights On?
I provide clear examples of light distance, for *white LED shop lights*, above seed starts. I also show you what healthy stocky plants and leggy plants look like. Plants need more light at germination and the first 2-3 week period of growth.
Seed Starting Indoors 101 – Growing Garden Transplants Playlist
Thanks so much for your support! Cheers & Thanks, Gary!
Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop:
https://www.therustedgarden.com/ – Seeds, Starting Supplies, Neem Oil, Peppermint & Other Oils, Calcium Nitrate & More.
My Vegetable Gardening Podcasts:
are under Gardening Coast2Coast Podcasts
https://gardeningcoast2coast.net/
My New Book:
The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard.
An Autographed Copy of my book is at my seed and garden shop: https://www.therustedgarden.com/search?type=product&q=book
You can find it at these different locations… Thanks 4 the Support!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Homestead-Garden-Self-sufficiency-Backyard/dp/0760368171/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=The+modern+homestead+garden&qid=1595425421&sr=8-3
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-modern-homestead-garden-gary-pilarchik/1137153105?ean=9780760368176
Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Modern-Homestead-Garden/Gary-Pilarchik/9780760368176?id=7961563419439#
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/therustedgarden/
Join me in my Private FB Group: The Rusted Garden Homestead: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Therustedgardenhomestead
Contact Me at therustedgardenmerch@gmail.com for questions or if you are interested in collaborations, affiliations or advertising.
Products I Use and Recommend. I have an affiliation with them:
GreenStalk Vertical Gardening: Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on GreenStalk ‘Vertical Tier Systems’. Use this link and enter my code for the discount http://store.greenstalkgarden.com/?afmc=therustedgarden or this short link http://lddy.no/4eal
Bentley Seed Company https://bentleyseeds.com
I now have an Amazon Influencer’s Storefront. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is free to use.
Just use my… The Rusted Garden Influencer’s Storefront link at https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden anytime you shop.
I put the products I use, in videos, there and have gardening products set up by categories. Here are the direct links by description.
Great Gifts for Gardeners in Your Life
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?isVisitor=true&listId=1KEIDOMSENCJQ
Products in My 2020 YouTube Videos
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=65FZCKXHG3B1
Seed Starting Supplies and Grow-Light Stations
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=3GEMITV4R58PS
Containers, Pots and Small Greenhouses
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=2XT0AVMYVWBUR
Better Greenhouses, Shade Cloth, Tunnels & Cold Frames
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=HAT2XMXJ1S5S
Fertilizers & Amendments: Indoor and Outdoor Gardening
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=22Y7UDOSNIED3
Disease and Pest Management
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=1S1HAU8QE38Y4
Garden Tools: The Rusted Garden
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=1NPR8V99900YD
Gardening Books and Resources
https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden?listId=1OYGZEMAHOYF1
Excellent instructions, thank you 🙂
Hi Gary, maybe it’s just me but for some reason I can’t find in your videos the length of time the lights need to be on my tray before germination. Can you please help me with this question, thank you so much!
New grower. I have 2 plants started inside. About month now
Do you have 1 or 2 bulbs above trays? Bare bulbs or plastic cover? tx
Hi Gary. Is the same true for LED grow lights? Do they also need to be down just a couple of inches above the seedlings. I’m seeing conflicting info on this – some say you only need them that low if you’re using shop lights with florescent bulbs, but LED grow lights can be kept up higher. Any insights? thanks
I just bought a led light fixture 4’ long with 4 lights, with 10000 Lumen at Harbor Freight. My question is, is this too strong?
Hello, I have two grow lights 5000 lumens led each above my seedlings. I currently have Broccoli seedlings started and am keeping the lights right above the them at around 2 inches. My soil temps are staying in the low 80s and high 70s. I’m trying to figure out how to keep the light close but lower the soil temps. I guess my question would be could the Lights be raising the soil temps? Should I move the lights up or would that create leggy seedlings? They germinated on a heat mat but were taken off as soon as they started. thanks
your plants look amazing, and i’ve recently taken in your tips. people constantly online say, start it far then lower it. that’s literally the opposite and i understood that, but it’s all i could find. thank you for this advice.
After about 13 hours my tomato seed leaves are pointing up and almost closed together. I don’t have any true leaves yet. I have grow lights about 2 inches above my solo cups, and seedlings are about an inch or so below the rim. They don’t point up until about 12-13 hours after being under the lights. Any guidance welcomed. This is my first year starting seeds indoors and I’m so invested in these “babies”. You are the reason I’ve attempted seed starting and I am so grateful for any tips you can give! Thank you for your knowledge and expertise!
Wtf is CM lol great video!
Quick question: Do you forego putting on a humidity dome over your tray while you wait for your seeds to germinate? I ask because it seems that in order to have the lights so close, there wouldn’t be room for a humidity dome. Thanks again for the really helpful video!
Need an oscillating fan to bulk up those stems or they will fall like noodles standing at attention.
What are you using the aluminum foil for on the shelf?
Thank you I tried looking and looking for how to do this because some of my plants where becoming leggy and yours was the best easiest explanation.
Hey man!
I got 3xvsfd4500 in a 4×8 grow tent, how far and what % would you recommend for starting seeds?
I got it at 12 inches and 25%, probably not enough ?
Thank you Gary for all you instructions. What about florescent light? They are hot compared to led. Please let me know how close I should put them. I just planted my seedlings. 1/27/24 Thank you again!
Once they get leggy like that can they be salvaged if they start getting good light?
thank you very much for the information!
Thank you for this very helpful and clear video.
If you have two 5000 lumen lights there wouldn’t it be 10000 lumens or am I off base here?
I’m using the Barrina 4′ T8 LED grow lights that are 5000 lumins and 5000K. I’m using a metal shelving unit as my growing station and the shelves are 18" inches wide. Would you use three lights per shelf, or could i get away with just using two lights per shelf?
Is it the same height for LED lights?
question about yellowing leaves on seedlings. How do I know if the issue is lights being to low or is it the first set of leaves yellowing as the true leaves grow?
Thanks!
Do you use a plastic dome on the top?
I have a 5500 lumen grow light over my tomato seedlings. They only germinated & popped through the soil yesterday. I have it about 2” or so above the plants. The lumen level is adjustable & I currently have it at 20%, which is 1,100 lumens. Do you feel that is strong enough, or should I increase the a percentage? Next setting is 40%, which would be 2,200 lumens. I’ve tried finding this info online & haven’t been successful. I’m new to vegetable gardening & appreciate the work you’ve put in making videos!
I’m using the 2′ and 4′ Barrina T8 5000k full spectrum grow lights to start all my seedling and i was wondering how far apart i should space my light fixtures? Is it always beneficiail to use the reflectors to help concentrate the light downward?
I love your channeil and refer to your videos constantly on various growing tips and techniques and help with specific problems i might be having. Please kerp hhem coming
Once the plants get to 4 to 5 inches; what is the next step (spacing) after that?
What if you use 2000 LM? how far from seeds?
Yes, but you do not address how far APART the lights should be.
I have 2 tube grow lights I plan to make a holder for;
The trays are 21" long. The tubes are going vertical to the tray’s length.
How far apart should the lights be?
10 inches? 11" ? 12"? 13"? I can’t find anyone addressing this including you.
My light is an Agromax RAW 130w LED panel. 23,140 lumen output. Is it linear? If you say 3k-5k lumens should I increase the distance by 4-5x?
I just bought 7000 lumen lights. How close should I place them for germinating and then growth?
Finally exactly what I need to know. Thanks!
Ewe huemans should be aware that the plant stretches to get to the light…
New gardener and I have some confusion. Do you immediately put the seeds under the lights after planting (before germination) or do you let them germinate in the dark first then when they start to show, put them under the lights? Thank you,
very interesting, i would not have expected to put them that low
What’s the foil for
i use proper grow lights 120W LED. one foot or more above trays, with full access to trays, and never leggy. no need to muck about changing height.
Thank you for your info. I have LED gow lights with red and blue light. What should the distance be?
Could you do a video on LEDs?
Excellent video! Explains a lot regarding my leggy starters.. Thx!
THAMKS!
Do you have any idea if orchid seedling can grow in this height of grow light?
Oh thank God I ran across this video. I was having legging with some of my seedlings and not on others and I was wondering what I was doing wrong.
Do you have to add a fan when the light is on them?
After germination, how much longer do tomatoes & peppers need to be under the grow lights?
Do you turn on grow light in morning till dark, or do you turn on at night/evening till morning? I only have one 2 ft grow light, so can I just raise light after plants get a Lil taller, since I only have 1 growlight? This will be my 1st time using a growlight. Thanks
your videos are straight to the point and so helpful. thank you for that!
Does it matter the light or any light in using 3500k led grow light with the red and white led
This is exactly what I needed….my last broccolis sprouts were leggy and I couldn’t find a concise answer for the distance of the lights. Great video, to the point and informative. You just earned a new subscriber, and hopefully I’ll have some broccoli this spring! Thank you.
I’m starting my seed with a full spectrum grow light. Should i still have them be about 2 inches away?