FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Looking at getting a lighting system for seed starting and to sustaine seedlings until near adulthood. I was looking at a lighting system and was wondering if it was not powerful enough. Also what are your suggestions?

Light fixture:
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prod ... 2/lighting

Light bulb:
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prod ... p/lighting

Thanks in advance!

And also found a LED light that seem interesting as well.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prod ... l/lighting

the cfls would do just fine.
stay away from the low powered led panels unless individual LEDs are 1w or more. you'll probably get sick of the purple tinge anyway
I experimented with some 12w (4 x 3w) CREE MR16 downlights you can find for less than 8 bucks on ebay but it's just cheaper and easier to get cfls

Looking and found this solution but seemed over powering. Would it work?

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG-Su ... k-Lamp.asp#

That's probably a good light (the AgroSun) but I can't tell if it's T5 or T8 or what, or for that matter any specs on the light whatsoever, so I can't comment on it.

The one you posted above (http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG-Su ... k-Lamp.asp#) would work extremely well for about a ~24" x 14" grow area. HTG Supply has excellent lighting.

Here's another option, which will give you about a 48" x 10" grow area: http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG-Su ... ixture.asp

The compact one has more intense light than the 48", so plants will grow slightly faster and have more robust foliage, but the 48" has a larger grow area and will also work very well for your purposes; plants under the 48" will also have healthy foliage.

With either light, I'd try to keep it within 6-8" of the plant canopy, if not an inch or two closer (too close may cause burn). Much further away than 8" and you'll lose too much light intensity.

Lastly, and you may already be planning to do this but - if you have nothing but seed pots under the light at any point, I'd recommend leaving the light on 24/7 until you get the first seedlings, then move to a 14 or 16 hour cycle. Seeds respond to warmth rather than light intensity prior to germination, and leaving the light on 24/7 will provide all-day/all-night warmth and make them germinate faster.

Good luck!

Thanks Veronis I am definitely for htg and hope to purchase one soon for my growing needs.