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Dont Know If Im Using The Right Grow Light

S

Smalltowngirl

New member
I planted my plants 6 or 7 days ago but they havent grown at all. I read on wikipedia that the plants should poke through the soil in 5-10 days after planting. Im using a grow light that I got from Amazon & I paid $20.for it. I saw somewhere online (dont remember where) that you should use a light that is 72 degrees F. My grow light says the "working temperature" is 20-40 degrees. What does this mean? And why did I see something online that says you need a light that is 72 degrees F? Am I using the wrong lamp? I cant afford to buy an expensive lamp if thats what Im supposed to have. Someone please respond ASAP. Im very frustrated. Im using a soil called Happy Frog, which I thought is the right soil.
 
Hello !

I would worry less about the light and more about the soil + water aspect of things

Seedlings need little light to appear. But can you link your light please ? 20 bucks for a light seems like good enough for seedling stage only.

I haven't planted directly into soil tho. I used the paper towel method to germinate my seeds first, and then into soil.

Mine took about 4 days to pop the leaves. And i had them in plastic cups near a window, no grow light whatsoever the first... 2 to 3 weeks :)

I'd use the light for seedling and then try to use natural sunlight.

My dad is growing 3 plants near a window :)

More info like pot size, watering, seed genetics or bagseed + photos please, so the more experienced guys can guide you.
 
Let me welcome you with a handful of rhetorical questions.
How deep did you plant the seed? Did you plant the seed upside down? How sure are you the seed hasn't poked? Are you keeping the soil moist? Deeper seeds take longer to surface and upside-down seeds have to do a little acrobatic thing to right themselves, which also takes more time. When they do break, it takes a heckuv an eye to spot one when it is still in its shell. Seeds like to be wet when they germinate. As long as the water is clean and oxygenated, you cannot overwater a seedling.
Your light does not need to be on until your seed breaks the surface unless you are relying on it for warmth. Chances are real good that if the ambient/room temperature is comfortable for you, your seeds are fine. You also do not need anything but plain water at this point. 72° may be "optimal" but seeds will sprout in warmer and cooler temperatures.
Without knowing what light you have, a $20 grow light is probably one for desktop herbs, not flowering plants. If there is an image of a potted herb on the box the light came in, that's the tell. It sounds like it will get you some early vegetation, but you will need more for flowering.
Happy Frog is a forum favorite. It's good for vegging plants, but you will need bloom nutrients when the time comes.
 
In my opinion there are 2 ways to start growing, start here and read, read, read or dont read whats here and at other sites, waste a bunch of time and money and then come back here and read, read, read
 
That 20*- 40* is how much the light raises the temp, so if the temp is 72* it would raise it to 92* - 112* which is to hot for the plant.
Hit the links in the green bar at the top of this and every page here, start with "growing basics" and read on.
 
Hi, and thank you for your message. It actually says "Working Temperature" -minus 20 degrees and -minus 40 degrees. Thats why I explained it that way in the first message but I should have included that this is in the directions. It also says "suitable Distance from Lamp to Plant 0-24 inches & I read somewhere else to put the light 2 feet away from the containers. My light also has different settings you can set it at & you can mane it yellow, yellow & white, or white. Im tryig to explain this this the best I can, but I took a few puffs & got pretty high. (Hope youre not annoyed) I turned my thermostat up higher but I live in an apartment & maybe management controls the heat. Why do "you" think my plants havent grown? Now after taking a couple puffs, Im more interested in reading what you told me to read. Thank You, Smalltowngirl.
 
More info on the light! The plants cannot take -20* or -40* so the light would never get that cold. My LED calls for 54 inches for seedlings.
Yellow, what? Does it have red and blue?
I grow outside, dropped seeds got one so far, not where I planted seeds! I must have dropped one or it's at least 2 years in the dirt. (I grew tomatoes there last year)
 
I call those 'floaters' when I plant a seed in the middle of my pot, but it grows a few inches to a side. Figure I just gave too much water too fast, and it floated to a low spot. Same-same with floating sprouts.
 
I intended 4 plants in this 135 gallon pot, this one came up right where I laid the bag of seeds. We'll see what happens in a few more days.
 
Maybe one cannot over water, but under water is certain death!
Isn't HF the one I read about being to hot for seedlings? I don't use it so.
 
Perhaps. But the one I read as hot is Biobizz. I used HF for my first couple grows and remember only healthy, purple plants.
I also read people give nutrients to seeds in fresh soil, which is a back-of-the-hand slapper.
 
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