Choosing the artificial lighting for seedlings

They say vegetable seedlings do not require a lot of equipment, and it’s true : a quality seedbed, quality seeds, containers, a bit of water and you’re done. But since it is pretty rare to have the right location, temperature and light to grow your seedlings into beautiful, strong, ready to plant seedlings, a bit of help is often needed. Did you know they need about 14 to 16 hours of light, daily, to develop to their full potential? There are few places in the house that offer this type of environment to plants, especially in Quebec, in the middle of March… unless you have a greenhouse. Artificial lighting then becomes a great ally for your indoor seedlings growing.

Choosing the right lighting for your seedlings

Several models of accent lamps are available in store.. Be sure to choose a neon or LED model : avoid incandescent bulbs at all costs, as they produce too much heat and can burn fragile plants. Long fluorescent tubes are ideal to grow your seedlings since they cover a large area, allowing you to light all your seedlings at once. Cool white tubes, which cast mostly blue rays, are perfect. Avoid warm white, as the red rays emitted are less effective for the growth of your seedlings

Your lamp should be adjustable in height. Always keep a distance of 15 to 20 cm between the foliage and the light to avoid drying or burning of the plants. Since your seedlings will get taller, make sure you will be able to adjust the lamp as they grow. If your lamp has a reflector, even better! The light will get to your plants not only from the top, but also from the sides, much like sunlight does outdoors. Your young plants will be stocky and more even.

Set the timer!

Seedlings need a good 14 to 16 hours of sunlight daily, so set a timer so you don’t have to worry about it. With a timer, you won’t risk forgetting to turn the lights on or off. Also, because your seedlings will grow faster under this effective lighting, you might need to water them more often. Be on the lookout!

Can seedlings grow without artificial lighting? The answer is yes, especially if you have South facing windows. Chances are that your plants will look more stunted than the ones you might find into garden centre, but after a while in your garden, in a good soil and full sun, they will come back to life. But why not put all the chances to have beautiful vegetables this summer on your side, right from the start? To know everything about seedlings, read our article!