Grow lights

[Sprocket]

I have been looking for some inexpensive grow lights and was wondering if you all had any suggestions????? I've been told that a basic flourescent buld works, is that true. I want an all round plant starting one as well as something that I could use for hydroponics

[Sprocket]

thank you this was a big help

[jtcm05]

I you are simply interested in starting seed to get them to the transplanting stage, flourescent shoplights will be more then adequate. Growlights are not necessary for just starting seed. You can get shoplight fixtures at the big box stores with bulbs for around $10 or so.

[coldspring]

Use the highest lumen rated tubes you can get. Actually, Wal-Mart is a good place to get them. Don't waste your money on ones that supposed to be for horticulture. Use a warm white and a cool white tube in each shop light fixture for a balanced light spectrum. It will outperform those higher dollar flourescents.

The compact flourescent bulbs are supposed to be better, but I haven't tried them and you would actually have to rig up something, instead of just hanging a shop light. Some of them have some pretty high lumen rates, and it seems like you can get good ones for about $9 each. A setup of 4 would probably be nice for about 6 sq. ft.

Flourescents don't put out a lot of light beyond just a few inches, and the tubes put out most of their light in the middle--just to keep in mind.