Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: braders1234 on March 18, 2016, 07:37

Title: Cheap Grow light Solution for Seedlings?
Post by: braders1234 on March 18, 2016, 07:37

Hi,  I am looking to get a simple low cost grow light solution set up.  I may extend this for next year but for this year I would like to add some additional light to me seedlings that are currently coming through.

I have a heated propagator (big enough for two grow trays)  that is sat in my West facing conservatory. 

Could I just get  a desk lamp with an LED bulb?  Cheap, not entirely great but good enough?    Any advice on a bulb?

If this is not going to work does anyone have an easy and cheap solution?  Many thanks in advance?

Title: Re: Cheap Grow light Solution for Seedlings?
Post by: Casey76 on March 18, 2016, 08:21

You are going to need a full spectrum bulb to grow properly.  That is where most of the cost comes from.

However if you can get hold of an aquarium hood and then buy the tubes it could same some money over buying a full grow light set up.

Title: Re: Cheap Grow light Solution for Seedlings?
Post by: braders1234 on March 18, 2016, 09:00

thank you for the reply.  just looked up full spectrum LED bulbs - £80+  Yikes!

Title: Re: Cheap Grow light Solution for Seedlings?
Post by: surbie100 on March 18, 2016, 10:59

If you search for Ikea growlight there are some schematics for making cheaper grow lights. There's a lot of info on the web about using LEDs on a suspended rig for cheap growlights.

I use the 2ft Garland growlight garden (£65 from Garden Essentials) and love it. I want a second for my birthday/that time of year when the chubby man in a red & white suit visits.

It packs away into a box neatly for the months you don't want it, and a cheap timer plug sorts on keeping it running when you want it to.

Title: Re: Cheap Grow light Solution for Seedlings?
Post by: Trikidiki on March 18, 2016, 14:00

Be aware of what you are buying. I am currently in dispute with a company which is selling 600W LED Growlights yet they are only drawing 150W and that includes the cooling fans. Their current stance is that the LEDs they use are capable running at 600W but they build them so they run at lower power.  :wacko:

The following Youtube gives a good explanation of what you should be looking at when buying. Obviously they have a vested interest in selling their $1500 units but it explains the technology well.

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Title: Re: Cheap Grow light Solution for Seedlings?
Post by: braders1234 on March 22, 2016, 08:47

Thanks all, I finally decided to bite the bullet and bought one of the ready made systems, thinking that a, it should last a few years and b, it's my birthday soon!

thanks for the responses though.