Grow Light System

[willow78]

I am thinking about buying one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-4-Foot-Start-Light-System/dp/B0001XLSGQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1265600345&sr=8-6

Anyone have any thoughts?  I just want something simple to grow pepper plants from seed.  And when I'm not starting seedlings, I thought I'd keep some of my houseplants under the light.  I don't get very much natural light in here.

[shane arthur]

Its not the most powerful light but for the money its excellent. Im not sure its bright enough to flower peppers. The ad says its for starting seeds and houseplants which makes me think you would need to upgrade the light to make it flower.

 Your paying for the stand really..  I do not see a problem going to home depot and getting a larger light for it pretty reasonable.

[shane arthur]

I read the reviews and its supposedly not stable at all. I would avoid this product

[willow78]

Thanks for the input, Shane.
Anyone have an idea of another system?  I've been searching, and this is really the only brand that I'm coming up with.  I just want something to start seeds; once they're started and the weather gets nice, I'm going to transplant to the outside.
I don't really feel like fooling around with trying to build something.

[Melissa in Michigan]

Thanks for the input, Shane.
Anyone have an idea of another system?  I've been searching, and this is really the only brand that I'm coming up with.  I just want something to start seeds; once they're started and the weather gets nice, I'm going to transplant to the outside.
I don't really feel like fooling around with trying to build something.

Hi There, Willow!   

AeroGarden makes a seed starter tray that may be perfect for you! 
http://www.aerogardenstore.com/promotion/index.php?promoName=catalog&pageName=product&viewProduct=0069-00Z

I have one of these, although I have never tried it.  I imagine that somebody here could share their experience with you on this!  I have always started my gardens using little peat cups and simple grow bulbs from Home Depot.   VERY simple, but it works!   

[Erin Too]

like shane said, you are basically paying for the stand.  i hear you about not wanting to build anything, but you may want to check out this site for some ideas.  there are a lot of hydroponic setups and greenhouses too.  these are nearly all free plans made with pvc pipe, inexpensive and easy to work with.  there are two that are grow light stands, one is a couple levels high but you could easy alter it to be just one level if thats what you want.  then just attach a light from any home improvement store.

http://www.pvcplans.com/pvc-pipe.htm

[willow78]

Thanks for all of the feedback.  This gives me a lot to think about.  Why the heck are pre-made stands so expensive?  It's hard for me to be motivated right now, but PVC looks easy - not very pretty, but easy.

I need to research light - meaning, the type of light that is best for growing.  I've just recently become interested in gardening, so there is a lot for me to learn.

Thanks, all.

[Spirit Deer]

We hung a grow light from the ceiling in my office/cabin using ceiling hooks and lamp chain, which makes for easy adjustments.  But we have very low ceilings in here.  The light is a four-foot shop light that uses two GE grow-light tubes from Ace hardware.  The two tubes were around $25 for both, and shop lights are reasonable from big box stores.  I think we paid around $10 for ours but that was quite a few years ago now.  Still, I think you can get one for under $20.  If I ever get to it, I'm going to paint the interior of the fixture with some very shiny chrome mirror-finish paint I have.  It'll look (and reflect) like the high-gloss silver finish inside some of the hoods on our AGs.  I figure if it's a good thing for the plants in the AGs, it should be good for my other plants, too.   Sliding shiny aluminum foil between the tubes and the fixture would probably reflect a lot of light, too.

A hanging bracket could easily and inexpensively be made from PVC or dimension lumber, with hooks put in the cross piece to suspend the light from, using lamp chain like we used. 

Our light is on a timer so it mimics the on/off cycles of the AGs I have out here.  I actually like that timer better than the AG timers, because it does not need to be reset after short power outages.

I think our light is up too high, because things have been growing slowly, but growing nonetheless.  I have cucumbers flowering now, and some ivy geraniums that were severely pruned last fall are thriving.  Next winter I hope to put more and better planning into our indoor garden.  This year it was sort of thrown together willy-nilly and I think some more thought would help it produce better.

[acanfield]

I have the 2ft version of the Hydrofarm Jump Start and this year upgraded the grow light to a 4-bulb T5 setup.  This now has 8000 lumens.  I haven't found the stand unstable, and it's in on a computer cart in a room in which my two large dogs run in and out.

There is a 4ft version of the grow light I upgraded to

http://www.greenleaf-hydroponics.com/store/products/Commercial-T5-4FT-4-Tube-Fixture.html

The 4ft has four 54 watt T5 bulbs, each with 5000 initial lumens.  You could certainly flower peppers with this.

I'm growing seedlings for my Earthboxes.  Here is the current crop with the new light

[Cherylann]

Willow, I just ordered the 2' version of the light/stand you were looking at originally (Hydrofarm Jump Start), and I'll post my opinion of the sterdiness of the stand/unit when it gets here/assembled.  The Amazon seller I bought it from claims it's the new version with the better light so we'll see.  Costwise:  Unit was $41.95 plus $13.79 s/h = $55.74 total.

[willow78]

I actually went ahead and ordered the 4' from Amazon.  The price dipped to $67.95 (and free Super Saver Shipping).  I looked at other brands, but the prices were A LOT higher, and I still didn't want to try to put something together myself.  So, I thought that I would take the risk and see what happens.

Please do keep me posted on the 2'.  My unit was delivered yesterday, but I haven't set it up, yet.

[Cherylann]

At some point in the future I may order the 4' unit if the 2' one works out.  I totally agree/understand about not wanting to build something, etc.  This setup will be in a wetbar area right between my kitchen/dining room, so I did want to take looks into consideration.  Plus, my hubby is still aclimating to all this AG/green growing stuff that I've bombarded our home with lately ... asking him to build something (which he does have the talent to do) could have pushed him over the edge, LOL.

[Melissa in Michigan]

I have a silly question that I imagine many of you would know the answer to.

I have been trying FOREVER to give my mom an Aerogarden, as I really think that she would love it!  Unfortunately, she continues to tell me that she doesn't want to be "bothered" with anything like this...     She says she just doesn't have the energy anymore to "clean them out"... as she knows what I go through disinfecting my Aerogardens between "gardens"...  I have started tomato plants for the outdoors to give to my parents...  but, they just don't want the plants, as they don't want to be "bothered" caring for it...  and they just tell me to bring them the tomatoes, which I do, and LOVE to do!   

Anyways, this past week, tomatoes have gone up to $4.00/lb. here in Michigan.  FINALLY, my mom asked me for a grape tomato plant in a container, as she would like to have it growing indoors.  I always start my seedlings indoors, usually just in soil in little peat cups with 75 watt or 120 watt plant grow lights.  This always works incredibly well for starting seeds and keeping them going for a couple of months before I put them outside...  HOWEVER, I have never grown anything indoors NOT in an Aerogarden, except for some small little potted herb plants that I keep next to my AGs.

Has anyone grown tomato plants indoors, not in an Aerogarden, and not hydroponically?  If so, how many watt grow lights did you use?  Would the regular plant "grow bulbs" be strong enough, or would I have to get her some sort of fluorescent lighting system?  Also, I know that certain tomato plants would be recommended, but my mom REALLY wants grape tomatoes.  Any suggestions?

I greatly appreciate any information that you would like to share!  I really want to do this for my mom!   

[Sharon]

My hydroponics store hangs lights with adjustable chains from the ceiling, or from inexpensive frames.

If you have lots of $$$, you might want what I'm pining away for:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/6878/

It's on wheels, too.