Growing lights

I actually bought this one from this seller:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/151374...53200-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D987650349122&lpid=82

It's a 'first generation' MARS light and as such, cheaper than the newer ones. Like everyone else, I didn't want to spend a whole lot if it wasn't going to work as well as I'd hoped but it exceeded my expectations and I bought a second one. I've only been using it since Oct 2015 and MARS HYDRO got some really nice reviews.

 

[Quote/
It's a 'first generation' MARS light and as such, cheaper than the newer ones. Like everyone else, I didn't want to spend a whole lot if it wasn't going to work as well as I'd hoped but it exceeded my expectations and I bought a second one. I've only been using it since Oct 2015 and MARS HYDRO got some really nice reviews.[/QUOTE]

I am quite interested in this and was wondering, what is the size of that unit/square foot coverage?

many thanks
Lori

 

I am quite interested in this and was wondering, what is the size of that unit/square foot coverage?

many thanks
Lori[/QUOTE]

I never could find any hard information on coverage, just recommendations. I have mine suspended 34" above the seed flats and it throws light 3' too each side, or 6ft overall. However, I do have all of my lower light plants on the edges so I would guess you can use 4 ft of space to start veg and flower seedlings with zero problems. I even have a eucalyptus on the floor with lots of new growth.

 

I never could find any hard information on coverage, just recommendations. I have mine suspended 34" above the seed flats and it throws light 3' too each side, or 6ft overall. However, I do have all of my lower light plants on the edges so I would guess you can use 4 ft of space to start veg and flower seedlings with zero problems. I even have a eucalyptus on the floor with lots of new growth.



[/QUOTE]

That is impressive coverage. I'm going to start budgeting to replace my flourescent lights. Looking at that, I could probably get away with two units plus they look so compact!
Thanks for the info.

 

Thank you all.
The problem with the hanging lights is that the seedlings pot is by a window, and I don't have anywhere else where the plants would be safe from my children and I could hang the light.

That's what got me thinking on the desk lamp.
Would a lamp with 2700 Kelvin (warm white) do? And how many lumens should it have? And what if only says something like 11W=35W, does it mean anything for growth?
This is for seedlings, and not many of them.

 

Lettuce are also sensitive to heat. I've found they grow on much healthier in an unheated polytunnel in spring, after being germinated in a heated propagator rather than if continually grown under the heat of T5 lights or similar. Same as to how they fare better if grown under shading material in summer to extend their life before bolting by a few weeks.

 

If I can get them to properly germinate, I'll move them outside in the spring. And for the summer, I still need to get something to protect them from storms and strong winds.

But, before all of that, I need them to grow enough to be transplanted.