Grow lights, heaters etc, on a budget

ooh eeer FC. How long did it last? has it gone now?

 

@Scrungee ....any thing like this?....

 

That looks like both the bluish tinge and extreme blotchiness.

I've found that indeterminate (bush) tomatoes generally fare better under lights.

What variety are you growing?


P.S. I think I've also had a dark reddish tinge on the underside of leaves, but this hasn't adversely affected the plants in any way. The 'blotchiness' led to leaf loss and I moved blue leaved plants into more natural light conditions - perhaps a bit difficult at this time of year?

 

Are they sunburnt Loli?

 

@Scrungee ....they're 'Red Cherry'

 

How close are your tom plants to the lights @Lolimac

 

Is that a cordon variety?

 

A couple of inches Mowgley....for all the imperfections they do seem stocky little plants

 

Yes Scrunge

 

Your lights are brighter than the ones me and FC are using and maybe just too strong for them that close??

 

Loli.....The second plant looks like it has leaf curl, in a greenhouse that would tell me it's to hot. I can't explain the blue tinge on the other one, but just a thought, could both of them be suffering from a lack of ventilation?

 

As mentioned above, cordons seem more prone to discolouration. Lower leaf loss can be overcome by removal and planting deeper when re-potting. This discoloration isn't uncommon especially when growing out of season tomatoes from what I've read on specialist tomato growing forums, and experienced myself when getting various varieties off too an early start. Mini bush toms seem to perform better under lights for prolonged periods (but larger Koralik bush tomatoes also did really well). The stockiness of those tomato plants that thrive under lights is really noticeable.


P.S. Re ventilation/heat I have 'computer' extract fans wired up via an ex-mobile phone chargers to ventilate/cool my grow boxes.

 

Hiya Sheal, it's the same plant it only seems to be affecting the lowest leaves ...there's very little if any heat coming from the grow light and due to my dodgey attempts at DIY there's plenty of ventilation.....i'm wondering if they are stressed as they do dry out quickly with the heat from the base

 

If heating from beneath I use capillary matting and water.