Using a grow light for your vegetables

[cariann88]

My OH is getting a new light for his fish tank(that he grows plants as well) and is getting rid of his old one.

I am thinking of doing a little experiment and try and grow something with it as well as doing it the normal way.

I was just wondering if anyone else has or is using grow lights and if so is it any good and make them grow faster?

[Bigmallly]

My OH is getting a new light for her fish tank

[cariann88]

Haha, just noticed it. I meant his

[cariann88]

Shhh, don't tell him I said that hehe

[Bigmallly]

Growlux tubes should be fine for use in a grow light box. After all, that's what they are used for in fish tanks.

[cariann88]

I think that is what he has. I know it's a grow light because he uses the light for his plants.

I have not got a clue about fish

[Bigmallly]

It should be written on the tube.

[Kristen]

I was just wondering if anyone else has or is using grow lights and if so is it any good and make them grow faster?

I use a Metal Halide lamp. I also have a T5 lighting rig (8 x fluorescent tubes each about an inch apart) which is good for seedlings only (needs to be just an inch from the plants, so not much good by the time they are all different heights).

Yes, it definitely makes a difference to growth rate. First time I used my Metal Halide lamp was on some Canna seedlings I sowed in September - they were 5' tall and flowering by XMas of that year!! although, in fairness, I completely overdid the lighting as it was all new to me - they had far more hours-per-day of light than they actually needed.

[Penellype]

I use a ready made grow light garden and I find the biggest difference is that the seedlings don't get leggy and bent leaning towards the window. Tomato plants in particular are much shorter and sturdier, which means they don't fall over so easily when you are repotting them.

[cariann88]

Thanks

His new light has come today so I will try and give it a go tomorrow if he changes the lights tonight.

[Bigmallly]

He will, men like to play with their new toys...............

[cariann88]

I could just hide it from him hehe :P

[Bigmallly]

That would be just cruel...........................oh, go on then...........

[FlawlessVictory]

If it successfully grows plants in the tank it should work for your veggies! Depends on the spectrum though!

[Lamboluke]

Sounds daft but if I just want a simple grow light set up with a bulb that will help seedlings grow and that plugs into a regular plug socket...where do I begin?

I have a corn snake and the light in the.vivarium is simply abulb which fits into the fitting and is connected to a regular 3 pin plug.
Could I use something similar for a grow light?