what does lettuce need to be grown indoors?
I have two 40 watt cool white lights about a foot from the seedlings ( when they were alive) I watered them fairly regularly, giving them adrink when the soil was dry like. after awhile they just stopped caring, to say, and withered.
the seeds were started by a window but I moved them to my fluoresant lights. they were given roughly 10 hours of light every day. a neighboring plant seems to be doing fine with long periods of light but I think I may have shocked the lettuce with the intensity and duration of light.
so what do I need to do?
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opabinia51
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
Welcome to the Helpful Gardener,
I'm thinking that you probably also shocked them initially when you planted the seeds next to the window. Temperatures beside windows rise and fall drastically between day and night and during weather extremes.
You said that you have "white lights" I'm assuming that white lights are not grow lights. I will recommnend that you purchase some grow lights, they come in flourescent bulbs, incadescent bulbs and these conical shaped bulbs. With my experience the conical shaped bulbs don't work because they die on me in a few days.
Anyway, my point is that with the proper bulb, your lettuce will recieve the proper wavelengths of light that it requires to carry out photosynthesis.
The photoperiod (length of time the lights are on) shouldn't cause you any problems. Lettuces are an annual and generally grow during the spring and summer when the photoperiod is quite long.
Don't wait until the soil is dry when watering. Just keep it moist but not wet. The easiest way to figure this out is to insert a toothpick or chopstick into the soil and pull it out. If the dirt sticks to the stick, don't water. But, I just feel the soil with my finger and if it is starting to feel dry, I water.
Good luck with your lettuce!
As always, any other advice is most welcome!
I'm thinking that you probably also shocked them initially when you planted the seeds next to the window. Temperatures beside windows rise and fall drastically between day and night and during weather extremes.
You said that you have "white lights" I'm assuming that white lights are not grow lights. I will recommnend that you purchase some grow lights, they come in flourescent bulbs, incadescent bulbs and these conical shaped bulbs. With my experience the conical shaped bulbs don't work because they die on me in a few days.
Anyway, my point is that with the proper bulb, your lettuce will recieve the proper wavelengths of light that it requires to carry out photosynthesis.
The photoperiod (length of time the lights are on) shouldn't cause you any problems. Lettuces are an annual and generally grow during the spring and summer when the photoperiod is quite long.
Don't wait until the soil is dry when watering. Just keep it moist but not wet. The easiest way to figure this out is to insert a toothpick or chopstick into the soil and pull it out. If the dirt sticks to the stick, don't water. But, I just feel the soil with my finger and if it is starting to feel dry, I water.
Good luck with your lettuce!
As always, any other advice is most welcome!
arent the bulbs labeled "cool white" apart of the blue light spectrum?
my other plants are responding well to this light. do my lights have too many lumens or whatever?
I did have a soft white lite, on the red spectrum. I took that down however cause I'm only growing herbs and such, no flowering plants.
what kind of fluoresant do you suggest thatll fit into my 48 inch light fixture? total spectrum light? should both bulbs be total spectrum?
btw, the toothpick thing sounds neat
my other plants are responding well to this light. do my lights have too many lumens or whatever?
I did have a soft white lite, on the red spectrum. I took that down however cause I'm only growing herbs and such, no flowering plants.
what kind of fluoresant do you suggest thatll fit into my 48 inch light fixture? total spectrum light? should both bulbs be total spectrum?
btw, the toothpick thing sounds neat
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opabinia51
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
Regarding the lights,
I would go to a local nursery and inquire with the long term staff. They will have something instore for you.
ASIDE: Get to know the proprietors of your local nurseries; very knowledgeable and you may even get special deals or freebies and you will develop a local circle of gardening friends and ..... and will be able share knowledge acquired with your gardening e friends here on HG.
Yes, the toothpick thing is really nifty. I found it in several of my bonsai books years ago. Works well for any plant.
Also, get used to getting your fingers dirty to, the better feel you have with your plants and their soil, the better you will be able to diagnose any problems they might acquire.
I would go to a local nursery and inquire with the long term staff. They will have something instore for you.
ASIDE: Get to know the proprietors of your local nurseries; very knowledgeable and you may even get special deals or freebies and you will develop a local circle of gardening friends and ..... and will be able share knowledge acquired with your gardening e friends here on HG.
Yes, the toothpick thing is really nifty. I found it in several of my bonsai books years ago. Works well for any plant.
Also, get used to getting your fingers dirty to, the better feel you have with your plants and their soil, the better you will be able to diagnose any problems they might acquire.