Ideas/Thoughts about my new grow room?

[BrianSkilton]

I just set up this grow room in one of my closets I was using, I figured it would make a perfect room to grow some seedlings in. I have never started from seed, so I want some of your advice. Is there enough light, and should I lower the shop light? I have 2 6500 K "Daylight" Cool White Fluorescent tubes inserted into the shop light. One of the pictures below shows the difference between a 4100 K (color temp) Tube, and a 6500 K, tube. Should I mix the 4100 K tube, with a 6500 K tube, or doesn't it really mater. I have read all over the internet, where people believe 6500 K Fluorescent tubes, are the best for growing seedlings, that will eventually go outside. I have also place some Aluminum Foil Tape on some cardboard to reflect the light. I do have a fan mounted as well, pointing at the ceiling, for air circulation. The temperature in the room seems to stay a constant 71 degrees. If anyone has any more ideas, I would love to hear them, after all I am just starting out in this whole gardening realm. The below picture is of one of my pepper plants, that has been getting natural light as well as fluorescent 6500 K tube light. I know lighting as been talked about to death, but doesn't anyone mix these two color temps? Right now I have 2 tubes of 6500 K. Do I need more lights, because they are not getting any natural light at the moment, my window sill is filled with bigger plants.

[img]https://www.phantom360.com/images/garden/greenroom1.jpg[/img]
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[hendi_alex]

Set up looks great, wish I had such a space. The only comment/adjustment that I would make is that the plants appear to be stretching just a bit too much toward the lights. When the plants are just sprouting, place them very close to the light source, within a couple of inches, and drop the plants down as they grow. I think that 4 inches from the bulb is an absolute maximum and even closer is better, especially when the plants are tiny.

[JustPeachy]

This is almost exactly like my grow space! It works well for me. Everything looks super organized in your closet. do you have the fan blowing on the seedlings? It will help to strengthen the stems and when you take them outside to harden them off, they will be more wind resistant. This is the case with my plants. I also don't have to remember to brush my hand across them several times a day.

Solo cups make the best planters (as long as you cut holes in the bottom). They are cheap and don't take up too much space.

I do think you should move the lights a little closer (agreeing with Alex). If you can't move the chain any lower stack something under the pan your seedlings are in.

Everything looks great! I think it was you that had some Cherokee purple seeds. Did you sprout them too?

[BrianSkilton]

Thanks Alex and JustPeachy, I did end up moving the seedlings closer to the light with a couple of small boxes. I will upload more pictures later. JustPeachy, the fan isn't directly blowing on them but since, the room is kind of small, the seedlings are moving a tiny bit, and I leave the fan on all day. Maybe I will start pointing it at them more directly. Those red SOLO cups are perfect for smaller plants, I will have to buy some of those, I can't find any pot that small.

I just started those Cherokee purple tomato seeds yesterday, hopefully they come up in the next couple of days. Some of my pepper plants are starting to yellow a tiny bit, magnesium deficiency, or not enough light? Some people say chlorine in the water can do that to a plant. So I have been using filtered water now. I have also heard people add Hydrogen Peroxide and also Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) to there plants in solution form, anyone else done this. Maybe I over watered those guys too much...I will post pics later.

[hendi_alex]

Bell peppers are very sensitive to cool temperatures. Anything under about seventy degrees and it seems that I have trouble with them. Either maintain the temperature around that level or be sure that they stay on a heat mat.

[BrianSkilton]

Yeah Alex, they seem very finicky about temps in the 60s. I will keep the temp in mind. I will probably add a heat mat to the pan they are in. Also I noticed that a couple of the peppers particularly the Fushimi Japanese peppers have purple stems, which I would assume is not normal, maybe a fungus problem? Here is a picture, of the yellow looking ones and purple stem.

[img]https://www.phantom360.com/images/garden/fushimi1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.phantom360.com/images/garden/fushimi2.jpg[/img]

[hendi_alex]

I think that a purple stem is normal for many bell peppers. Some green varieties have dark purple highlights in the fruit and have purple stems. And of course those black and purple varieties tend to have purple pigment in various parts of the plants.

[BrianSkilton]

Oh okay Alex, that is good to know. These are not bell peppers though, but like you said it might just be with different varieties of peppers. As for the yellowing I think some plants were yellow because I was over watering. The soil wasn't draining that well either, potting soil doesn't seem to drain that well at all...probably should have added some sand for better drainage.

[hendi_alex]

I've seen the same dark pigments in jalapenos as well. Have not observed other varieties but wouldn't be overly concerned unless accompanied by some negative symptom.

[Timlin]

I don't feed my seedlings anything at the stage that your's are. They will grow a lot bigger than those with water only and I found mine have stopped growing and looked very unhappy when my dear other added a bit of feed to the water I was using. Especially peppers don't need fertilizer.

I use no more than 1 Tablespoon of complete fertilizer per plant only at blossom time. If you feed them more they will grow bushy and wonderful and produce little to no fruit.

[BrianSkilton]

I don't feed my seedlings anything at the stage that your's are. They will grow a lot bigger than those with water only and I found mine have stopped growing and looked very unhappy when my dear other added a bit of feed to the water I was using. Especially peppers don't need fertilizer.

I use no more than 1 Tablespoon of complete fertilizer per plant only at blossom time. If you feed them more they will grow bushy and wonderful and produce little to no fruit.

Yeah, I have heard that as well Timlin, if you give them too much fertilizer they will grow nice big and green, but produce little fruit. I have not given them any fertilizer yet, and will wait until they get 5 inches tall or so. Here are some more pictures if anyone is interested:

[img]https://www.phantom360.com/images/garden/greenroom_1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.phantom360.com/images/garden/greenroom_2.jpg[/img]
These are tomato seedlings.
[img]https://www.phantom360.com/images/garden/greenroom_3.jpg[/img]
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[JustPeachy]

Lookin' good!!! I'm pumped you started some cherokee purples so we can compare end results and genetics. Everything looks good so far. The best technique is to provide the proper environment and leave them to take care of the rest.

My plants are at least 6-7 inches high and I still haven't given any ferts. They are doing fine without them. I will probably wait until I transplant them outside to fertilize. I also plan to spray with neem and take some other organic measures against pests.

Either way lookin good. I will take some new new pics and post soon. Good work!

~Emily

[BrianSkilton]

Thanks Emily . I can't remember, when did you end up starting your tomatoes? The Cherokee purple haven't sprouted yet for me but they should in a few days. One of those pictures I posted is some Bokchoy, I don't know...we'll see how it goes. I look forward to see some new pictures of the plants!