Knowing when to put seedlings under light is a must for gardening enthusiasts who wish to grow their seeds indoors. If you don’t want to be like the countless others who end up getting frustrated as they grow through the planting process, you need to know when to incorporate light at the right time. While caring for a seedling can be a little challenging, seeing them thrive well can be an extremely rewarding experience as well.
Among the biggest challenges of growing plants from seeds indoors is the lack of natural light that gets through the seedlings. Light is important for the seedlings as it activates photosynthesis – a process where the plants convert solar energy into chemical energy which helps the plants produce their food. As the seedlings continue to establish their root system, they need all the light they can get for the nutrients they need.
When to Give Your Seedlings Light
While plants would very much prefer to grow under direct sunlight, there will always be a time where you’ll need to add supplemental light to support their growth. A grow light can be a perfect solution for you to give your seedlings the light requirements they need – especially when they don’t get enough sunlight from the windowsill. Fortunately, it’s not that difficult to know the best time to put your seedlings under the grow lights.
Light exposure should be done at the earliest time possible. According to green thumbs, the best time to give seedlings light is when the seeds have started to sprout. Once they break the soil, you want to give them all the light requirements they need as it’s the main thing that will drive them to make their food and flourish.
It helps to prepare the grow lights even before planting your seeds. This way, by the time your seeds start sprouting, all you need to do is to turn your grow lights on.
How to Set-Up Your Grow Lights
While grow lights are a great alternative to natural light, they will only produce great results if the owners use the right light and set-up. Here are some tips on how you can set-up effective grow light that will give your plants the light requirements they need:
Tip #1. Use a full-spectrum light
The color of the light also plays a role in the development of plants. For instance, violet-blue light helps with the plant’s photosynthesis, chlorophyll production, and growth, while red light encourages budding and flowering. When choosing the light for your plants, be sure to use a full spectrum light such as LEDs to make sure that your plants will be exposed to both colors and you can reap the benefits.
Tip #2. Hang your grow lights
As you put the grow lights together, you have to make sure that it can give enough light to all the seedlings. The best way to do this is to hang your grow lights overhead. This way it will mimic the sun and provide equal light to all the seedlings.
Tip #3. Use a timer
One of the best ways to ensure that your plants grow well is to give it a consistent amount of light. However, it’s sometimes easy to forget to turn the lights on or off, especially if you have other responsibilities to tend to at home. To avoid having to schedule your day around turning the grow lights on and off, consider using a timer that will automatically do it for you.
Benefits of Growing Seedlings in Hobby Greenhouses
You’ll be surprised to know that one of the best ways of making sure your seedlings will grow strong and healthy is by placing them in a hobby greenhouse. Having one offers a lot of benefits for your seedlings. Here are some of them:
Benefit #1: Weather protection
Among the many reasons why seedlings and plants fail to thrive outside is because of harsh weather conditions. Some of them cannot tolerate extreme dips or increase in temperatures and, as a result, some of these plants die. With a hobby greenhouse, however, you’ll be putting your plants in an enclosed space that will protect them from winds, frost, or extreme heat.
Benefit #2: Pest and predator control
Planting your seedlings in a hobby greenhouse gives you the chance to protect it from pests, moles, rodents, and squirrels. Since the area is enclosed using plastic films or screens, it can keep predators outside, thus, protecting your seedlings and plants from being consumed by wild animals.
Benefit #3: You can control the light and temperature
Seedlings need to be placed in certain temperatures for them to thrive. By having a hobby greenhouse, you can easily set up your grow lights and control the temperature giving your seedlings the optimal environment in which they can grow.
Final Word: Knowing When to Put Seedlings Under Light
Light plays a vital role in the development of your seedlings which is why it’s important to make sure that they get enough of it. Now that you have an idea of when to put seedlings under light, the next thing to do is to implement it and set-up your grow lights. If you do it right, you’ll be able to grow strong plants and enjoy high-quality harvests.