Growlight + Plant Racks

tqn626 · January 11, 2014

Anyone have any advice for a grow light setup to start plants indoors. Looking to do a t5 lightbulbs on multiple racks for my grandma.

Something simliar to this

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-JSV4...ht+plant+start

Of course that is ridiculously expensive. Thinking of doing a multi tray stacking setup.

rnewste · January 11, 2014

I use the 2 foot wide HydroFarms system, ganging 3 lights together on one base. Very compact and does a great job:

Raybo

tqn626 · January 12, 2014

Heh, out of all people I thought you would have a homemade one.

rnewste · January 12, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by tqn626

Heh, out of all people I thought you would have a homemade one.

Normally I would have, but my son owns Santa Fe Hydroponics and I got these at cost....

Raybo

Rachel W · January 12, 2014

This year we have a bunk bed set in the spare bedroom. I plan on taking the mattress off the lower bunk, and usingsome of cheap board there instead to hold my plants. Then I can tie my 2 foot by 8 foot grow light to the upper bunk for hanging and adjust the height as needed!

Cole_Robbie · January 12, 2014

That is a creative idea with the bunk bed.

The frame to hold your lights can be made out of lumber if you have a saw and a drill to build it. It doesn't have to be pretty to work well.

Hermitian · January 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by tqn626

Anyone have any advice for a grow light setup to start plants indoors. Looking to do a t5 lightbulbs on multiple racks for my grandma.

Something simliar to this

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-JSV4...ht+plant+start

Of course that is ridiculously expensive. Thinking of doing a multi tray stacking setup.

I like the Sun Blaster T5 systems which are available from a number of suppliers; for example Harris Seeds.

Rachel W · January 13, 2014

Thanks Cole! I'm limited on room right now. Last year I used an old coffee table for the plants with the grow light attached to ceiling hooks by a cheaper length of chain I bought by the foot at the local hardware store.
That cheap coffee table ended up breaking over the summer due in part by some water leakage when I was watering plants last spring. Oops!

tqn626 · January 13, 2014

So after much thought, i'm not cheaping out on this growlight system for my grandma. My plans so far is to either get a 2 foot growlight or 4 foot.

For a 2 foot setup i will use this stand.

http://www.amazon.com/Sandusky-WS241...ef=pd_sbs_hg_8

or

http://www.target.com/p/room-essenti...age.vertical_1

Not sure if the height is adjustable on this one.

The lighting for a 2 foot would be

http://www.amazon.com/EnviroGro-2Ft-...words=t5+2bulb

or

http://newandusedgrowlights.com/shop...e-2-bulb-2-ft/

For a 4 foot setup im debating on

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG...put-T5-Fixture

or

http://www.amazon.com/EnviroGro-4Ft-...ords=t5+4+foot

In the end i may just build a PVC stand. Still researching on stand and various fixtures. I can get a 20% discount at the local hydro store i frequent so i may just buy the light fixture there. I keep you guys/gals updated on some good prices.

Sgtwalleye · January 13, 2014

I have the T5 4' lights w/4 bulbs from Amazon-very bright!!

I set it up on 6 Jan, 2014

I bought 3 of the lights and mounted a couple wire shelves in my store room in the basement...The bottom/floor I have lettuce and spinach growing. The 2nd tier is a mix of tomatoes, peppers and summer squash. The top shelf is parsley, basil, cilantro, scallions and 2 NBD tomatoes and 2 Siberian tomatoes.

I recycled the cardboard that the lights came in and wrapped them with mylar to make all 4 sides reflective around the shelves.

In 1 week I had almost all of my containers sprouting up!

It's been a fun project

I will post some pics later.

tqn626 · January 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgtwalleye

I have the T5 4' lights w/4 bulbs from Amazon-very bright!!

I set it up on 6 Jan, 2014

I bought 3 of the lights and mounted a couple wire shelves in my store room in the basement...The bottom/floor I have lettuce and spinach growing. The 2nd tier is a mix of tomatoes, peppers and summer squash. The top shelf is parsley, basil, cilantro, scallions and 2 NBD tomatoes and 2 Siberian tomatoes.

I recycled the cardboard that the lights came in and wrapped them with mylar to make all 4 sides reflective around the shelves.

In 1 week I had almost all of my containers sprouting up!

It's been a fun project

I will post some pics later.

Did you buy actual mylar sheets or use the emergency blankets.

I;m using this right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sgtwalleye · January 14, 2014

I purchased a roll...
http://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Myl...keywords=Mylar

It is working good so far.

tqn626 · January 15, 2014

Think I can put 4 grow trays stack horizontally side by side with this

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/888...FZdsfgodly8AtA

Tabasco Jack · January 16, 2014

I built one like this and can send you detailed drawings with dimensions if you want to make on. I used bolts and wingnuts so I can disassemble it for storage.

tqn626 · January 16, 2014

That's extremely impressive and good looking. I ended up buying a Sunblaze 44 for 120 flat. Going to build a stand out of pvc on saturday.

January 11, 2014	#1
tqn626 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Gabriel, CA Posts: 145	Growlight + Plant Racks Anyone have any advice for a grow light setup to start plants indoors. Looking to do a t5 lightbulbs on multiple racks for my grandma. Something simliar to this http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-JSV4...ht+plant+start Of course that is ridiculously expensive. Thinking of doing a multi tray stacking setup. Last edited by tqn626; January 11, 2014 at 11:26 PM.

January 13, 2014	#9
tqn626 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Gabriel, CA Posts: 145	So after much thought, i'm not cheaping out on this growlight system for my grandma. My plans so far is to either get a 2 foot growlight or 4 foot. For a 2 foot setup i will use this stand. http://www.amazon.com/Sandusky-WS241...ef=pd_sbs_hg_8 or http://www.target.com/p/room-essenti...age.vertical_1 Not sure if the height is adjustable on this one. The lighting for a 2 foot would be http://www.amazon.com/EnviroGro-2Ft-...words=t5+2bulb or http://newandusedgrowlights.com/shop...e-2-bulb-2-ft/ For a 4 foot setup im debating on http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG...put-T5-Fixture or http://www.amazon.com/EnviroGro-4Ft-...ords=t5+4+foot In the end i may just build a PVC stand. Still researching on stand and various fixtures. I can get a 20% discount at the local hydro store i frequent so i may just buy the light fixture there. I keep you guys/gals updated on some good prices. Last edited by tqn626; January 13, 2014 at 02:40 AM. Reason: More Information

January 13, 2014	#10
Sgtwalleye Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sgt Bluff, Ia Posts: 25	I have the T5 4' lights w/4 bulbs from Amazon-very bright!! I set it up on 6 Jan, 2014 I bought 3 of the lights and mounted a couple wire shelves in my store room in the basement...The bottom/floor I have lettuce and spinach growing. The 2nd tier is a mix of tomatoes, peppers and summer squash. The top shelf is parsley, basil, cilantro, scallions and 2 NBD tomatoes and 2 Siberian tomatoes. I recycled the cardboard that the lights came in and wrapped them with mylar to make all 4 sides reflective around the shelves. In 1 week I had almost all of my containers sprouting up! It's been a fun project I will post some pics later. __________________ --~<*))))>< Fish-On!!

January 14, 2014	#12
Sgtwalleye Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sgt Bluff, Ia Posts: 25	I purchased a roll... http://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Myl...keywords=Mylar It is working good so far. __________________ --~<*))))>< Fish-On!!

January 16, 2014	#14
Tabasco Jack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: GA Posts: 3	light stand I built one like this and can send you detailed drawings with dimensions if you want to make on. I used bolts and wingnuts so I can disassemble it for storage.

January 11, 2014	#2
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	I use the 2 foot wide HydroFarms system, ganging 3 lights together on one base. Very compact and does a great job: Raybo

January 12, 2014	#3
tqn626 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Gabriel, CA Posts: 145	Heh, out of all people I thought you would have a homemade one.

January 12, 2014	#5
Rachel W Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Everett WA, zone 8b Posts: 95	This year we have a bunk bed set in the spare bedroom. I plan on taking the mattress off the lower bunk, and usingsome of cheap board there instead to hold my plants. Then I can tie my 2 foot by 8 foot grow light to the upper bunk for hanging and adjust the height as needed!

January 12, 2014	#6
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	That is a creative idea with the bunk bed. The frame to hold your lights can be made out of lumber if you have a saw and a drill to build it. It doesn't have to be pretty to work well.

January 15, 2014	#13
tqn626 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Gabriel, CA Posts: 145	Think I can put 4 grow trays stack horizontally side by side with this http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/888...FZdsfgodly8AtA