I bought a budget-friendly grow setup from Amazon around Christmas, which includes 30 watt lights for each rack. I've been really disappointed because my seedlings are growing leggy and aren't thriving. Then I remembered I have an 800W Blackdog LED light from my previous experience growing marijuana. I'm wondering if this light is too strong for starting vegetable and flower seeds, and if it's safe to use, how far should I keep it from the plants?
2 Answers
You should be good to go! An 800W light can definitely work for seedlings. Personally, I use a 1000W HID light, and I’ve had no issues germinating different plants. I think the caution about light strength came from people finally figuring out how to measure it. Seedlings thrive under strong lights, just like how they would in natural sunlight—minus the birds, of course!
That light is pretty powerful, especially for seedlings! If it can't be dimmed, make sure to start it at least 24 to 36 inches above the plants and then keep adjusting the height as they grow. Better safe than sorry!