Amount of Grow Light Time Per Day

Hello Everyone,

I'm currently using a grow light to help my seeds germinate (they are in potting mix in red solo cups) and was wondering how long all of the indoor growers out there have their lights on per day? The light basically serves as the heat source for keeping the soil temps warm enough for germination. Right now I'm going 18 hours on and 6 hours off, but thinking about going 24/7 until I start seeing hooks. For those of you who have had success starting your seeds under grow lights, what do you recommend for amount of light per day? Should I go 24/7 until I see them break through the soil and then switch to 18/6?

If you need it for heat then 24/7. No use letting temps drop when you are trying to get them to pop. I am doing the same thing and I am running my lights until about a week after all my guys sprout (or at least until I accept the casualties). Some say to let the lights go 24/7 for the first week or so and in this case some plants will get like 2 or 3 weeks of 24/7 and others more like a week.

The #1 thing is temp. I am still havin trouble getting an even temp, even with the lights. Gonna run a heat mat and see if that helps a bit more. After they come up and are good I am gonna drop to 18/6.

MGOLD86 said:

If you need it for heat then 24/7. No use letting temps drop when you are trying to get them to pop. I am doing the same thing and I am running my lights until about a week after all my guys sprout (or at least until I accept the casualties). Some say to let the lights go 24/7 for the first week or so and in this case some plants will get like 2 or 3 weeks of 24/7 and others more like a week.

The #1 thing is temp. I am still havin trouble getting an even temp, even with the lights. Gonna run a heat mat and see if that helps a bit more. After they come up and are good I am gonna drop to 18/6.

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Great, thanks. Yeah I figured leaving it on 24/7 would probably be best because of the temp issue. I've never started my seeds this early before so I'm not used to having to supply so much heat. I know I'll happy about starting seeds now when I can finally enjoy pods in the early summer rather than waiting until late summer like I usually have to do.

Hi Folks
I have the best results with a heat mat under the growing tray and a clear plastic cover on top to hold in the heat and moisture.

cheaper way then buying a heat mat is with clamp light with reflector under the cups...this is what i did and its working out great