First time cheap-o setup. Would love any thoughts/criticisms!

SeaDuds

SeaDuds

Hey all,
Decided to try starting my plants indoors this year and am looking to continue through the year with some herbs/lettuce inside to free up space in my raised bed. Just rigged this up and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or issues with how I've got it set up.
 
It's two 48 inch 2-lamp T5s. They're currently the stock 14W 3000K bulbs, but I have 24W 6400K bulbs coming tomorrow, which I'll be switching to.
 
Follow up question if anyone is interested in answering: I'll be out of town for 8 days two weeks from now. Aside from having someone come water the plants, what's your best strategy for keeping everything from dying? Just water well before leaving? A cube of soaked sponge in each cup? Holes in the bottom and set it all in a tray of water? I'd hate to come home to a room full of dead plants.
 
Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/GHwKS
Individual links:
1: http://i.imgur.com/iGC13tj.jpg
2: http://i.imgur.com/tIsoeOn.jpg
3: http://i.imgur.com/3UrHdV5.jpg
 
8 days is a bit long for baby plants, you could probably slow the drying out process by putting a dome over them somehow but otherwise I'd recommend having someone water them for you.  When plants are at the stage in your pics I check them for drying out 2x per day, once is probably good.  I've killed entire flats of plants by being gone for more than 3-4 days before.
 
You could always remove the front cover of the box, raise the lights a little to cut down on the heat and maybe adjust timing on lights. I would water good before leaving and have someone come by in a couple days. Do you have drainage holes in the cups? If not I would be worried about drowning them. Just my 2cents.

Good luck
 
My shelves are wire racks - 18in. X 48in. X 6ft. tall-on wheels.
 
Spaced about 24in. apart.
I now have T8's on them(cleaning up my LED's).
Not starting many plants this year-so far... :)
 
3 X 2 bulb,4ft. shop lights on each shelf.
18 hrs. on...
 
I like 5000-6500 L in 3000+LM.
 
With LED'S I have Mylar hanging down the front or you see spots after looking in that direction.Too bright.
 
Just make sure you don't melt your seedlings being too close to the lights. 12 inches would be better. Plants root temp at 80f. My set up in a freezer with lights for the seedlings and heat sprout mat with controls. Hope this helps.
 

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Thanks for the responses everyone! I've actually got someone coming over to check on our two cats already, so I think I can convince them to water the plants. I'll probably leave EXACT amounts of water keep them from drowning the plants.
 
Can anyone chime in on the importance of airflow? I know most people install fans and exhaust in grow boxes. How quickly would it be detrimental to the plants to leave the box shut?
 
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