I have a bunch of peppers that I've been growing under 315W CMH lights. They've been sitting 12-24 inches underneath these lights, which are pretty hot. I haven't been bringing them outside much, because we keep getting nighttime temps in the 40s, and it's a lot of pots to move. Do they need to be hardened off against the sun, given that they've been under hot CMH lights? I've put a number of other plants (nasturtiums, mint, chives, cauliflower) that I had under these lights directly out in the sun, and they didn't seem to be hurt. But I also care a lot more about these peppers.
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sun Hardening off and CMH HID lights
- Thread starter peppergrow
- Start date
We switched from Fluorescents to LEDs this year. Wish we had waited for 3 more weeks to start our seeds.
Our plants were ready way too soon yet we still had to harden them off.
For the first week we used a shade cloth over them outside. Every time it was forecast to dip to 40 we brought them inside.
In years past I believe my peppers were set back when they got chilled or were planted in to cold of soil.
This season has been very cool & we had to wait until May 11th to plant last year it was April 20th.
Our plants were ready way too soon yet we still had to harden them off.
For the first week we used a shade cloth over them outside. Every time it was forecast to dip to 40 we brought them inside.
In years past I believe my peppers were set back when they got chilled or were planted in to cold of soil.
This season has been very cool & we had to wait until May 11th to plant last year it was April 20th.
Cold I'm not worried about. Rather, if it's going to get cold, I'll bring them inside.
I'm wondering if plants right under ceramic metal halide lighting (which is hot and has UV-A), need to be shaded when they go outside.
I'm wondering if plants right under ceramic metal halide lighting (which is hot and has UV-A), need to be shaded when they go outside.
I have never jumped my starts into full sunlight without a shade cloth or sprayed with Surround Plant protectant.
Man made lights are way cool however they have nothing on old Sol for burning power. we can't buy the peppers that we plant
locally. So why not err on the safe side?
I moved them under an awning after the sun started coming around the trees. It's a scorcher out today.
Bou
eXtreme
I think the hardening process is necessary to allow the plants to adapt and get used to strong UV rays and then to a lesser extent to temperature and wind, although shock might also be an issue if it there is a big difference between your indoor temperature and your outdoor temperature...
I got shade cloth up just in time for cold weather to roll in. Back under the grow lights for a couple days.
I've found that skipping hardening results in the plants not establishing as fast, and dealing with a little bit of shock for the first week or so. But as long as there's no frost they usually recover. There can be some loss, though (I experience about 10%), so if you are able to do it I still recommend it. I don't just because of the number of plants I deal with.
Bou
eXtreme
Are your plants not getting sunburn? If I put my plants in the raised beds too quickly (started indoor under led lamps) and without proper hardening they will definitely get badly damaged by the sun... Or maybe you start them all in a greenhouse
We have been painting our little ones white & any other plants in July's 90s with Surround with 100% no sunburn.
The Sun has become more intense as skin cancer has increased in humans. Sunscald is real & can damage your plants.
www.novasource.com
The Sun has become more intense as skin cancer has increased in humans. Sunscald is real & can damage your plants.
Surround
Surround® shades crops from sunburn and heat stress, improving yields and plant health. SURROUND suppresses certain insect pests, further protecting crops.
Bou
eXtreme
I'm using it too (generic kaolin clay) and it's helping a lotWe have been painting our little ones white & any other plants in July's 90s with Surround with 100% no sunburn.
The Sun has become more intense as skin cancer has increased in humans. Sunscald is real & can damage your plants.
Surround
Surround® shades crops from sunburn and heat stress, improving yields and plant health. SURROUND suppresses certain insect pests, further protecting crops.
