PeteyPepper said:
Petey here...
I like you set-up AJ. Very well thought out and quite impressive. I'm looking for something quite a bit smaller. I don't think that I explained myself very well in the OP and what I am looking for may not even be a germination station.
I figure about 48 seedlings maybe 60. My dilemma will be after they sprout and getting good strong solid growth in 2 1/2 to 3 months. I can't rely on the late winter early spring sun to get the type of growth that I need...
So, I figure that I need some powerful grow lights and some sort of stand to get the puppies movin' toward the sky at a little better clip. I'm sure something is commercially available, just haven't had the time to do the research.
The lighting fixture should be about 48"L x 24" wide. This should be sufficient, may have to cut back on the seedlings. What type of lights am I looking for? Compact Fluorescent, Metal Halide, something else. I guess that is the real question.
Sheesh, I morphed my own thread.
Thanks Petey...I am going to have to double the size of my little operation for this coming spring...
If you are going to bring off 48 to 60 seedlings an area of 48" X24 inches should be enough depending on the size of containers you use...if you use the 3" square containers you can get 60 under that area with no problem and they will accomodate growth for about 3 months variable depending on which species you grow. My experience this year was the annuums grow a lot faster than the chinense do but the chinense get bushier quicker.
I would recommend having at least 3 feet height for the area you are going to set up. That includes enough room for the light fixture too. I had seedlings over 16" tall that were touching my lights before plantout because I only had about 24" spacing between shelves. Make sure you can adjust the height of your lights from the tops of the peppers.
To me, the very first thing you need is a controlled environment for the seedlings...a constant 86F (30C) seems to be about the optimum for germination. I kept my seedlings at 86F costant until everything was planted out...controlled environment means a closed box or area of come kind.
Lights...many different opinions and options...metal halide, high pressure sodium, standard fluorescents, Compact Fluorescents, LEDs, etc. Each has a different start up cost and operating cost. I am using standard 48" T-12, 40 Watt shop light fixtures with a 4100K and 6500K bulb in each fixture. My grow area is 16" wide and 8' long (3 levels) so if you want to go the cheapest start up cost 3 shop lights with 2 bulbs each will give you complete coverage for the 48" long and 24" wide area. Mind you, I am not recommending you use what I am, just saying what I use. There are several members that use T-8s instead of T-12s.
Air movement...you will need air circulation...this is to make the plants sway in the breeze giving them a more robust stem. I use a fan for my grow areas about an hour twice a day...
Watering...make sure you have a way to bottom water your seedlings...
Number one recommendation...keep a watchful eye out for aphids...if you ever get infested, you will be fighting them until plantout...
enough ramblin'...I am sure others will have other opinions..
