My First Grow Season Log

Hi all!

So I'm very new to this whole game and I've never grown peppers from seed before. I was poking around here, got a few ideas and started my first seeds Monday. A little late in the season I know, but better late than never...I'm just hoping something grows by the end of the year!

Anyways I wasn't planning on doing a log, but yesterday (I'm out of town every Wednesday night) my wife called and said "Do you know you have a sprout?" and I got super jazzed and I don't know who else to tell!

Hopefully you guys can help me out along the way, I have little to no idea what I'm doing. I also have very little money for this so my set up is kind of half-assed. I've got 40 seeds, some Bhut Jolokia, Habanero, White Habenero, Serrano, Hot Chocolate, and Scotch Bonnet growing in Burpee cells under a regular fluorescent light. The light is about 6 inches above the dirt and runs 16 hrs on, 8 off. All I've been doing is spraying the top of the tray with a water bottle to keep it moist. Any other suggestion?

I'll post some pics later tonight when I get home, I'm just really excited!

 

[SeeYouJimmy]

Hello and welcome, PMD from Michigan, there are plenty of folk here who can help you out when you need it.

 

[Matt50680]

Sounds like you have a good place to start. I would lower the light to about 3" over the dirt, soon as they come up you want to get the light on them and keep it close, 1-2" above their little leaves. As they grow, try to maintain this distance. What is your temp in the area you are growing at?

 

[millworkman]

I missed your intro thread, so... Welcome PMD, there are a few other Michiganders on the forum here. Get some pics up and you gotta try the Dr. Pepper. Seems like you have a good start going.

 

[Pardon Me Doug]

Sounds like you have a good place to start. I would lower the light to about 3" over the dirt, soon as they come up you want to get the light on them and keep it close, 1-2" above their little leaves. As they grow, try to maintain this distance. What is your temp in the area you are growing at?

Ok thanks! Like I said, it's a poor man's set-up. I just used books to prop a fluorescent fixture I took off of an old desk unit above the tray. I don't really have the means (that I know of) to really control the temp up there. Won't the lamp create some amount of heat?

 

[Pardon Me Doug]

Here is a picture of my "set-up", but I have moved the light lower to about 3" above the soil (thanks Matt). I have pics of the sprouts at home so I'll post those later: