Starting Seeds Indoors
How we use LED lights and temperature control to get a jumpstart on the growing season.
Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jumpstart on the growing season, and using LED lights is a key component to ensure healthy, strong seedlings. In this blog post, we'll discuss the benefits of using lights to start seeds, why LED lights are a great choice, and how we use temperature control to create the ideal environment for seed starting.
Benefits of Using Lights to Start Seeds
Starting seeds indoors under lights has many benefits over starting seeds in a windowsill. One of the main benefits is that it helps avoid weak, leggy plants that can result from insufficient light. When seedlings are not receiving enough light, they will stretch out and become leggy in search of more light, resulting in weaker plants.
Using lights provides consistent and direct light that allows seedlings to grow strong and healthy. Starting these plants indoors with lights allows them to get a head start and grow to a more mature size before being transplanted outside.
Why LED Lights Are a Great Choice
When it comes to choosing lights for starting seeds indoors, LED lights are a great choice for several reasons. They are lightweight and easy to use, making them a popular choice. Additionally, they use very little energy compared to other types of grow lights, making them an affordable option for anyone looking to start seeds indoors.
LED lights also produce very little heat, which is important for maintaining the ideal temperature for seed germination. Other types of lights, such as fluorescent lights, can produce a lot of heat, which can be detrimental to seedlings.
Finally, LED lights have a long lifespan and require very little maintenance, making them a great long-term investment for any gardener.
Temperature Control for the Ideal Environment
In addition to using LED lights, temperature control is an important component to creating the ideal environment for seed starting. We use waterproof heating mats underneath our trays and we also keep soil temperature sensors in the trays that keep an eye on the temperature, turning off and on according to the parameters we set. This helps keep the soil at an ideal temperature, which is typically around 70°F for most plants. This helps ensure that the seeds have the proper conditions to germinate and grow.
We also use the lights on a simple timer to ensure the seeds get their required 16 hours of direct light. This is important to maintain consistent light exposure, which is necessary for healthy growth.
Daily watering in the trays is also important to ensure the seeds have enough moisture to germinate and grow. This technique, combined with temperature control and LED lights, ensures that the seeds have a perfect, affordable environment to start growing season early.
Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jumpstart on the growing season, and using LED lights and temperature control are key components to ensure healthy, strong seedlings. By providing consistent and direct light, maintaining the proper temperature, and ensuring adequate moisture, you can create the ideal environment for seed starting.
Give it a try this season and see the benefits for yourself!
