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Grow light • Keep your plants looking great year-round with Everlasting Comfort’s fully adjustable grow light. The standing grow light tripod is equipped with four moveable lamp heads, 11 brightness settings and seven color modes. $39.99 at amazon.com
Holly leaves that have turned brown and fallen.
How to start seeds indoors for your outdoor gardens.
Q • I want to start some seeds indoors this year to get a jump on the growing season. Do I need a grow light for that, and if so, what kind?
A • Natural light in our homes is rarely sufficient to produce strong seedlings, so supplementary lighting is recommended. Without it, seedlings tend to be thin, leggy and weak.
For getting seeds started, either LED lights or lightweight metal fluorescent fixtures (also referred to as shop lights) with T-8 tubes work well. Full spectrum light sources provide light at all wavelengths used by plants, but cool white fluorescent tubes are generally fine for getting seeds started.
Fluorescent tubes don’t produce much heat and should be hung 6 to 10 inches away from the seedlings for maximum intensity, so adjust the height as seedlings grow. LED lights can vary in the amount of heat they give off, so follow instructions regarding placement. Regardless of the type of light you have, keep an eye out for signs of heat injury such as leaf browning. Leave lights on for 12 to 18 hours daily and provide adequate moisture and optimal temperatures, and you should have healthy, sturdy transplants for your garden.
Write to the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Center for Home Gardening at plantinformation@mobot.org or the Horticulture Answer Service, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110.
Write to the Missouri Botanical Garden's Center for Home Gardening at plantinformation@mobot.org or the Horticulture Answer Service, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110.
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Grow light • Keep your plants looking great year-round with Everlasting Comfort’s fully adjustable grow light. The standing grow light tripod is equipped with four moveable lamp heads, 11 brightness settings and seven color modes. $39.99 at amazon.com
Holly leaves that have turned brown and fallen.
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