I use a small cheap chain link I got from lowes and a S hook. Lets me lower and raise my grow lights pretty quickly. I too use mine on a wire helving system I got from Sams. My heated seed mats arrived Thursday. Perfect sized, thick and looking forwards too using them! My daughter says "Dont float away in all the rain paw paw and mee maw hoss!" 😄
I found a metal "kitchen" rack system like yours in 14"x30"x6' tall for less than $50. I have the top 2 areas dedicated for seed starting/seedling grow out. I have storage containers on the other shelves for my garden stuff, fertilizers (water soluble), etc... I put 4 of the 24" LED grow lights on each growing level, and I have a 1" rigid insulation panel that sits under my heat mats to send all the heat up into the seed flats (when using the heat). Been using this system for 5 years now and it works great. Plus it is on wheels so I can roll it away for storage (yeah, I know, I need to try microgreens). Good quality LED grow lights (like what HOSS sells) make a huge difference, and sufficient light helps give strong, stocky healthy plants. Be it a countertop setup or a bigger kitchen rack system, all of the systems Greg talked about make gardening so much easier and remember - if you start your own seeds, you grow the varieties you want and save money over buying plants from the big box store (last spring they were $5 a small 6 cell flat around here).
Last January, I setup an indoor grow light station for the first time in my small guest bedroom using a 36" wide x 14" depth x 5' tall chrome metal storage rack. The rack size fit well along the bedroom wall, and I can easily reach the very top shelf where I store gardening items. Bought four, 4 ft. shop lights that have double LED strips in each light. Each light has a daylight rating of 5,000 lumens and about 5,500 kelvin. Hung 2 lights on 2 shelves. Used S hooks and small chains to attach and raise/lower the lights, which is quick and easy. The lights are a little longer than the rack width, but that is a good thing. I can put two, 10x20 trays end-to-end on the same shelf. They hang over the ends of the rack a little bit but so do the shop lights. The lighting length to tray length ratio works perfect. Used an automatic digital timer that was very easy to program, which is set to be on for 12 hours. My seedling growth was amazing under the shop lights. Looking forward to using the grow station the end of this month to start my brassicas early.
I bought 5 Sansi bulbs, a 3 pack of 10w ones are cheap, and I got a 15w and 34w because I plan to try larger plants indoors this winter like a self pollinating cucumber. I got lamp cords and clip on sockets with the metal domes. I use the domes indoors when the plants are in the same room as me sharing the warmth of the heater. The 10w bulbs work best at about a foot above plants and are great for greens, watercress, peppers and dwarf tomatoes or supplemental light when needed. I burned an outdoor mini cherry tomato plant a little this summer with the 15w light a foot away. I have several LED panel lights too, some 17 inch narrow ones, and a round one for fruiting plants. I hate giving up growing tomatoes and cucumbers in fall so since I have a lot of time on my hands I decided to continue the adventure indoors. Ha! For watercress I use 3 inch net baskets filled with clay pebbles in Folgers Instant containers in hydro nutrient solution filled up to right below the top of the clay pebbles.
When will y’all do another live? I liked the Q&A you did in the past. I have your large system in my grow room. I am really enjoying it. Very nice seed cells. Very heavy duty. They will last a long time.
I use the metro shelves (baker racks in this video). Helpful hint... fix your led lights permently to the rack above your plants. Move your plants up to the lights using spacers, and as they grow, just remove the spacers to keep the correct space between your plants and the lights. I simply invert 10x20 trays and stack on top of them. Using cut cardboard, you can go several upside-down 10x20 trays high if needed. It's much quicker than messing with chains and lights.
I have arugula inside now in a 17 inches long & 7 inches wide planter and beets and watermelon radish in another and I just got 3 more of the little all-in-one hydro gardens. I grow all of my own fresh produce. I love that butterhead lettuce too and the crunchy romaine. My seeds from last year didn`t sprout though but I just got fresh ones in a 22 variety lettuce and greens pack. There are some weird seeds in it I`ve never grown.
I have the T5 grow lights and I love them. My son gave me the LED lights and the plants from those lights were tall and leggy. I'm not sure what went wrong but I will be going back to my T5.
Hoss, I ordered a LED light from you a few months ago for my light that went out. I think Ive had my kitchen kit for around 2 years. So Id like to tell you that these lights dont always last as long as you say, except for the fact that after replacing my light I found out that my outlets on that side of the kitchen had popped a fuse, and when I reset the fuse, the old light worked just fine. So I now have a spare for my kit and I suppose I wont need a new light for a decade or two!
Suggestions if in the garage add a heat mat in winter. Also add white poster board to reflect light back to the plants. In Austin I grow lettuce in the heat of summer with a hydroponic watering system a bit of work and worth fresh lettuce in the heat of summer
I got a grow light system on clearance. Sadly my the plants are spindly. I think the bulbs are too weak and to far from the plants. The baker rack I purchase though would be great for indoor lettuce. Great vlog.
Great topic! I am interested in the 2nd grow light you showed. Not the kitchen size but the step up from it. Do I just sit it onto a table /workbench ? About how much would it cost?
Check out link below. growhoss.com/collections/seed-starting-supplies?filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&filter.p.tag=Light+Kits&sort_by=best-selling
Hey Hoss I’m going to try onions from seed that I brought from you. I am in southern Kentucky, the seeds say they are 120 days I think. What would be the best date to harvest onions in my area? Early or late summer I guess is what I’m asking. Thanks so much,
I have used Barrina T8 (LED) for over 2 years for Hoyas , cacti and other Succulents which all needed very high/bring light. How do your lights compare to them ? Will you ever have bigger options? Like their 2ft and 4 ft 6 pack options?
I think our lights are a good option for the Home gardener, Price and quality. You can daisy chain our 36inch light together to make any length you need.
took me a few years to realize that DIY was a waste of money and time. growlights have such high light intensity that it is unmatched by shoplights or even powerful floodlights. DIY lights just produce spindly plants and mucking about.
I use a small cheap chain link I got from lowes and a S hook. Lets me lower and raise my grow lights pretty quickly. I too use mine on a wire helving system I got from Sams. My heated seed mats arrived Thursday. Perfect sized, thick and looking forwards too using them! My daughter says "Dont float away in all the rain paw paw and mee maw hoss!" 😄
I found a metal "kitchen" rack system like yours in 14"x30"x6' tall for less than $50. I have the top 2 areas dedicated for seed starting/seedling grow out. I have storage containers on the other shelves for my garden stuff, fertilizers (water soluble), etc... I put 4 of the 24" LED grow lights on each growing level, and I have a 1" rigid insulation panel that sits under my heat mats to send all the heat up into the seed flats (when using the heat). Been using this system for 5 years now and it works great. Plus it is on wheels so I can roll it away for storage (yeah, I know, I need to try microgreens). Good quality LED grow lights (like what HOSS sells) make a huge difference, and sufficient light helps give strong, stocky healthy plants. Be it a countertop setup or a bigger kitchen rack system, all of the systems Greg talked about make gardening so much easier and remember - if you start your own seeds, you grow the varieties you want and save money over buying plants from the big box store (last spring they were $5 a small 6 cell flat around here).
Thanks for the low priced way to grow.
Last January, I setup an indoor grow light station for the first time in my small guest bedroom using a 36" wide x 14" depth x 5' tall chrome metal storage rack. The rack size fit well along the bedroom wall, and I can easily reach the very top shelf where I store gardening items. Bought four, 4 ft. shop lights that have double LED strips in each light. Each light has a daylight rating of 5,000 lumens and about 5,500 kelvin. Hung 2 lights on 2 shelves. Used S hooks and small chains to attach and raise/lower the lights, which is quick and easy. The lights are a little longer than the rack width, but that is a good thing. I can put two, 10x20 trays end-to-end on the same shelf. They hang over the ends of the rack a little bit but so do the shop lights. The lighting length to tray length ratio works perfect. Used an automatic digital timer that was very easy to program, which is set to be on for 12 hours. My seedling growth was amazing under the shop lights. Looking forward to using the grow station the end of this month to start my brassicas early.
I bought 5 Sansi bulbs, a 3 pack of 10w ones are cheap, and I got a 15w and 34w because I plan to try larger plants indoors this winter like a self pollinating cucumber. I got lamp cords and clip on sockets with the metal domes. I use the domes indoors when the plants are in the same room as me sharing the warmth of the heater. The 10w bulbs work best at about a foot above plants and are great for greens, watercress, peppers and dwarf tomatoes or supplemental light when needed. I burned an outdoor mini cherry tomato plant a little this summer with the 15w light a foot away. I have several LED panel lights too, some 17 inch narrow ones, and a round one for fruiting plants. I hate giving up growing tomatoes and cucumbers in fall so since I have a lot of time on my hands I decided to continue the adventure indoors. Ha! For watercress I use 3 inch net baskets filled with clay pebbles in Folgers Instant containers in hydro nutrient solution filled up to right below the top of the clay pebbles.
When will y’all do another live? I liked the Q&A you did in the past. I have your large system in my grow room. I am really enjoying it. Very nice seed cells. Very heavy duty. They will last a long time.
We will start back after first of year. Just taking the holidays off.
I use the metro shelves (baker racks in this video). Helpful hint... fix your led lights permently to the rack above your plants. Move your plants up to the lights using spacers, and as they grow, just remove the spacers to keep the correct space between your plants and the lights. I simply invert 10x20 trays and stack on top of them. Using cut cardboard, you can go several upside-down 10x20 trays high if needed. It's much quicker than messing with chains and lights.
I have arugula inside now in a 17 inches long & 7 inches wide planter and beets and watermelon radish in another and I just got 3 more of the little all-in-one hydro gardens. I grow all of my own fresh produce. I love that butterhead lettuce too and the crunchy romaine. My seeds from last year didn`t sprout though but I just got fresh ones in a 22 variety lettuce and greens pack. There are some weird seeds in it I`ve never grown.
Always great 👍 information.
Thanks 👍
Excellent.
I have the T5 grow lights and I love them. My son gave me the LED lights and the plants from those lights were tall and leggy. I'm not sure what went wrong but I will be going back to my T5.
Hoss, I ordered a LED light from you a few months ago for my light that went out. I think Ive had my kitchen kit for around 2 years. So Id like to tell you that these lights dont always last as long as you say, except for the fact that after replacing my light I found out that my outlets on that side of the kitchen had popped a fuse, and when I reset the fuse, the old light worked just fine. So I now have a spare for my kit and I suppose I wont need a new light for a decade or two!
Suggestions if in the garage add a heat mat in winter. Also add white poster board to reflect light back to the plants. In Austin I grow lettuce in the heat of summer with a hydroponic watering system a bit of work and worth fresh lettuce in the heat of summer
ive been using just cheap LED shop lights to grow all my leafy salad greens in the house.
Yeah me too, I got the harbor freight units and they work very well, great spectrum for greens.
Awesome video, Thanks for the DIY idea. PS> The onions are looking good in my garden.
Can you grow lettuce indoors year around with your Hanging Grow Light Kit?
yes, you can
Thumbs up Hoss, get 4x100 watt solar pannel and 100 ah 12v battery with pure sine wave inverter or just use a tractor / semi battery
I got a grow light system on clearance. Sadly my the plants are spindly. I think the bulbs are too weak and to far from the plants. The baker rack I purchase though would be great for indoor lettuce. Great vlog.
Thanks for sharing
Great topic! I am interested in the 2nd grow light you showed. Not the kitchen size but the step up from it. Do I just sit it onto a table /workbench ? About how much would it cost?
Check out link below.
growhoss.com/collections/seed-starting-supplies?filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&filter.p.tag=Light+Kits&sort_by=best-selling
Hey Hoss I’m going to try onions from seed that I brought from you. I am in southern Kentucky, the seeds say they are 120 days I think. What would be the best date to harvest onions in my area? Early or late summer I guess is what I’m asking. Thanks so much,
Sounds great!
I have used Barrina T8 (LED) for over 2 years for Hoyas , cacti and other Succulents which all needed very high/bring light. How do your lights compare to them ? Will you ever have bigger options? Like their 2ft and 4 ft 6 pack options?
I think our lights are a good option for the Home gardener, Price and quality.
You can daisy chain our 36inch light together to make any length you need.
@@gardeningwithhoss
Great thank you, I'll look into them very soon.
I never could grow tomato plants from seed until I learned how to use my grow lights
And hey .. I’m trying to see if those heat mats work… I put my heating pad under my lettuce seeds that I started in my house
Yep it’s hoss lettuce seeds .. I planted them today
If they germinate faster , I will order sum of those heat mats
Sometimes u have to prove it to me
I’m hard headed like that..
took me a few years to realize that DIY was a waste of money and time. growlights have such high light intensity that it is unmatched by shoplights or even powerful floodlights. DIY lights just produce spindly plants and mucking about.