Hey Corey, just wanted to say thank you for all the info and your generosity and sharing your experience with us, it has been a big help for me getting started, just ordered my trays, lights, rack, and seeds to get started, fingers crossed Ill be putting out trays of greens in the next few weeks!
Hi Corey..Murray from New Zealand here..this is one of the best info videos I have found for lights with microgreens. I tried led strips in a cabinet I had and experimented with different amounts of the blue and red. failures and success here and there but you have helped out big time thank you. have shelved it for now but have to start it up again sometime soon and get back into it, I have hydroponics too but only run through the spring summer time. My wallet is tight and do not like spending too much money. thank you again
Glad I came to the same conclusion on the T8 vs T5 debate when I bought my lights. I was looking at half the grow space for over double the cost using T5s, yet surprisingly few people mention using T8s instead of the T5s.
I was looking at getting these led shop lights from Costco, they are only 4000k. Would this work well for all my microgreens or would it limit its vertical height?
Hi Corey, do you know the lumens in the t8 6500k.. or does that matter to you? I have some 4100k 3000 lumens I have used forever when growing from seed..
@@CoreysCave Hi Corey! Thanks for your elaborative video. I want to start with a small Microgreens setup. The installment of good lighting seems to be a critical factor in the growth of Microgreens. In your reply your recommended T8, Fluorescent, 6500K, 32 Watts. A pair of these costs $11.98 in Canada. Could you please check the link and confirm it as the one you recommended. It will help. Thanks, www.homedepot.ca/product/philips-fluorescent-32w-t8-48-daylight-6500k-2-pack-/1000159507
So one (1) T8 4’ 2 bulb fixture puts out enough light for the entire 1020 tray? It seems like the ends wouldn’t get enough light and become even more leggy. Thanks again for the awesome videos my man!
Clinton DeWitt It’s one fixture with 2 bulbs, the ends of the trays don’t do as good as the center but it works good enough. I prefer two separate lights about 8” apart.
Hello Corey, Can you please tell me which lights are good for microgreens (with blue light). You mention it at the end of the video but I can't really understand and I can't find them. Thank you in advance :)
Daylight spectrum, it’s usually about 6k kelvin, anything over 5.5k kelvin will work well and they don’t need to be high powered. Some cheap LED shop lights in the daylight spectrum will work fine.
So for microgreens you really don't need the light power of T 5s? Is there more weight in plant growth with the T 5s? Do You weigh the starting seeds down for 6 days first? Sorry just found you and haven't watched any other videos but have subscribed. TY
Do you think 5000K can work? The LEDs I use for growing comes in a 5k Kelvin version too. they are super efficient if pricey. the Tubes you are using are 36W each and put out about 3000 lumens each. so 70`ish Watt for 6000lm. The strip I am looking at puts out 9000 lumens at 50W.I'm more at the experimental stage, not looking to start a business... yet. Just want to know if you think it might be a useful test if I order one in 5000K when I order 3000K strips again. They also make a double row version of the same strip, which would match the light output of 6 of those tubes over 3 trays for about 100W. I have a playlist demonstrating the lights I normally build for myself. I'd love to see if they can work for the microgreen community.
@@CoreysCave Yeha, I was told 6500k is where it is at. The only problem is that only high-efficiency LEDs in that colour are COBs, and I really don't like them on account of being massive fire hazards. Thanks for the heads up. I think I might just have them throw a stick in the mail for me, when I get new strips in June.
Would a 5500 Lumen 5000k shop light work to grow the microgreens? Rural King has a new LED Shop light that is really cheap. The one in my garage is just about as bright as some 6500k bulbs I have.
Hi Corey! I'm knew to growing my own microgreens & I am gathering info to start my grow & so enjoy Ur videos!! I've learned so much!! But still confused as whether to use LED or Fluorescent. Now U are using both. Seems to be working for U!
Hi corey, great video. I am using T8 18w LED tube lighting. 120cm x 2 but I use 1 x 6500k tube cold white and 1 x 4000k tube warm white. The combination seems to work well.
The white LED reels normally come in 5 meter (16.4 feet) lengths and vary in rated wattages depending mainly upon the size of the LEDs used; larger size = higher wattage = more light output. (2835 = 2.8mm x 3.5mm, 5050 - 5mm x 5mm, etc) The highest power white LED reels that I have seen use 7020 LEDs and have a claimed rating of 96 watts. There are usually three color temperatures offered; cool, neutral or daylight, and warm white. Two neutral white, 96 watt (claimed) LED reels could be used to create a 192 watt 4 foot long equivalent to a T8 fluorescent fixture with eight 4.1 foot long strips spaced to provide the same light coverage as the fluorescent fixture. I would expect a DIY LED fixture of this type to significantly out perform a T8 or T5. . Forget about using the red and blue LED reels which are typically lower powered with less light output and a gimmick. White LEDs are a mixture of the entire visible light spectrum with the higher K numbers having more blue and the lower K numbers more red. Most of the research regarding light is coming out of the "medicinal" grow industry and some growers vary the light spectrum and more commonly the amount of lighted hours during vegetative and flower cycles. Your plants by the way look terrific
I'm using your link for my 1st order with Trueleafmarket.com :) Now I'm trying to figure out what size clamshells to order from Webstaurant Store. On a tight budget. Any suggestions of the 2 most used? Sample size and family/restaurant size?
Thank you! I have a link to the clamshells in the description. It’s a link to Amazon for 16 fluid ounce clamshells that hold 2 ounces of Microgreens, I use them for all my customers.
Hi Corey, I was wondering how noisy a microgreens room would be? I'm thinking of getting a silent aircon, silent dehumidifier and quiet fans, (as quiet as they all can be). I have a neighbour in the room next door although the walls are concrete, I'd hate to keep them up at night.
Boey Shee Ian I’m not sure that the normal 6500k lights are full spectrum but I am sure that they work great for Microgreens and you don’t need actual grow lights.
Hi Corey's Cave, Thank you so much for taking the time to upload your videos to help us newbies. :) At 2:59, you mentioned 6000k, but now which brand you prefer. For my sewing room, I really like Phillips 'Real' light bulbs, but when I can find them, which is rare now because everyone is going to LED, they are super expensive! (I am in the US.) If you see this message, please RSVP. Thanks!
Philips led lights has figured it out with the largest greenhouse production company's in the Netherlands. They have completed the research and documented it.
@@CoreysCave ruclips.net/video/0G-OxNYsbv0/видео.html This is what is on youtube. ruclips.net/video/FvgfRJpZSC0/видео.html The development is done together with Wageningen University. Good luck. Koppert Cress was the first customer in this project.
Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. (PAR) measures how bright/intense the light is. Kelvin (K) measures the color spectrum of the light. For growing micro greens you want a 6500k. The higher the number the more blue spectrum, the more red the lower the number like a 2000k. Plants use more blue for growth and more red for producing fruit. Leafy greens and sprouts need more blue. Tomatoes, strawberries, etc need more blue for initial growth, then switch to more red for producing the fruit.
That electrical receptacle should have an outdoor cover and be on a GFCI circuit, both things are easy to remedy and could save a life or prevent a fire.
On the T8 shop lights, I"ve got a shelf that is 2 feet deep by 12 feet long. I cannot tell from your video if you use 2 shop lights (4 bulbs total) per 4 foot length by 2 foot width of shelf or if you only use 1 shop light. Also it looks like Philips has 2 different models of the 6500k bulbs. Not sure if it matters? The 2 pack you referenced below are like $4.50 per bulb where a 10 pack of these are half that much. Just wondering if the slightly different model matters? www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-32-Watt-4-ft-Alto-Linear-T8-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-Daylight-6500K-10-Pack-479717/303811828
Chris Layton I am using one fixture with 2 bulbs over the center of the trays. Two would be better but would use way more electricity than it’s worth. I don’t think the different models will matter as long as they are both 6500k and the same wattage.
@@CoreysCave Thank you and I appreciate your excellent work and the effort you put into these videos. About how many hours do you run those lights in a day over your microgreens?
This was great. Thanks. I have a question about your red amaranth. I have tried them but I find they are too delicate, like corn silk. As a result they don’t make a good garnish because they clump. Am I doing something wrong? Your’s look very good.
Brian Charles After harvesting leave them in the refrigerator with the clamshell lid open for an hour or so, this stays out the moisture making them last much longer and prevents clumping.
Hi Corey, you have to be from the Northeast Kingdom? VT, NH?? I live in Alaska now and considering doing microgreens up here, thanks SO much for doing these posts & sharing what you've learned!!
These are the lights I recommend the most but they are pricey amzn.to/32AQnxv These light fixtures amzn.to/3a9Q92Z with daylight 6500k bulbs work great as well.
That was an excellent comparison, very helpful! Thanks Corey for doing the work for us :) For my usual indoor seed starting I've used the shoplights from Home Depot and I think I'll stick with those. They work very well for me. They dry out the soil a bit quicker than I like but that's fairly easy to deal with. That's great advice about the T5 vs T8 to make them pop. I'll have to try that out! Have a fabulous week!
Hi Corey. First, thank you for sharing and caring enough to take the time to do these videos. I have learned a lot from you my friend. I ordered a few varieties from True Leaf: arugula, kale, broccoli and their spicy salad mix. My question is, how long do you grow them till harvest? Do you let the first set of true leaves pop before you do? Also, what seeding density do you use for the spicy salad mix? Lastly, do you rinse/dry them before you pack them? Thanks again for everything. Many blessings for you and your family.
Oscar Chavez I will do my best to answer those questions. Waiting until True leafs are shown is beneficial to you become the harvest is higher and the Microgreens are better imo. However it does take more time and the rate of watering increases as the plants get bigger, also some plants when grown as Microgreens will need added nutrients if grown for a long period of time. I don’t wash my Microgreens so there is no Ned to dry them. When grown in a clean environment I find washing to be unnecessary and leave that up to the chefs (who always Plate without washing) I hope this helps, let me know if I didn’t answer all your questions
CoreysCave thanks for the speedy reply :). I’ll have to experiment with letting them go a little longer. I currently grow the salad mix for 7 days and I feel they are nice and tender, but tend to not hold up as long with storage. Then again, I do rinse and dry them since I seem to get small traces of soil on the bottom during harvest. They may be too short due to growing them for 7 days. My seeding density may be a bit high too, (37grams). I’ll have to try a 10 day grow and see how they do. Tweak it here...tweak it there. It’s like a science project...lol. Thanks again hermano!
Because there is a lot of good information on what lights work well on microgreens in this video. But if you want your money back for the free video, I can arrange that.
Thanx for the info. I'm planning on growing microgreens too and was wondering about what lighting to use and I found your video 😊 brill thanx again. no doubt I'll be coming to you for more advice. ttfn
Thanks again for all the great content! I’m just starting out. Can you please explain what the “T” and the number following that means on the lights. Sorry if that’s a dumb question.
Awesome! Great info I do like the more uniformed growth under those LED lights and those T8s right afterwards do make them pop! I will have to get a few and trial some! Thanks for the tips! Have a great day!
Hey Corey, Speaking of electricity, can you do a rundown on what your monthly cost is to produce the microgreens? A complete cost analysis to include utility usage would be invaluable to us I think, especially if it were broken down all the way to a cost per ounce basis. Basically, whats the REAL cost to grow these things.
Check this out, I covered everthing but electricity and water because I was in my greenhouse and I have well water. ruclips.net/video/2ja0DM6E9Vk/видео.html Hope this helps. Keep an eye out for a new video I will be making that details how to start a microgreens business and how much it cost's to do so, I think you will really enjoy it.
Thanks Corey for all the info. I bought 4 ft. 4k LED shop lights from home Depot. They are only 19 watts each. Are you running one or two of those LED shop lights on that shelf? P.S. I'm using an Aerogarden LED light for my microgreens currently. If anyone has an old LED Aerogarden lying around it grows strong and healthy microgreens. Only one flat at a time though
@@CoreysCave I'm facing a little dilemma here, I've the choice to get a 32W full spectrum led grow shop light 480nm-650nm at CAN$102 or a 32W (Focused) led grow shop light 450nm-650nm wich sell at can$179.00 I don't see much difference in nm for the big difference price.. The Controlled spectrum are way more expensive too.. At home depot canada www.homedepot.ca/product/toggled-32w-full-spectrum-led-grow-shop-light/1001343567
I was interested your LED grow because if those strip lights were growing them then I figured mine would. I have 2- 300W LED lights. a couple growers said they made the greens rubbery...But a couple growers swear by them. You are one of the genuinely real growers making vids so I was interested in what you thought of the texture and growth of your microgreens that were fully grown under LED. I wasn't some of those shop lights but its hard to find any temperature cooler than 4100K. To get a 5000k or 6500k light its like a special order @.@ or amazon. again great vid
Your contribution is awesome Cory, you're very cool and open hearted, thank you so much for sharing all your valuable experience in such friendly way. The best for you
Love the channel. Thanks for all the info. I also got a kick out of seeing that you program. I also use C#/visual studio but more as a hobby for fun. I think the problem solving skills that develop with learning how to program will go a long way in growing microgreens though. It's like it shifts how you think after a while, for the better.
s s Glad you like the videos! I actually work in engineering for a living. I don’t apply a lot of my knowledge to the microgreens because they are sort of an outlet, like fun. But I do try to make things easier.
Thanks for your info about the tape lights. I was going to try them to fit shorter shelves. I may still, but I completely agree about the T8 lights on the shop light ballasts, been using them for years, they work great.
CeZe G You can’t really go wrong with good ole T8’s. I definitely wouldn’t recommend not trying the tape lights, they do work they just were not one of my favorites but I also didn’t put a lot of effort into making them work.
My Pea shoots grow very tall and VERY 'stemy'-----very long bare stems, 3-4" of bare stem other than the little bud/leaves that poke out. I'm hoping when I switch to 6500K lights it will make a difference, since right now I'm using a 4100 and a 3500K in each 2-bulb fixture, 2 fixtures per rack. I'm keeping them close to the plant tops, too, so there is plenty of bright light-----I'm hoping the K rating change will make a difference in the peas 'leggieness'.
Hey Pal, you have some nerve being so thorough, well explained, and awesome. Really appreciate your videos so please keep it up. Regards from Milwaukee, Wis.
Thanks for the great information. Has anyone mentioned the smell of greens? Broccoli, salad mix... I haven’t heard one mention after many videos and different people.
I think the problem with the LED lights is that they're a little further away than they could be. The release about a third of the heat as a T8 (because they use about a third of the watts) and you can place them a lot closer to give the plants more energy. Remember the inverse square law.
the further away the light is from the greens the more diluted it becomes. but i believe that the white 'panels' around each light source somewhat makes up for it by supplementing it with indirect light. Also probably helps get a more even grow in the corners
There are no measurements of lux or temperature in your setup, but II think the reason why the microgreens grow taller in the t8 is because of the heat. I'm assuming your led lamps has low heat. Your led strip is too far from the plants canopy. I would experiment placing the strip at a distance of 12 inches. Where I live the kwh is .17 cents, so having the most cost effective lights is very important. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Corey , your information is great , I want to know how do we determine the distance between grow lights and the plants , and what is the optimum lumen requirement for them ?
Keep the lights as close as you can get them without burning the plants or making them difficult to deal with. I keep my lights 8” - 12” above the top of the trays to allow room for growth. Peas can get tall so I pretty much set my light height for those. I don’t know the optimal lumens to use, regular T8 daylight fluorescent bulbs work or high quality LED lights.
Dowie Farm Hey man, I plant my beets dry on soil and cover with about a 1/4” of vermiculite. I water them in heavily then stack. I leave them stacked for about a week or until most of the seed has germinated then introduce to light. This way I get almost no seed hulls.
Corey is this the right t8 bulb you speak of? Yescom 1/10/25 Packs 18W T8 4FT LED Light Fluorescent Tube 6500K Cool White Replacement Lamp Bulb Milky/Clear www.walmart.com/ip/Yescom-1-10-25-Packs-18W-T8-4FT-LED-Light-Fluorescent-Tube-6500K-Cool-White-Replacement-Lamp-Bulb-Milky-Clear/104669279
Up On the Roost My Little Homestead That is not the bulb I was referring too but it will probably work fine. Here is a little project I am working on and I am giving you the very first sneak peak, it may answer some questions. The only thing I ask is you come back here and give me honest feedback, deal? Here it is brabantfarms.com/grow-your-own/
Your web page is awesome Cory. It's very good. Precise without being over done. Visually attractive. Filled with knowledge earned from experience. Great linked resources! Thank you so much again! 😊
I have been to a local hydroponics store and they are steering me towards flood trays with pumps a d a collection tank. What are your views on this automatic ( timers ) watering system? Thank you, Tom.
Tom Powell It really depends on how big you want to be and what your schedule is like. If you have time to water your trays once a day and grow in soil, don’t bother with flood trays. If you are going to be a decent sized grower and are growing hydroponically then you may want to consider the flood trays. Keep in mind that many crops want to be watered differently than others.
I was at my local hardware store yeaterday and they have a special going on for 4' LED shop lights. Buy one at $15.99 and get two free. I was in a hurry and didn't check out any info on them. Seems like a good deal but I didn't know if they were the right ones for microgreens. You answered that for me. Thank you.
There should be a label similar to this ieslightlogic.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DOE-Lighting-Facts-Label-1.jpg You want the light color to be above 5000K. My 4000K lights work for what I use them for but they are not ideal for the entire growth.
Hey Corey, nice recommendations! Please keep us updated once you found something better! Could you also please consider talking about your seed density for the 1020 trays? I'm just starting out right now and would love to hear some successfully applied densities. THX
@@ronrover6594 Cress is very easy. I use 1 tablespoon per tray spread evenly. Try not to allow the seeds to clump up. Cover with a humidity dome for 3 days then introduce to light.
CoreysCave Alright, I will test that one too! I‘m trying out a variety with larger leafs right now using 30g of seeds. Could be a little too much but we will see :-) Thanks again!
So I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here but I was looking at the Honeywell LED shop light. Sams club sells these, they are 4ft 5000K 4500 lumens consuming 42W total. I've watched other youtube folks talk about the LEDs are best at 5500K and anything above is wasted with microgreens and possibly could make them a bit rubber-ish? Would the 500K less really make a huge difference in that 5000K light. I currently use a Solar Flare T5 HO with 65000K bulbs that I've used to grow succulents. Great setup for that application but the draw is a lot more and there is a heat issue. It's a small room and I don't want to have to vent it adding additional T8 or T5's. This is the draw to LEDs . Just looking for your opinion here :)
How does a higher or lower 'K' rating affect plant growth? I have T8's in all my fixtures, but they are 3500 and 4100K, 32W bulbs. I wanted to have a warmer white and cooler white bulb combined in each fixture. Thanks!
Sign Man It’s all about the color spectrum. The higher the kelvin number the bluer the light which is what plants use to grow greens. That’s a super over simplified explanation and there is a lot more to it than kelvin rating but it’s a good reference.
Karl Binger Yes, I do have led fixtures but even those have two bulbs. You can try a single and it will work but the growth will be significantly better directly under the light.
I have several light setups. 2 of my T5 fixtures use 2 bulbs and one uses 4 bulbs, the more the better but it isnt something I have actually measured. You need to find a balance of "Good enough" with the least amount of electricity.
One more question if you don't mind; you have been so helpful and well-deserve our subscription. We are now looking at LED lighting as an alternative to save energy and reduce heat. Do you recommend strips or fixtures? Probably strips given the little light they need right? If so, do you recommend any certain ones? And how far away should the LED's be from the canopy of the microgreens? Thank you!
Today's Tomorrow This is good timing but you are about a week early. I will be reviewing some LEDs very soon, until then I really can’t give a great answer.
Hey Corey, your videos are so helpful. Thank you for your time!! How long do most seeds need to be under the T8 lights? I'm looking to grow pea shoots, reddish, sunflower, basic salad mix, and wheat grass. I heard somewhere else that it is 16 hours of light a day? Is that right? Thanks man.
Hey Corey, just wanted to say thank you for all the info and your generosity and sharing your experience with us, it has been a big help for me getting started, just ordered my trays, lights, rack, and seeds to get started, fingers crossed Ill be putting out trays of greens in the next few weeks!
brandon lantier That’s awesome Brandon, it’s always nice to hear that I am helping. Thanks for commenting and keep me updated!
how did it go?
Hi Corey..Murray from New Zealand here..this is one of the best info videos I have found for lights with microgreens. I tried led strips in a cabinet I had and experimented with different amounts of the blue and red. failures and success here and there but you have helped out big time thank you. have shelved it for now but have to start it up again sometime soon and get back into it, I have hydroponics too but only run through the spring summer time. My wallet is tight and do not like spending too much money. thank you again
Murray Eliason Thank you Murray, good luck to you!
@@CoreysCave do you have to change the light times to trigger from vegetation to flower or is it the same time under you harvest
CoreysCave Thanks for sharing the nuances in the craft of indoor micro-greening. No one shares trade secrets like this that I have ever seen. Awesome!
FOR8YESHUA Thank you, I am so glad you find the videos helpful.
What Wattage are the T-8s?
Glad I came to the same conclusion on the T8 vs T5 debate when I bought my lights. I was looking at half the grow space for over double the cost using T5s, yet surprisingly few people mention using T8s instead of the T5s.
Most people I've seen use those T5s, have them way closer to the plants. Not sure if that would make a difference, but that's what they claim.
Anybody thinks he looks a bit like Keanu Reeves? :)) Thank you very much for the info . Keep them coming :)
I was looking at getting these led shop lights from Costco, they are only 4000k. Would this work well for all my microgreens or would it limit its vertical height?
4K is too red of a spectrum, try to find 5500 or higher.
Hi Corey, do you know the lumens in the t8 6500k.. or does that matter to you? I have some 4100k 3000 lumens I have used forever when growing from seed..
Diane Mumm Garden Videos I do not know but I do know the 4’ 6500K fluorescent bulbs I use are 32 watts.
@@CoreysCave Hi Corey! Thanks for your elaborative video. I want to start with a small Microgreens setup. The installment of good lighting seems to be a critical factor in the growth of Microgreens. In your reply your recommended T8, Fluorescent, 6500K, 32 Watts. A pair of these costs $11.98 in Canada. Could you please check the link and confirm it as the one you recommended. It will help. Thanks,
www.homedepot.ca/product/philips-fluorescent-32w-t8-48-daylight-6500k-2-pack-/1000159507
So one (1) T8 4’ 2 bulb fixture puts out enough light for the entire 1020 tray? It seems like the ends wouldn’t get enough light and become even more leggy. Thanks again for the awesome videos my man!
Clinton DeWitt It’s one fixture with 2 bulbs, the ends of the trays don’t do as good as the center but it works good enough. I prefer two separate lights about 8” apart.
CoreysCave you’re the man! Much appreciated sir
Hello Corey,
Can you please tell me which lights are good for microgreens (with blue light).
You mention it at the end of the video but I can't really understand and I can't find them.
Thank you in advance :)
Daylight spectrum, it’s usually about 6k kelvin, anything over 5.5k kelvin will work well and they don’t need to be high powered. Some cheap LED shop lights in the daylight spectrum will work fine.
So for microgreens you really don't need the light power of T 5s? Is there more weight in plant growth with the T 5s? Do You weigh the starting seeds down for 6 days first? Sorry just found you and haven't watched any other videos but have subscribed. TY
Ken Verrall Correct you don’t need T5s. For most seeds they are weighted down for 3 days but it depends on the crop.
Do you think 5000K can work? The LEDs I use for growing comes in a 5k Kelvin version too. they are super efficient if pricey. the Tubes you are using are 36W each and put out about 3000 lumens each. so 70`ish Watt for 6000lm. The strip I am looking at puts out 9000 lumens at 50W.I'm more at the experimental stage, not looking to start a business... yet. Just want to know if you think it might be a useful test if I order one in 5000K when I order 3000K strips again. They also make a double row version of the same strip, which would match the light output of 6 of those tubes over 3 trays for about 100W. I have a playlist demonstrating the lights I normally build for myself. I'd love to see if they can work for the microgreen community.
MostlyWeed 5000K will work and is worth Testing. Personally I like > 6000k
@@CoreysCave Yeha, I was told 6500k is where it is at. The only problem is that only high-efficiency LEDs in that colour are COBs, and I really don't like them on account of being massive fire hazards. Thanks for the heads up. I think I might just have them throw a stick in the mail for me, when I get new strips in June.
Would a 5500 Lumen 5000k shop light work to grow the microgreens? Rural King has a new LED Shop light that is really cheap. The one in my garage is just about as bright as some 6500k bulbs I have.
Panfish It will work but the Microgreens will stunt a little as the color spectrum isn’t ideal.
Hi Corey! I'm knew to growing my own microgreens & I am gathering info to start my grow & so enjoy Ur videos!! I've learned so much!! But still confused as whether to use LED or Fluorescent. Now U are using both. Seems to be working for U!
Hi corey, great video. I am using T8 18w LED tube lighting. 120cm x 2 but I use 1 x 6500k tube cold white and 1 x 4000k tube warm white. The combination seems to work well.
I am trying the same config, but 2*6500K and 2*4000K, 4 tubes T8 LED, will see how it works...
Thanks for the info. I work in a big box store and sell bulbs and thought what you said was the way to go. Thanks again.
The white LED reels normally come in 5 meter (16.4 feet) lengths and vary in rated wattages depending mainly upon the size of the LEDs used; larger size = higher wattage = more light output. (2835 = 2.8mm x 3.5mm, 5050 - 5mm x 5mm, etc) The highest power white LED reels that I have seen use 7020 LEDs and have a claimed rating of 96 watts. There are usually three color temperatures offered; cool, neutral or daylight, and warm white. Two neutral white, 96 watt (claimed) LED reels could be used to create a 192 watt 4 foot long equivalent to a T8 fluorescent fixture with eight 4.1 foot long strips spaced to provide the same light coverage as the fluorescent fixture. I would expect a DIY LED fixture of this type to significantly out perform a T8 or T5. . Forget about using the red and blue LED reels which are typically lower powered with less light output and a gimmick. White LEDs are a mixture of the entire visible light spectrum with the higher K numbers having more blue and the lower K numbers more red. Most of the research regarding light is coming out of the "medicinal" grow industry and some growers vary the light spectrum and more commonly the amount of lighted hours during vegetative and flower cycles. Your plants by the way look terrific
Good Goat Good information
I'm using your link for my 1st order with Trueleafmarket.com :) Now I'm trying to figure out what size clamshells to order from Webstaurant Store. On a tight budget. Any suggestions of the 2 most used? Sample size and family/restaurant size?
Thank you! I have a link to the clamshells in the description. It’s a link to Amazon for 16 fluid ounce clamshells that hold 2 ounces of Microgreens, I use them for all my customers.
@@CoreysCave Thank you! I appreciate the info. :)
Hi Corey, I was wondering how noisy a microgreens room would be? I'm thinking of getting a silent aircon, silent dehumidifier and quiet fans, (as quiet as they all can be). I have a neighbour in the room next door although the walls are concrete, I'd hate to keep them up at night.
Amelie Louise It’s actually quite quiet, I wouldn’t be too concerned.
Thank you!
Very informative! Thanks!
What about using natural sunlight direct/indirect for those growing just for home?
heyArkay I use natural light all summer in my “Microgreens Palace”
@@CoreysCave Do you use direct sunlight or indirect? How long?
Hi great video. Is the nomal 6500k lights full spectrum? Or is there different between LED T8 marketed as Grow light which cost more.
Boey Shee Ian I’m not sure that the normal 6500k lights are full spectrum but I am sure that they work great for Microgreens and you don’t need actual grow lights.
@@CoreysCave thanks a lot
What do you think of coconut pads .and just cut in into square to match your package.and ship.??
Dan Prosek Some people do that, my customers want them cut and packaged.
Hi Corey's Cave,
Thank you so much for taking the time to upload your videos to help us newbies. :)
At 2:59, you mentioned 6000k, but now which brand you prefer.
For my sewing room, I really like Phillips 'Real' light bulbs, but when I can find them, which is rare now because everyone is going to LED, they are super expensive! (I am in the US.)
If you see this message, please RSVP.
Thanks!
Research0digo I don’t have a brand I specifically recommend, sorry
Philips led lights has figured it out with the largest greenhouse production company's in the Netherlands.
They have completed the research and documented it.
Do you have any links? I am interested in looking into it.
@@CoreysCave ruclips.net/video/0G-OxNYsbv0/видео.html
This is what is on youtube.
ruclips.net/video/FvgfRJpZSC0/видео.html
The development is done together with Wageningen University.
Good luck.
Koppert Cress was the first customer in this project.
Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. (PAR) measures how bright/intense the light is. Kelvin (K) measures the color spectrum of the light. For growing micro greens you want a 6500k. The higher the number the more blue spectrum, the more red the lower the number like a 2000k. Plants use more blue for growth and more red for producing fruit. Leafy greens and sprouts need more blue. Tomatoes, strawberries, etc need more blue for initial growth, then switch to more red for producing the fruit.
That electrical receptacle should have an outdoor cover and be on a GFCI circuit, both things are easy to remedy and could save a life or prevent a fire.
John Arizona It is on a GFCI circuit at least.
On the T8 shop lights, I"ve got a shelf that is 2 feet deep by 12 feet long. I cannot tell from your video if you use 2 shop lights (4 bulbs total) per 4 foot length by 2 foot width of shelf or if you only use 1 shop light. Also it looks like Philips has 2 different models of the 6500k bulbs. Not sure if it matters? The 2 pack you referenced below are like $4.50 per bulb where a 10 pack of these are half that much. Just wondering if the slightly different model matters? www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-32-Watt-4-ft-Alto-Linear-T8-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-Daylight-6500K-10-Pack-479717/303811828
Chris Layton I am using one fixture with 2 bulbs over the center of the trays. Two would be better but would use way more electricity than it’s worth. I don’t think the different models will matter as long as they are both 6500k and the same wattage.
@@CoreysCave Thank you and I appreciate your excellent work and the effort you put into these videos. About how many hours do you run those lights in a day over your microgreens?
Chris Layton 16 - 18 hours on is a good amount.
Are T8s superior to putting microgreens outside and under the sun?
No, but temperature and humidity control is.
This was great. Thanks. I have a question about your red amaranth. I have tried them but I find they are too delicate, like corn silk. As a result they don’t make a good garnish because they clump. Am I doing something wrong? Your’s look very good.
Brian Charles After harvesting leave them in the refrigerator with the clamshell lid open for an hour or so, this stays out the moisture making them last much longer and prevents clumping.
You mentioned that no one asked for a green you are growing.
Do you have much waste? Do you sell most everything you grow?
THANK You Corey
Appreciate you taking your time to Share your Experience. I found it useful. 😊
Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching and commenting.
Hi Corey, you have to be from the Northeast Kingdom? VT, NH?? I live in Alaska now and considering doing microgreens up here, thanks SO much for doing these posts & sharing what you've learned!!
Jane Russell Yes, NH
Great to see comparisons.
How many Watts were T8 6500k?
Thanks
How many light does one need to grow just 2 1020 trays
Pls & thx
Brad Prentis One light would be fine.
@@CoreysCave thx bud 👍
Hey can you send a link of the light and bulbs you used?
Or anyone else have recommendations on what will work together? Thank you!
These are the lights I recommend the most but they are pricey amzn.to/32AQnxv
These light fixtures amzn.to/3a9Q92Z with daylight 6500k bulbs work great as well.
That was an excellent comparison, very helpful! Thanks Corey for doing the work for us :) For my usual indoor seed starting I've used the shoplights from Home Depot and I think I'll stick with those. They work very well for me. They dry out the soil a bit quicker than I like but that's fairly easy to deal with. That's great advice about the T5 vs T8 to make them pop. I'll have to try that out! Have a fabulous week!
Hi Corey. First, thank you for sharing and caring enough to take the time to do these videos. I have learned a lot from you my friend. I ordered a few varieties from True Leaf: arugula, kale, broccoli and their spicy salad mix. My question is, how long do you grow them till harvest? Do you let the first set of true leaves pop before you do? Also, what seeding density do you use for the spicy salad mix? Lastly, do you rinse/dry them before you pack them? Thanks again for everything. Many blessings for you and your family.
Oscar Chavez I will do my best to answer those questions. Waiting until True leafs are shown is beneficial to you become the harvest is higher and the Microgreens are better imo. However it does take more time and the rate of watering increases as the plants get bigger, also some plants when grown as Microgreens will need added nutrients if grown for a long period of time. I don’t wash my Microgreens so there is no Ned to dry them. When grown in a clean environment I find washing to be unnecessary and leave that up to the chefs (who always Plate without washing) I hope this helps, let me know if I didn’t answer all your questions
CoreysCave thanks for the speedy reply :). I’ll have to experiment with letting them go a little longer. I currently grow the salad mix for 7 days and I feel they are nice and tender, but tend to not hold up as long with storage. Then again, I do rinse and dry them since I seem to get small traces of soil on the bottom during harvest. They may be too short due to growing them for 7 days. My seeding density may be a bit high too, (37grams). I’ll have to try a 10 day grow and see how they do. Tweak it here...tweak it there. It’s like a science project...lol. Thanks again hermano!
Thank you for all these videos. I'm just starting my Microgreen business and your information is clear and honest.
Joanna Bassi Thank you and good luck!
"Here's lights...they work. dont know how much they are".....k...so why are we watching your video again?
Because there is a lot of good information on what lights work well on microgreens in this video. But if you want your money back for the free video, I can arrange that.
Thanx for the info. I'm planning on growing microgreens too and was wondering about what lighting to use and I found your video 😊 brill thanx again. no doubt I'll be coming to you for more advice. ttfn
Truther Cymraeg Thank you, glad you found it helpful!
Thanks again for all the great content! I’m just starting out. Can you please explain what the “T” and the number following that means on the lights. Sorry if that’s a dumb question.
seaspoke The T just means it’s tubular and the number is the diameter in eighths of an inch. I knew it was a size thing but had to google it.
CoreysCave thanks
Awesome! Great info I do like the more uniformed growth under those LED lights and those T8s right afterwards do make them pop! I will have to get a few and trial some! Thanks for the tips! Have a great day!
Check out LED stings with a set up to dial in th color spectrum.
Hey Corey, Speaking of electricity, can you do a rundown on what your monthly cost is to produce the microgreens? A complete cost analysis to include utility usage would be invaluable to us I think, especially if it were broken down all the way to a cost per ounce basis. Basically, whats the REAL cost to grow these things.
Check this out, I covered everthing but electricity and water because I was in my greenhouse and I have well water. ruclips.net/video/2ja0DM6E9Vk/видео.html Hope this helps. Keep an eye out for a new video I will be making that details how to start a microgreens business and how much it cost's to do so, I think you will really enjoy it.
Thanks Corey for all the info. I bought 4 ft. 4k LED shop lights from home Depot. They are only 19 watts each. Are you running one or two of those LED shop lights on that shelf? P.S. I'm using an Aerogarden LED light for my microgreens currently. If anyone has an old LED Aerogarden lying around it grows strong and healthy microgreens. Only one flat at a time though
Joe McMahon The shop lights I have are 34 watts, I have 2 to a shelve but could probably use one.
CoreysCave thanks for the quick reply
🌞💕
Best inside ever, thanks so much Corey!!!
Einzigkeit Thank you!
@@CoreysCave I'm facing a little dilemma here, I've the choice to get a 32W full spectrum led grow shop light 480nm-650nm at CAN$102 or a 32W (Focused) led grow shop light 450nm-650nm wich sell at can$179.00 I don't see much difference in nm for the big difference price.. The Controlled spectrum are way more expensive too.. At home depot canada www.homedepot.ca/product/toggled-32w-full-spectrum-led-grow-shop-light/1001343567
I was interested your LED grow because if those strip lights were growing them then I figured mine would. I have 2- 300W LED lights. a couple growers said they made the greens rubbery...But a couple growers swear by them. You are one of the genuinely real growers making vids so I was interested in what you thought of the texture and growth of your microgreens that were fully grown under LED. I wasn't some of those shop lights but its hard to find any temperature cooler than 4100K. To get a 5000k or 6500k light its like a special order @.@ or amazon. again great vid
Thank you for the video my friend. Wishing you a blessed & abundant 2018!
I had a quick question, what's the Ideal distance from tray to light fixture / bulb ? I can't seem to find anything on that ? does it matter ?
Nathanael Robinson As close as you can get them while providing enough room for growth and even light over the entire tray.
@@CoreysCave Thanks allot !!! Have my order from True Leaf marks coming in with my supplies this week
Your contribution is awesome Cory, you're very cool and open hearted, thank you so much for sharing all your valuable experience in such friendly way. The best for you
Federico Michel Thank you so much!
Love the channel. Thanks for all the info. I also got a kick out of seeing that you program. I also use C#/visual studio but more as a hobby for fun. I think the problem solving skills that develop with learning how to program will go a long way in growing microgreens though. It's like it shifts how you think after a while, for the better.
s s Glad you like the videos! I actually work in engineering for a living. I don’t apply a lot of my knowledge to the microgreens because they are sort of an outlet, like fun. But I do try to make things easier.
Thanks for your info about the tape lights. I was going to try them to fit shorter shelves. I may still, but I completely agree about the T8 lights on the shop light ballasts, been using them for years, they work great.
CeZe G You can’t really go wrong with good ole T8’s. I definitely wouldn’t recommend not trying the tape lights, they do work they just were not one of my favorites but I also didn’t put a lot of effort into making them work.
Very helpful, Corey. Thanks
My Pea shoots grow very tall and VERY 'stemy'-----very long bare stems, 3-4" of bare stem other than the little bud/leaves that poke out. I'm hoping when I switch to 6500K lights it will make a difference, since right now I'm using a 4100 and a 3500K in each 2-bulb fixture, 2 fixtures per rack. I'm keeping them close to the plant tops, too, so there is plenty of bright light-----I'm hoping the K rating change will make a difference in the peas 'leggieness'.
Hey Pal, you have some nerve being so thorough, well explained, and awesome. Really appreciate your videos so please keep it up. Regards from Milwaukee, Wis.
John Keller Haha Thank you very much!
Hey Corey, I'm just about to start my first trays and I'm gonna follow in your footsteps. Thanks for sharing man! You earned a sub.
BrightStar* Thank you and good luck!
why cant you just use the sun?
cf of course but in the winter in NE that won’t work too well.
Hi Corey, thank you so much for all you have done with your video, very helpful. Next time I will buy the seeds via your link.
Yuli K Fosso Thank you!
Thanks for the great information. Has anyone mentioned the smell of greens? Broccoli, salad mix... I haven’t heard one mention after many videos and different people.
Danny White - Band Most of them don’t have much scent. Ones that do are usually herbs like basil, cilantro and Cress.
@@CoreysCave have you grown broccoli? Very smelly.
Danny White - Band Yes but I don’t really consider it smelly but everyone has different sensitivities to scents.
Cory, on those T8's 6500k are they daylight bulbs?
Tom Powell Yes
I think the problem with the LED lights is that they're a little further away than they could be.
The release about a third of the heat as a T8 (because they use about a third of the watts) and you can place them a lot closer to give the plants more energy. Remember the inverse square law.
Luis Eduardo Gómez de Aranda Junco Would you share the inverse square law here?
the further away the light is from the greens the more diluted it becomes. but i believe that the white 'panels' around each light source somewhat makes up for it by supplementing it with indirect light. Also probably helps get a more even grow in the corners
Corey can you tell me what soil you use please
Ruth Green Currently I am using Promix BX which is probably my favorite
There are no measurements of lux or temperature in your setup, but II think the reason why the microgreens grow taller in the t8 is because of the heat. I'm assuming your led lamps has low heat. Your led strip is too far from the plants canopy. I would experiment placing the strip at a distance of 12 inches. Where I live the kwh is .17 cents, so having the most cost effective lights is very important. Thank you for sharing.
good video ez to understand. thankyou
Justin Newhook You’re welcome!
Hey Corey , your information is great , I want to know how do we determine the distance between grow lights and the plants , and what is the optimum lumen requirement for them ?
Keep the lights as close as you can get them without burning the plants or making them difficult to deal with. I keep my lights 8” - 12” above the top of the trays to allow room for growth. Peas can get tall so I pretty much set my light height for those. I don’t know the optimal lumens to use, regular T8 daylight fluorescent bulbs work or high quality LED lights.
Nice looking Beets dude. What's your process?
Dowie Farm Hey man, I plant my beets dry on soil and cover with about a 1/4” of vermiculite. I water them in heavily then stack. I leave them stacked for about a week or until most of the seed has germinated then introduce to light. This way I get almost no seed hulls.
CoreysCave thanks man. I'm going to tey that tonight. Are you soaking them? Also, I'm assuming you use the same soil and then cover with vermiculite?
I dont soak them, actually I no longer soak ANY of my seed. I use my regular soil then cover with vermiculite. I hope it works out for you.
Best video so far
Rohit Singh Thank you
Thank you, great info for a beginner such as myself! How about blue and red lights?
Thank you, blue and red lights work well enough but they don't really perform any better than a full spectrum daylight.
You are so awesome
Awe thanks 😊
Do you leave the light on all the time or do you allow a dark cycle?
Linda Smith I leave them on for 16 hours a day.
@@CoreysCave thank you!
Sub'd, good informative helpful content, 'preciate it.
Hi Corey, not sure if this was asked already but what height do you hang the lights from the greens?
Mike Reid They are about 6 - 8” away and the greens get closer as they grow. I’ve actually have had pea shoots touch the lights without being damaged.
CoreysCave thank you for the quick reply and the height. It helps me figure out what is best for the greens. Thanks again!
Mike Reid No problem, I try to answer every question as soon as I can.
At least you're honest and true to yourself and to your viewers .not dishing out words CZ it sounds good and more credible .
Thank you
Siba Cuomo Thank you very much!
How come you don’t have links to the lights? Instead I see a link to sees on a lights video
Frank Ng Sorry, I have links in newer videos.
Great video thanks man.
Corey is this the right t8 bulb you speak of?
Yescom 1/10/25 Packs 18W T8 4FT LED Light Fluorescent Tube 6500K Cool White Replacement Lamp Bulb Milky/Clear
www.walmart.com/ip/Yescom-1-10-25-Packs-18W-T8-4FT-LED-Light-Fluorescent-Tube-6500K-Cool-White-Replacement-Lamp-Bulb-Milky-Clear/104669279
Up On the Roost My Little Homestead That is not the bulb I was referring too but it will probably work fine. Here is a little project I am working on and I am giving you the very first sneak peak, it may answer some questions. The only thing I ask is you come back here and give me honest feedback, deal? Here it is brabantfarms.com/grow-your-own/
Your web page is awesome Cory. It's very good. Precise without being over done. Visually attractive. Filled with knowledge earned from experience. Great linked resources! Thank you so much again! 😊
Great video’s, I’m a new subscriber.
Maria E Glad you like them, thanks for subscribing
You are amazing ! Great Video ! Great microgreens !You 've helped so much
Maria Eleni Protopsalti Thank you so much! I love to help even if it’s a little.
down to earth, no pun intended, lol. EXCELLENT & thanks !!
where do u get your fluorescent lights, what brand & model # ? many thanks.
3:15 those seed shells are a pain in the ass to remove. I'm still looking for a much easier way to remove them.
I have been to a local hydroponics store and they are steering me towards flood trays with pumps a d a collection tank. What are your views on this automatic ( timers ) watering system? Thank you, Tom.
Tom Powell It really depends on how big you want to be and what your schedule is like. If you have time to water your trays once a day and grow in soil, don’t bother with flood trays. If you are going to be a decent sized grower and are growing hydroponically then you may want to consider the flood trays. Keep in mind that many crops want to be watered differently than others.
I was at my local hardware store yeaterday and they have a special going on for 4' LED shop lights. Buy one at $15.99 and get two free. I was in a hurry and didn't check out any info on them. Seems like a good deal but I didn't know if they were the right ones for microgreens. You answered that for me. Thank you.
That's a smoking deal if the are the right color spectrum!
What exactly should I be looking for (on the box)?
There should be a label similar to this ieslightlogic.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DOE-Lighting-Facts-Label-1.jpg You want the light color to be above 5000K. My 4000K lights work for what I use them for but they are not ideal for the entire growth.
Glenn McCusker led's work fine I paid $15 per 4' fixture. My micros grow quick under them.
Very helpful - thanks for the clear and simple explanation.
Hey Corey, nice recommendations! Please keep us updated once you found something better! Could you also please consider talking about your seed density for the 1020 trays? I'm just starting out right now and would love to hear some successfully applied densities. THX
Ron Rover I have some seed densities here with my calculator www.microgreensmaster.com/calc.php
@@CoreysCave Thats great, thanks a lot for this resource!!! Any recommendation on cress? THX
@@ronrover6594 Cress is very easy. I use 1 tablespoon per tray spread evenly. Try not to allow the seeds to clump up. Cover with a humidity dome for 3 days then introduce to light.
CoreysCave Alright, I will test that one too! I‘m trying out a variety with larger leafs right now using 30g of seeds. Could be a little too much but we will see :-) Thanks again!
So a cheap regular 6500k fluorescent will do the trick?
thanks for the help my friend you are awesome
1reel1man Thank you!
So I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here but I was looking at the Honeywell LED shop light. Sams club sells these, they are 4ft 5000K 4500 lumens consuming 42W total. I've watched other youtube folks talk about the LEDs are best at 5500K and anything above is wasted with microgreens and possibly could make them a bit rubber-ish? Would the 500K less really make a huge difference in that 5000K light. I currently use a Solar Flare T5 HO with 65000K bulbs that I've used to grow succulents. Great setup for that application but the draw is a lot more and there is a heat issue. It's a small room and I don't want to have to vent it adding additional T8 or T5's. This is the draw to LEDs . Just looking for your opinion here :)
The 5000K lights may be ok but I dont think they will be ideal. Maybe buy one and try it out.
Thanks for the video. What height do you hang the LED lights above the crops? Which light colour is best for the crops?
How does a higher or lower 'K' rating affect plant growth? I have T8's in all my fixtures, but they are 3500 and 4100K, 32W bulbs. I wanted to have a warmer white and cooler white bulb combined in each fixture. Thanks!
Sign Man It’s all about the color spectrum. The higher the kelvin number the bluer the light which is what plants use to grow greens. That’s a super over simplified explanation and there is a lot more to it than kelvin rating but it’s a good reference.
Lots of clear instructions. Thank you.
Jeanne MacDonald Thank you!
Your a bloody down to earth teacher.
Well done .
Rick Knight Thank you, I try.
Great video!
Thank you for the video perfect timing for me. Do you have your T8 in multiples or just one single bulb for a shelf of plants?
Karl Binger I use two bulbs per rack.
@@CoreysCave OK, thank you. Even with the LED lights?
Karl Binger Yes, I do have led fixtures but even those have two bulbs. You can try a single and it will work but the growth will be significantly better directly under the light.
@@CoreysCave Got it, thanks again!
Great video Corey! Quick question: do you double up on T5's per shelf, or just one bulb per shelf? If you've tried both, what is higher yield?
I have several light setups. 2 of my T5 fixtures use 2 bulbs and one uses 4 bulbs, the more the better but it isnt something I have actually measured. You need to find a balance of "Good enough" with the least amount of electricity.
Cheers!
One more question if you don't mind; you have been so helpful and well-deserve our subscription.
We are now looking at LED lighting as an alternative to save energy and reduce heat. Do you recommend strips or fixtures? Probably strips given the little light they need right?
If so, do you recommend any certain ones? And how far away should the LED's be from the canopy of the microgreens?
Thank you!
Today's Tomorrow This is good timing but you are about a week early. I will be reviewing some LEDs very soon, until then I really can’t give a great answer.
All the more reason to stay tuned :) Looking forward to it!
Good info, thanks Corey.
Jonnie S You’re welcome!
Thank you for this good information!
Hey Corey, your videos are so helpful. Thank you for your time!! How long do most seeds need to be under the T8 lights? I'm looking to grow pea shoots, reddish, sunflower, basic salad mix, and wheat grass. I heard somewhere else that it is 16 hours of light a day? Is that right? Thanks man.
Pat Robell 18 on 6 off is pretty good, you can do 24 hours a day but you don’t need to.
hey, what about cilantro? you said you meesed out, what's the best time to unstack them?
Lots of nose hairs. Lots of vegetation, but little to no video of actual lighting.