Journal February 21, 2016 - Seedlings need adequate light.

Someone posted the above photo on a gardening forum I belong to asking: "what is wrong with my seedlings?"  Well, you don't have to be Einstein to answer that question.

The same questions pop up each year as people try to start seeds indoors, with leggy seedlings being at the top of the list.

They worry about having just the right soil mix, temperature and what to feed the seedlings, while overlooking the most important requirement: light.

Many gardeners use basic 4 foot shop lights for seed starting, which work to some degree.  That being said, if you are really serious about giving your seedlings a good start T5 grow lights four or five inches above your seedlings will make a world of difference.

 In my reply I wrote that the problem with the seedlings was inadequate light.  Given adequate light, seedlings will look exactly as they would if they were started outdoors in sunlight.

 For plants, the duration, intensity and spectrum of the light they receive is crucial to their development.