lights and how far should i start them from plants

im starting from seed using a 1000w air cooled metal halide. how far should i keep it from the tops of my seedlings after they show leaves, how long until i lower the light, and how close do i keep the light from the plants during vedge?

any advice appreciated

You shouldn't use the 1000 w HID right away. Start your seeds by sprouting them first. Then put them in starter plugs or a small (think 3"x3") pot and keep them in the dark until they break the surface.

After they break the surface use CFLs or florescent tubes. You should keep the lights about 2" from the tops of the sprouts. If you use starter plugs then put them in pots once the root system is showing good development. Keep them under these lights for the 2 week seedling stage and at least into the first weeks of veg stage.


Once they are well into veg stage with a good root system developed you can move
them under the HID light. Even though you CAN move them under the HID at this point it may not be the best idea and here's why. The HID lights (ESPECIALLY a 1000 watter) will put off A LOT of heat... this means you will have to keep the light further away from the tops of the plants..... this will cause the plants to stretch as they are reaching for the light. I don't have an air cooled light so I'm not sure if what I'm describing will be an issue for your plants or not... I'm just telling you in case

I use a 400 Watt HID and I move my plants under that light when they are about 3 weeks into the veg stage.

This is what works for me.... you may want to wait and see what others say before making your decision. Good luck

buck50crew said:

im starting from seed using a 1000w air cooled metal halide. how far should i keep it from the tops of my seedlings after they show leaves, how long until i lower the light, and how close do i keep the light from the plants during vedge?

any advice appreciated

Click to expand...

1,000 W MH I would advise approximately 3.25 ft away from your canopy always. If it was a 1,000 W HPS then I would recommend 4 ft from your canopy. If you had a light mover then you could close the distance. In your case I would use fluorescents, t-5 or t-8 bulbs, or cfl's for seedlings. If you have to use your 1,000W grandaddy then just put those seedlings far off from the center of the light to the side somewhere.