I am doing a clone/seedling cabinet in a 2x2x5 with a rack for multiple levels. To maximize space I figure the cheap LED strips will do the job. I could do 4 levels of 15 inch of space each, approx, or 3 with 20". 3 is probably the much safer bet. Minus size of pot/plug/solo cup (would prolly stop using full size solo cups and use something shorter for seedlings) not much room so dimmable is a must to control them since the will be close and non-moveable. I intend to stick them to the underside of the shelf above.
Any suggestions for the best, cheap, LED strips available? I searched on Amazon and am almost overloaded. Im sure the answer is very, very few, but how many watts/strips (seem to be between 6-24 watts a strip depending on size/brand/config) would yall figure would do it? White/blue/red or the dreaded blurple for veg only tent? Discuss.
How would the t8 shop lights compare to the same brand t5 marketed as grow lights? Aside from the wattage and number of strips. Link below is 8 x 10w. The t8 I think is 25w each for the 2foot.
Try these guys out if you can.Wally world specials 13 bucks a light I use two for my moms and one for my clones and they all like it and are nice and healthy green seem to really like the blue spectrum in them they are the blue red combo lights they can be daisy chained and put of little to no heat.I had 3 of them screwed to a piece of wood painted white as a ballast while I waited on my Big light to come in and you could damn near grow with them as a whole.Food for thought.
I ended up setting up deal alerts for 3000k led shop lights and scored em for 50% off. For seedlings and clones it seems to be working out. They don’t dim but i turn on as many of them as needed depending on the light intensity required.
I put in a 2x2x3 = 4x 30w 3000k 3000lm 3" bars mounted to thin slats, and added a clip light + splitter with 2x 5000k led floods. Only issue is heat so i leave everything pretty much open when its lights on.
I do also have a 75w clip light that was sent to me by spider farmer with another light I got from them. Has 3 - 25w heads on goose necks. Dont know where I evem wanna use that yet. Maybe for dramatic lighting of bud shots?
Honestly I could prolly do a row or two with just that to begin, but I always put the cart before the horse and wanna do 200% when even 80% would do. Figure 20 or 30 bucks of low led strips plus the 75w clip light would help the plants more than hurt my wallet or temps.
Be interesting to also put them up and down the 4 main corner tent polls to give side/general lighting in addition to mounted directly above. Again, entirely unnecessary for seedling and clones, and maybe even too much and harmful, but damn it’d look cool. Especially if I have a mother I DONT want to grow fast. Maybe top shelf for that with no above and ONLY general, side lighting, hmm…
Great info in here so far. Been thinking of building a clone/seedling/mother rack on the cheap. Apparently you don’t need much for them in terms of space and lighting. Thanks all!
I think Im gonna go with these. $46 after coupon and comes with zipties and double sided tape for install. They are 15.35" long so will be perfect for lining the underside of the shelves. Also step dimmable.
