You are right, you just need brighter light. Any chance you could buy more bulbs? Or any chance you could move them and the lights to a sunny window to add even more light? The sun won't hurt them if they are in the house.

I didn't know the sun wouldn't hurt them in the house- I'll try that. Thank you

Your brightest window indoors provides less light than the north (shady) side of a house.

If I read you right, this is a chronic problem for you, correct? Could you tell us more about your lights set-up? What type of fixtures, how old are the fluorescent bulbs, size of the fixtures, etc.

In my experience 2 4' shop lights with 4 fresh bulbs in them maintained no more than 2" above the tops of the plants and left on for 16 hours a day will adequately care for 2 72 cell trays of plants. So with more details we might be able to help you fix your inadequate lights problems.

Dave

{{gwi:224607}}

Still trying on the photo.
[IMG]http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm209/joytwo1839/pic.jpg[/IMG]

joy - use the third url down on the list - the one that begins with HTML Code

Another try.
http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm209/joytwo1839/?action=view&current=pic.jpg

Here's your picture:

{{gwi:224608}}

Like I said, the third url down under the photo that is labeled HTML Code
- just C&P it in your post.

This is just one lamp fixture per shelf, correct? And it is way to far above the center seedlings because of the high cups on the end. That's why the seedlings are getting leggy reaching for the light.

You can either cut those cups down (they don't need to be nearly that big for such small seedlings. Or group them all at one end and tilt the fixture so that it is much closer to the low ones. Not ideal but will help some.

But for all those seedlings you really need 2 fixtures hung side to side, right next to each other with the plants centered under them. The light at the ends of the tubes is 1/2 what it is in the center. It also allows you to adjust their height individually as needed.

How old are the bulbs? They lose power over a season so fresh ones each year make a big difference.

Hope this helps some.

Dave

Dave, thanks. It helps very much. I am on my way to change them now.