These.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Light stands

Hello rocketito! I wrapped my tiny brain around the same problem earlier this year, and I'll describe for you my solution. I pushed a table (needs to be at least 4ft) against a window in an unused bedroom. Then I went to Lowe's! I bought a 4ft. fluorescent fixture, 2 bulbs, one of which is a "plant light" from GE, the other bulb called itself "sunshine". I also bought 2 8" brackets and a 4 ft. by 1 ft. coated wire shelf, the kind that might be used in a closet. I measured about 18" from the table top, and installed the brackets on either side of the window frame. I set the wire shelf on top of the bracket and secured it with electrical ty-raps. After I put the bulbs in the fixture I let the fixture hang from small s-hooks suspended from the wire of the shelf. By having the shelf about 18" from the tabletop I can start with the light fixture fully suspended from the chain. It is my understanding that the light source should be no more than 3 inches from the seedlings. But as the seedlings grow I raise the light fixture by moving up the necessary number of links on the chain. I also have a small oscillating fan on the table to aid in air circulation. A couple of weeks later, when my budget permitted it, I bought a second light fixture and bulbs, so now I have double the light on the tabletop. I have one fixture raised higher to accomodate the taller seedlings, and I keep the other fixture low for the newest seedlings. I will be able to add a second shelf to my setup later just by adding 2 more brackets further up the window frame, adding another wire shelf, again attached using ty-raps, and 2 more lights! Voila! It's not necessary to have your setup in front of a window, I suppose. Don't ask for a photo of my setup. It's in my "junk room" and right now I don't let anybody in there. If you saw a photo of it I'd have to kill you. You do understand, don't you?

But you may have a bigger problem than how to rig up a light stand. Since you are in zone 9, it may be too late to get your babies in the ground safely because of the heat. You may just be too late for this year's growing season. I live on the Alabama coast and it's pretty much too late here to have tomato seedlings. Of course, almost anything's possible for an intrepid, dedicated gardener! If it is too late this year, don't let that discourage you about the wonderful possibilities for a fall/winter crop of greens and next year's tomato/pepper season. I'm also new to seed-starting this year, but I'm not letting my failures get to me. Instead, I'm enjoying learning how to do things right, even if it's the second or third time trying. My biggest problem, and I suspect everyone else's, is learning what your climate will allow you to do. Down here, it's a running battle with heat, humidity, and bugs, oh yes the bugs. I'm trying to garden organicly, which makes it that much more challenging. I find the internet indispensible for research. Good luck, and keep planting!

Save your money on light stands. Just buy some wire shelving at your local mart.

{{gwi:246175}}

They work fine for me and all you have to do is shorten the chain as the plants grow. I also use heating pad for bottom heat. It's a whole heck of a lot cheaper than light stands which are essentially wire shelves with a markup of 300%

X

I came across this site while looking for a table top light stand. Price is good.
Ginny

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Harvest Gardening Supply

X,

There seems to be a problem with your image link, over and above the fact that you left out the double quotes around the http://www.nerii.org/badcat/li1.jpg in the img src HTML. Perhaps there was a typo in the URL.

<img src="http://www.nerii.org/badcat/li1.jpg">; currently does not work.

MM