T5 Grow Lights For Veggies

15 years ago

I was recently given a T5 Sunleaves 6 lamp light by a friend who's son had used it to grow you know what. I researched here and elsewhere T5 lighting but was unable to find an answer to this question: what distance from the seedlings should this type of light be? It seems to generate a lot of heat and the bulbs are hot to touch. I normally use T8 6500K fluorescent shop lights and the leaves can touch the light and not be burned.

I understand the T5s produce nice, stocky plants, but I'm worried about possible damage to the plants. Also, is there that much difference in growth between the T5s and T8s? Should I just use the T5s for larger plants? I would appreciate some guidance on this. Thanks

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Comments (4)

taz6122
15 years ago
Use the back of your hand to determine how close they should be. I'm thinking about 6". Are they HO or VHO? Did a quick search and didn't find that info. I have T8's that are overdriven x2 so they are about like an HO setup. I keep my plants from 4-6" from the lights.
adc14
Original Author
15 years ago
They are high output. Thanks for your response,BTW.
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capoman
15 years ago
Go by temperature at the canopy. The T5's won't burn as a light source. I have very healthy mature Romaine lettuce growing 2 to 3" below T5 HO's.
adc14
Original Author
15 years ago
If veggies are grow under T8 and then switched to T5s, is any harm done? I did this with eggplant and peppers and they started to look awful--leaves dried up and yellowed, increased anthocyanin purpling. I returned then to the T8s and they are slowing recovering. I had kept the lights 10 inches about the plants. So, when using these lights is it best to have the plant there from germination until planting out. Thanks