Trudi, if you're thinking of a cheap shop light, most that I found at Home Depot and Lowes
a. had to be hard wired into the ceiling, and/or
b. were 4' in length

What length do you need?
Do you know if you want t12, t8, or t5s?
Those 2 questions will determine what your options are.

Karen

Karen

I bought a 4' unit that was a plug-in a couple of years ago from HD for about $10. But since it was too long for my space, I ended up buying a 2' plug-in online for about $20. This year I've also gotten myself a T5 from a hydroponics place nearby. It isn't cheap, but it'll give me better lighting than the $10 light. Depending on you needs, have you considered using CFLs on a couple of shop clamp spotlights? If you're only doing a few, you may not need a whole 4'.

Hmmmm. Seeds sprouting in December does not seem like a good thing. I wonder if you can contact the seller and ask them what to do with the seeds. They may be able to be stored in the fridge even with little sprouts. No way would I want to pay for electricity all winter to keep seedlings alive.

Last year I got some Daylily seeds in a SASBE/BEAP from a hybridizer on the seed exchange. She offered them in February and sent them moist and in little plastic baggies. I stored them in the fridge until sowing them in late April. They sprouted in less than 2 weeks and germinated near 100%.

Once sprouted they need be sown. The electric for the shop lights won't be much, I'm not worried about that. I just want to get a light set that is reliable.

T

What size Trudi?

If you want 4', you should be able to find it at Home Depot or Lowe's.

I have a 3' and a little 2'shelves and I use t5 strips. They're not cheap though, and it might be more than you want to spend.

Karen

Well, I do want the daylilies. Sigh. Over the years I've learned well that hobbies are not cheap. Well, it is an investment, several winning bids on large lots of DL seeds are probably the least of the costs I'm expecting.

I feel the same. Gardening and reading are my only hobbies. My expensive t5s were an investment in my hobby. I enjoy growing my coleus from cuttings in the winter, and starting a few seeds (heat lovers like coleus and impatiens) in spring.

The initial $$$ outlay for the t5 lights was high, but they're the most energy efficient too, so probably save on the cost of electricity over other choices, and they save me the expense of buying all those coleus, impatiens, etc, in spring.

And, most important, I enjoy it.

{{gwi:458663}}

Karen

My cheap light set up was a plastic 4 shelf unit from the Value Village (or maybe it was Good Will), one four foot long aquarium light fixture hold two fluorescent bulbs also from Value Village (extra cheap). You might also check Craig�s list and Free cycle). There are many more aquarium light fixtures on Craig�s list than shop lights.

I did buy one four foot shop light fixture that plugged into the wall from Home Depot (definitely more expensive).

One warm white and one cool white rather than expensive plant bulbs in each fixture. One year I found another aquarium light cheap and I had three shelves of seeds going.

Heavy twine goes over the shelf above and through the fixtures above the bulbs with enough tail that I could keep the lights very close to the surface and then keep tightening the twine as the plants grew.

I plugged all three lights into a surge strip and then plugged that into a cheap timer to turn the lights on and off.

Finally big aluminum foil strips to tent the light fixtures. Of course those of us over 50 will instantly recognize what this set up looks like from college dorm closets.

THEN I discovered Trudi and winter sowing, Thank G-D. One year of trying it out and the next year, my indoor sowing was over.

Trudi, if you are headed down D.C. way, I'll even give you two of my light fixtures, 'CAUSE I AINT GOING BACK.

Last year I used about 3 of the 24" fluorescent grow light fixtures from Walmart for a small hydroponic system. I think they were around $8 each.

Got mine at Wally world. About $9.87 or so. I have 2-48" lights facing down and 2 facing up for bottom heat. I have plexiglass over the bottom lights so the plants have a solid base.

bob

Home Depot has Lithonia Lighting All Weather 4 Ft. 2 Light T8 Fluorescent Unit Shop light for $19.99 in my area. I copied that description since I had a hard time finding the light. I use to use this to grow seedlings indoors before I discovered WS. (thanks Trudi)
Linda