seed starting, light duration question

[Poppy]

I am brought out of the winter blahs by some parsley seeds that I germinated. Some sprouted today!

I have a bookcase onto which I installed gro-lights. I intend to get a timer for the lights and am wondering if anyone knows how many hours I should leave the lights on for the seedlings?

I appreciate your help.

[Poppy]

Ooopsy. Never mind.

If you are interested Patti has a video about how she made her seedling watering system and in it she mentions that the lights stay on for 12 hours. Awesome system. Thanks again, Patti.

[plantoneonme]

Yep you are right at least 12 or more hours a day. You also have to make sure the light is only 2-3" above the tops of the plants so they do not get too leggy...leggy plants are weak and eventually fall over or do not produce well. Another way to make sure your plants have healthy, strong stems is to blow a fan on them for at least a couple hours a day....the last thing you want to do is get some great looking plants that get snapped off or laid out flat the first time they go outside and the wind hits them. Kim