Is Direct Sunlight Required For Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors?

[Allen2045]

Can you use a heating pad instead of the ones made for seedlings. I figure if they are in a pan and you have a towel under the pan and on top the heating pad. I don't want to burn the basement up?

[CanarsieBK]

@Allen2045 Not sure about that method.

[PCOStherealdeal]

When I have a seedling that is up and those first 2 "leaves" are out I set it in indirect sunlight for the majority of the day. In the evening's they get about an hour of direct sun. Now I wait as patiently as I possibly can for either the first seedling to have 2 FULL SET'S of true leaves. That means 4 real honest to goodness leaves then I either place them under a uva/uvb lamp or set them out side in full sun.

[CanarsieBK]

Got it! Much appreciated.

[PCOStherealdeal]

No problem. Good luck!

[PCOStherealdeal]

Ok plant's need sunlight for photosynthesis, but only if they have leaves to use to collect the sunlight. Seed's need warmth to germinate. Myself, before I see ground breakage (little seedling's coming up) I keeps my seed's in pot's in a tray on top of a heating pad. I can have germination and ground breakage in day's rather than weeks. I also feed mine epsom salts. The minerals help them develop. Continued...

[ReviveUK]

I read that they direct sunlight is a bit too much for seedlings...but then it depends on your local climate, here it would be no stress as its sunless!...so I had to help mine along with a grow light...the ones that bear fruit are staying under there until planting out time and the other ones I just left under for a couple of weeks and then introduced them to the window and now some are outside in a little greenhouse, yes they gone to nursery school and I am sad!!!!

[CanarsieBK]

Thanks. I'll just have to do some experimentation.

[SSanf]

jihadacadien is pretty much correct. It varies by plant of course. If the plants get leggy, you need to put a light close to them because they are reaching for the light. I would have a light over top of mine except that I should have a sort of greenhouse very shortly. If not, I will hang a light over them.

[CanarsieBK]

Makes sense that it varies by plant. Thanks.

[heavenleiblu]

I did well by placing the seeds that needed the most warmth closest to the panes in a sunny windowsill, and the rest were spread out on a table in front of the same window

[CanarsieBK]

Good idea. Thanks. Appreciated.

[VivianRinSC]

I've never had very good results with indoor seed starting. They grow but get very leggy. I've better results with those planters that come with a clear plastic cover and have them outside during the day and in at night.

[CanarsieBK]

Hopefully I've have better luck than you ;)

[jihadacadien]

Yeah so what I was saying is heat! ;) If the sun doesn't heat up the dirt that much you might loose some seeds.

[jihadacadien]

You can use a light bulb as long as it puts out some heat. Some plants need light but pretty much all plants need heat. I sprouted my plants with all cloudy weather and heat from lamps =)

[CanarsieBK]

I'll figga it out. Have been given some great ideas so far. Thanks.