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I love all the goodies in the gardening and seed catalogs, but most of the time, they’re just too expensive. Seriously…$159 for a seed starting light? Who has that kind of money to throw around?
In my typical “make it, don’t buy it” fashion, I decided to build my own seed starting light. If you look at the contraption above, it consists of a simple support structure for the light and the grow light itself. This isn’t hard to make at all!
After a bit of searching in the garage, I located all the pieces I needed for an inexpensive, DIY seed starting light.
Seed Starting Light: Supply List
Fluorescent fishtank light (I’ve seen these at thrift stores and yard sales for $5 or less)
3 pieces of 3/4″ PVC pipe
2 L-connectors for 3/4″ PVC pipe
2 3-way connectors for 3/4″ PVC pipe
PVC cutter (I like this one)
Chain or zip ties for securing the light to the support
Seed starting tray (this is my favorite)
Seed Starting Light: Instructions
Cut the top piece that the light will hang from. It should be at least an inch wider than the light itself.
Cut the “legs” of the support in equal lengths that are at least 18 inches long. Having longer legs will give your seedlings room to grow (you can always put the seed starting tray on a box to bring it closer to the light).
For support, cut 4 small “feet” that are 4-6 inches long. They will provide stability and keep your seed starting light from tipping over.
After cutting everything to the correct length, have your helper slide the L-connectors onto the tops of the “leg” pieces.
Don’t use PVC glue! The chemicals in it are nauseating, and you won’t be able to take your grow light apart for storage if it’s all glued together.
If you happen to leave for a moment, you’ll return to find Neighbor Kitty inspecting your handiwork.
He’ll rub on every single piece of PVC pipe so you know that they all belong to him. 🙂
Use a bit of chain (or zip ties) to attach the light to the top support piece.
Slip the “feet” into the sides of the 3-way connectors and then put the “legs” into the top pieces. Put the top support piece into the L-connectors and confirm that the structure is stable.
Hook the light over the top support piece and you’re done!
I set mine up in a sunny window and used a timer so my seedlings would get 12 hours of light each day. In a couple of months, I’ll move the tiny plants to our front yard garden.
it’s a nice tip to build our own led light. Love it so much
Wow! I’ve heard of people doing this before, but thought it was to complex for me to do, but you made it look so easy.
Bravo! What a great DIY gardening moment! Thanks for linking up with Tuesday Greens. See you next time!
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
So cool, so creative, and so thrifty! Thank you for sharing this at Motivation Monday.
I LOVE your little “helpers”! I also get a lot of “help” when I take pics : )
You’re so smart! I would love for you to come over to my blog hop and share this and other posts there!
http://countrifiedhicks.blogspot.com/2013/02/mondays-with-countrified-hicks-blog-hop.html
i thought that you had to have a “certain” type of light . VERY expensive from what ive seen. well, ive got a fish tank light ,and i had thought about it. guess im gonna give it a shot. thanks for the reassuring. hope it works for all:). thanks again. sue
i love the help you got making your light.. great ideas too! its funny how kitties always like to be in the limelight 😉
And it’s “Made In The USA”!
Nice little grow light you got there ma’am. I made my own too, some heavier than yours though. I might copycat and remake mine!
Neighbor Kitty Approves
This was really great! I really know nothing about this kind of thing, but you inspired me!! Thank you! Lovely blog.
You can also use Metal Shelving, a shop light and chains (to raise and lower the light). Great use of what you already have. I am so jealous that its nice enough for you to be working outside right now. We are in the 20’s when the sun is shining bright…
You amaze me, Pam. So clever!