Can I Get Any Fluorescent Light to Start Seedlings?

Question

I am trying to grow vegetable seedlings inside. The first batch I did. They became leggy after putting them under just regular lighting in my house. After research I found out I had to buy grow lights. I went to Lowes and bought grow lights. I did this backwards but, after more research, I found out these were a waste of my money because they were incandescent lights. Yesterday my seedlings showed their little faces and they need light! I have a sewing light that says “daylight”, so I used that with the incandescent light. They are about half an inch long already and they are all leaning towards my sewing light. I am worried they are becoming leggy already. I can go ahead and order a fluorescent grow light online but just 3 or 4 days would be enough to completely destroy the seedlings. So can I just go out and buy any fluorescent light or does it have to be specifically a fluorescent GROW light? Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

I personally use fluorescent shop lights for starting seeds indoors. They are cheaper and work just as well as the more expensive grow lights. You can buy them for about $8 each at the hardware store, including the bulbs. Plain fluorescent bulbs will work just fine.