Cheap LED growlight ideas

Due to difficult access to the proper grow light for plant seedlings - i have to find an alternative light to use for my peppers and papaya seedlings. They need the light to photosynthesis to develop healthy stems and leaves - without the proper or enough lighting the plant will grow leggy which means elongated stems but weak. It will bow or bend towards the sunlight to find enough light to grow.

So I have researched that normal LED bulb is good enough for growlight provided that it comes with the following tech spec.

Color Temperature = 3000K to 6500K (recommend full spectrum at 6500K)
Light intensity = 600 to 1300 Lumens

So I have purchased some for testing the following. This is the LED bulb running on 28 watt power with 600 to 1050 lumens and it perform quite good since i used two of them. This bulb quite cheap and it does the job quite good so far to light up the seedlings







This is just for reference E27 rated at 30 watt power and 6500K color temperature - quite good but no lumen specification is displayed on the box or anywhere. I have not purchase any of this but just for future reference in case I need it.





This down light made for the ceiling square with dimensions of 27 cm x 27 cm wide x length. It's the perfect square to provide light to the plant. The on the box says 24 watt power at 2400 lumens and 6500K color temperature. The sad part is the tech spec for the lumens is fake - the light intensity for this bulb way lower than the first one above. So despite the perfect shape with wider coverage - but low lumens you have to put it very very close to the seedling plants like 5 cm away or barely touch the plants leaves.





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Watermelon seedling cultivation - speed up germination process

Seedling Process Preparating:

1. Purchased seed from SK Hardware

2. Using pliers to crush the seed shells

3. Prepare Rekyva peat moss in a cup (transparent)

4. Plant the watermelon seed and water it

Expectation:

1. Expect the seedling to germinate within 2 to 4 days



Past Observation:

1. Without any assistance to the seed - 5 to 7 days (under normal temperature)

2. Excessive NPK fertilizer will kill the watermelon seedling instantly



First Experiment:

• 2 seeds of watermelon were cracked open mechanically from the shell crush
• Planted on soil on the 18-Oct-2019

Result of Experiment:

• The seed starting to germinate in 3 days time (21-Oct-2019) as expected - 50% faster than plant the seed without cracking it open which may takes about 7 to 8 days
• One of the seed been stolen by the bird and one left germinate gracefully
• SUCCESS!!

Papaya Seedling Cultivation Experiment (germination)

Seedling Process Preparating:


1. Seeds removed from papaya fruit

2. Then remove the slimy membrane on the seeds

3. Using pliers to crush the seed shells

4. Then prepare hot water 1 pot of noodle cooker - pour onto Rekyva peat moss and mixed it thoroughly.

5. Transfer the peat moss into 20 cell seedling tray hot

6. Plant the papaya seed without watering

Expectation:

1. Expect the seedling to germinate within 4 to 7 days - updated this method does not work



Past Observation:

1. Without any assistance to the seed - it will germinate in 1 month 14 days or 1.5 month time

2. The picture below showing the seed starting to germinate



Papaya seed with coating membranes



Papaya seeds without the coating membranes



Experiment Quick Papaya Seed Germination:

1. Papaya seed soaked in Hydrogen peroxide, Methylated Spirit (95%), and Apple Cider (Vinegar) on the 20-Oct-2019 to soften the outer crust of the seed to speed up germination process

Result Of Experiment

1. On 21-Oct-2019 (1 day) all the seeds in the 3 container experiment can be peeled off. The easiest is vinegar, followed by methylated spirit and then hydrogen peroxide
2. On 22-Oct-2019 (2 day) - getting easier to peeled off the crust of the seeds starting from vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and then alcohol. The experiment shows that alcohol is not recommended as it dried out the seed. While hydrogen peroxide maybe acceptable but the vinegar is much better than the rest

Next Action:

•  4 seeds crust peeled off and planted (21-Oct-2019)
• Some seeds peeled off and planted (22-Oct-2019)

Result of planting the naked seed:

• Soak the seed in 24 hours to 48 hours in vinegar 
• Then peeled off the protective coating of the seed
• Plant the seed onto the soil
• It will germinate within 7 to 10 days guaranteed faster in normal room temperature. 
• Without this it could takes around 1.5 months to germinate under normal room temperature.

Transplant papaya seedling on 16" x 16" polybag - medium is using purely cocopeat. (10-Nov-2019). This papaya start from seedling on 4-Sep-2019.

Note: Applying foliar or granular fertilizer to a seedling that just germinated will kill it instantly.



Papaya seedling grow healthier and faster under warmer temperature - this is proven by covering the growing seedling using drinking water bottle with the top open for oxygen. However the moist generated from the warm temperature inside the bottle making the plant stem becoming strong and healthier.



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Chili Cultivation Seedling Experiment

Method 1:

1. Seed directly extracted from the chili fruits

2. No soaking in water

3. Expose in the sunlight

Summary Results:

1. Chili seed planted onto seedling tray soil 04-Sept-2019

2. One or two germinated quicker in 14 days

3. However most of the seeds germinated on the 19-Oct-2019 or about 1 month 14 days later

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Method 2:

1. Seed extracted from chili fruits (19-Oct-2019)

2. Soak in the water overnight (14 hours)

3. Then plant

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Method 3:

1. Seed extracted from chili fruits (19-Oct-2019)

2. Soak in isopropyl alcohol overnight (10 hours)

3. Then plant on seedling sponge and also seedling tray





Another round of transplant (10 Nov 2019)

Propagation method, where matured chili plant is cut down and soak into the water to get it re-root before transplant again. Let's see if this work (09-Nov-2019)



After about 2 weeks later (22 Nov 2019) the stem starting to show some sign of new root growth. Thanks to the Greenbooster foliar fertilizer to feed the pepper plant through the leaves. It also helps to boost the root growth. Without it could take longer than expected. Before propagation make sure there are small tiny leaves left on the stem without it you can't feed the plant and thus either will be dead or slowing down the rooting process.





This is transplant from seedling tray to another cup before going for real transplant on the polybag 16" X 16". Combination of papaya, peppers, watermelon seedlings. (10-Nov-2019). All the seedlings start on 4-Sep-2019. Soil medium is mixed some with cocopeat others purely cocopeat



Healthy chili pepper seedlings after applying ezigrow. This is one of the best review of ezigrow effect on plant, the leaf becoming greener, the stem becoming stronger and all looks fresh and healthy just after 1 spray of ezigrow 6 ml / 2 Litres of water



Late transplant and running out of nutrients / water the plant is dying and the stem falling apart and caused the leaves to wilt



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Durian Seedling research

Durian seedling - local durian tembaga and normal durian

1. Planted durian seedling on 5th September 2019

2. Durian seedling after 27 days on loose and shallow soil



3. Durian seedling after 27 days on more compacted and deeper soil



4. Durian in on month in more compacted no holes and less sunlight (inside bucket)



Anomaly of observation

1. Durian seedling grow faster on shallow and lose soil

2. Durian seedling grow slower on compacted and deeper soil

4. Durian seedling grow much slower in container without holes and difficult for sunlight to reach. Even after a month the seed still not falling off.

The effect of excessive fertilizer on durian seedling will burnt the leaf and cause it to fall. This is the danger of over fertilizing either granular or foliar spray has the same effect on leaves.

Chili Peppers Cultivation Research

This is local chili breed - small grain of chili called local chili padi

1. The seed was planted on the 5th September 2019

2. On the 15th days of germination process (20 Sept 2019)



3. On the 21st day of germination (26 Sept 2019)



4. Some of the late germination process (Take on 05-Oct-2019) - 1 Month later



Research anomaly

1. Slow germination process

2. Uneven seedling some grow faster and some grow slower

Cause of slow process

1. Lack of quality seed

2. No process of seeds selection / or no soaking in the water for 24 hours

3. No proper seedling process (no wrapping and keeping in dark area)

4. Lack of fertilization process / inconsistent

5. Maybe local chili breed is slower to grow

6. Soil of choice (more compacted instead of loosen)

7. Cocopeat too much alkalinity

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Farming tools and pots

Just for reference:

1. Large vase / pots - SK Hardware (Range RM17 to RM57)

2. Large vase / pots - Super Save batu kawa (opposite emart)

3. Small Basket RM2.99 enough for seed germination - supersave batu kawa

4. Large Basket RM5.99 good for microgreens farming - supersave batu kawa

5. Seedling tray / tray semaian for germination - SK Hardware kuching Jalan batu 4 (4th Mile)

6. Soil compost - SK Hardware

7. Wheel burrow - SK Hardware

8. Poly-bag up to size 16" x 16" inches - SK Hardware

9. Baja / Fertilizer (liquid and solid granulated) - SK Hardware

10. Cocopeat - SK Hardware











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