The right lighting height for 600W?

I know that a lot of growing guides say that the height of the lighting should be just above the plant. Noticed though that they mostly refer to low Watt lights. I have a 600W growlight, on 19 plants and it is causing steem to come from the centre pots. The soil is warm, not hot and the plants look okay. The lamp is around 7 inches above the lowryders, but produces a lot of heat.

Will be getting some fans tommorow, but just wanted to make sure I was not damaging the lowryders closest to the lamp, is steem being produced from the closest pots normal?

 

Move the light away quickly, before you burn those babies!!! At least 24' for a day,let them cool off a little. Yeah, close lighting is for flourescent lights. Hold your hand flat, at plant top level - you should just feel "warmth", not real "heat", adjust the lights accordingly. If it feels good to you, it's good for the plant!

Okay, you have a 600watter, you may want to take it up a little higher at first.


"Is steam being produced from the closest pots normal?"
No!

 

A bit too late. Roasted one of them and the other two have fallen over. Any way I can help them recover now?

 

Yikes! Steam!

Are these seedlings? If so, you should be at least 18" and adjust from there. Ventilation as you can now see will help with the heat buildup.

You will learn how to read the leaves they will tell you about water, nutes, light and the general health of the plant. The biggest pitfalls will be overwatering and over fertilization.

If seedlings have stretched and drooped over - prop them up with twist ties, after a bit (week or 2) the stem should thicken and be able to bear the weight.

All part of the learning curve.