Put planted seeds under fluorescent lights for 24 hours per day. The lights can be positioned about 6 inches (15 cm) over top at first. You can move the lights even closer to the canopy after the seedlings emerge. It is safe to have the leaves almost touch the bulbs since fluorescent lights generate almost no heat. The ideal type of bulbs are the ones labelled “cool” – referring to the colour temperature of the light. This type of bulb stimulates root growth. If you don’t add light to your seedlings they will start to stretch as they search for light. The stems will get long and spindly and the plant might collapse and die. Sufficient light is very important at all stages of the lifecycle.