SunLite® Floor Model Garden

Comments about SunLite® Floor Model Garden:

I like to put tomato plants out early, using season-extending water cones (Wall of Water or Kozy Coat plant protectors), so I need to start my plants early to have them ready to go out earlier. This gives me plenty of room to keep all the seedlings under the lights, and plenty of height for growth -- though if it were 6" lower, it would still be quite tall enough. I also want to try growing lettuce, maybe some herbs, under the lights over the winter.
Assembly took 1 1/2 hours, instructions could have been just a bit clearer on which way each piece should face.

Comments about SunLite® Floor Model Garden:

I am using the light garden stand to start some seeds and keep houseplants healthy. Seeing blooming plants all the time is mood lifting. I really like this product but would like it better if I could purchase from you a heavy duty automatic timer to turn the lights on without having to remember to turn them on manually.

Comments about SunLite® Floor Model Garden:

If a greenhouse is out of your price range, this is the next best thing for starting seeds and keeping some plants handy for an indoor kitchen garden.

The number of parts, instructions, etc. might seem a bit daunting at first, but it is actually very easy to assemble and the result is a sturdy piece. I assembled it by myself with little difficulty, but would recommend an extra set of hands if possible. A+ from this green householder!

Comments about SunLite® Floor Model Garden:

one of the trays that came with it has a hole of a little over an inch in it , am not to happy about that , but overall its a sturdy unit and easy to put together , just hope that it doesn't come damaged like mine did .

Comments about SunLite® Floor Model Garden:

I bought this unit determined to successfully start tomatoes this year. I have tried several attempts at jury-rigged light set-ups in the past without success. In general I am impressed with the workmanship. Unlike a number of items that require assembly, this unit has very clear instructions. It can be assembled with a screwdriver alone. Assembly and set up takes about 30 minutes with a power screwdriver or power drill. When assembled it is quite sturdy. The casters make moving the unit into location, and I assume outside for hardening off plants easier than some of the fixed base units out there. I have no doubt that the workmanship will allow this unit to work for years to come.

It is fairly long 48 inches with could be a factor for some folks. The actual lighted shelf is on the bottom, which means kneeling to tend to the seedlings. There is a planting tray on the top, but it isn't lighted unless you buy the tabletop unit to place on top.
The power cord to the light fixture is fairly short, perhaps 3 ft and there is no timer function. The lack of a light timer seems out of place with a unit like this, but easily remedied with a cheap vacation timer from the hardware store. I think I will add a powerstrip with a longer cord to one of the uprights to attach the timer to and my seed starter heating mat. Otherwise I have at least two cords running along the ground. The fixture throws out a lot of light, so placement away from your bedroom is important, particularly with the lights on for 18 hrs/day.

Comments about SunLite® Floor Model Garden:

I like to start most of my own garden plants and flowers from seed. With this, I can start a lot in a reasonable space. Plan to buy the table top model to put on the top shelf to expand it this year.