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can you use a tanning bed to start flowers/veggies seeds gardening plants?

My dad and I just cleaned out a room to get a bed for my daughter that my mom had tucked away and there was a tanning bed in there. it is just the top of the tanning bed and it works and gets warm. We love to garden and the question came to us: "Would it work to start seeds and grow plants?" seems like it would be better than grow lights but not sure what the actual differance is???? So, If you know of an answer for us that would be great!! we were thinking about using in conjunction with his grow lights ....turn on the tanning bed for like an hour a day for intense direct light and heat?

Public Comments

1. Given that people get a bit fried if they stay under a tanning bed too long, I fear your plants would not fayre well. Also, I don't think these things are designed to be left on 24/7 - could be a fire hazzard, not to mention your lecky bill going through the roof. Go to the garden centre & buy a wee heated propagator - you'll get reliable results for a fraction of the cost ! Just seen your additional details. It still wouldn't be good. Propagators work with a gentle heat underneath, to mildly warm the soil. Intense heat from above will destroy young tender leaves. Sell the tanning thing on ebay & use the cash to buy a heated propagator.
2. your plants are going to be dead so quick.
3. I believe that tanning beds and plant lights don't emit the same spectrum of light. You could try it on some inexpensive plants like Zinnias and see what happens. This is a very interesting question.