Creating Indoor Light for Seed Starting

The groundhog has made his move -- we all know there is only 6 more weeks of winter and the seed starting fever is in full swing. Kitchen countertops, television cabinets, ping pong tables have all been cleared -- all flat spaces will be used for seed starting for the remainder of winter. We've pulled out the bags of used yogurt containers, blended our seed starting mix, and read all that tiny print on seed packages.
Our dreams of an early spring garden can die, however, if indoor lighting is not given enough attention. If your seedlings are tall and "leggy," they probably lack adequate light. Here is a quick primer on creating light for seedlings.
Natural Light A south facing sunny window may provide enough lighting for your seedlings, but I usually find my indoor plants need a little more light than mother nature provides. If you have a good window, you may only need to add a reflective material, such as mylar, to give your plants a boost. If your flats are stashed away in a basement or an area with low visibility, consider painting the floors and walls for greater light reflection. Flat white paint is said to provide more light reflection than other types of paint.
Grow Lights Light from incandescant bulbs may be an adequate supplement to natural lighting. Incandescant lights are not especially efficient and produce a lot of heat, however.
High pressure sodium lights don't have the necessary color range to provide light exclusively, but are often used by professional growers as a supplement to natural lighting.
Flourescent Lighting is usually adequate for home gardeners needs. Compact and High Output flourescent lights come in both cool and warm versions. High Output flourescents are often preferred for color range and coverage.
I have not tried LED grow lights yet, but I believe they will be used widely by gardeners in coming seasons. LED grow lights have two red and two blue wave lengths that correspond to the chlorphyll peaks of plants. They produce very little heat and do not consume as much energy as other lighting.
With adequate lighting, your plants will grow strong, healthy stems and leaves. They'll be ready to transplant as soon as the sun melts that last freeze.