| I agree with Kmarch. Different Orchids require different light strengths. If you are more concerned about needing more light now, you can always buy a 4' long four bulb T5 lighting system. The one I have puts out 3000 footcandles about six inches from the bulbs, and you can vary the distance from the light by placeing the Orchids at different heights. the system with the bulbs only cost me $180.00 out the door. A cheaper way is to buy normal flouresent fixtures and use full spectrum bulbs. AOS recomends four bulbs up to a foot apart for most mid range light Orchids around 6 inches to 1 foot from the top of the plant.
As far as the Led's? I bought one just to see how it would work...the spectrum charts were impressive, but after plugging it in I only read 9 footcandles at 3" from the source! Spectrum charts or not that just does not seem like a wise idea to light plants that I love! The reason is that the intensity of the light is also necessary seemng that is where the energy is. There is a led that I found that has the same par as a 400watt hps, but I do not have the $4000.00 for it, nor would I spend that much on a new technology still being tested.
But you should really research the individual light needs for the plants you have...then group the ones with simular requirements together and address thier needs as a whole.
Hope this helps. PhalPal said it right, it can be a lot of research and it gets very overwhelming with all of the different styles and intensities of lighting out there!  |