Lighting

[bemarine]

How can I find out how many foot candles of light my plants are getting? Is it something I could get at a home depot or something?

[Hummer344]

They are easy to find and don't have to be very complicated. Amazon would be a good place to start. I can't remember where I got mine but it wasn't very expensive. Another idea, borrow one from a friend. You don't really need it for very long. Just do some quick measurments and give it back. Borrow it again in the winter to check things out a second time.

[mayres]

There are lots of inexpensive light meters for sale on ebay!
This method is taken from Ortho's All About Orchids!
If you have a camera with a built in light meter you can use it to get an approximate check.
With film speed at ASA 25 and shutter speed at 1/60th sec - aim the camera at a flat sheet of matte, white paper or cardboard - where the plant leaves would be. Hold the camera close enough so that all you see is the paper (without blocking any of the light). Adjust the f-stop until the correct exposure is noted -
F-stop = footcandles
2.8 = 200
4 - 370
5.6 - 750
8 - 1500
11 - 2800
16 - 5000

[patticake]

I don't go by any specifics. I let the plant tell me. If there's a strong defined shadow when you hold your hand a foot away from the plant, that's good for high- light plants. blurry shadow- medium, bright light but no shadow- low light plants. If the plants don't seem happy, I move them until they are! Orchids For Dummies has a good chapter on lighting. So does the Ortho book of Orchids.

[kmarch]

An even more simple route to go is to completely forego measuring footcandles. I've grown orchids for more than 10 years and never once measured a single footcandle.

[PhalPal]

I love having a light meter and use it at least weekly. I didn't need it as much when all I grew were Phals since they are low light. Once I started growing outside, under lights and different high light orchids it became invaluable.

I found it hard to find one that measured over 5,000 fc so ended up with the LX 1330. I know a lot of geeks have found it on ebay as well.

Carsten's Orchid-Depot and Orchid Shop

[Brooke]

I would hate to try to grow orchids in a g/h without a light meter to help me create the correct light situation for the plant. I have the same one as PhalPal and my low light plants love it. My masdies didn't like the same light as my catts

Brooke

[mehitabel]

phalpal, your link didn't work. Can you post another?

[PhalPal]

Try this mehitabel: Carsten's Orchid-Depot and Orchid Shop

It appears to be the same one but I got it to work this time. This model appears to be a very popular one and a lot of 'geeks have it. Some got it from Carsten's and others found it on ebay for roughly the same price.

If this link doesn't work for some reason, try it at ww.orchid-depot.com

[mehitabel]

Thanks, phalpal. I have one, but don't have confidence in it. Of course, if I have two, I'll never know which one to believe