indoor lighting

[c.mcadams]

Hi guys,
this is my first time here. I just bought my first orchid yesterday, it's an Odm. Margarete Holm. Im planning on keeping it indoors b/c it's already getting cold in GA. How close should the light be to the plant. how many hours a day?
Thanks..

[mayres]

What type of lighting are you putting it under? I have my orchids under fluorescent fixtures and they cannot be too close - the closer the better. My plants seem to like about 16 hours of light per day. Some people would have you cut back to 14 in the spring and fall and about 12 in winter. So far mine seem to do well with about the same year round. If you use other types of lights you will be able to have them further from your plant. Give us a hint of what you have in mind and someone will give you some additional insight. mike

[c.mcadams]

thanks Mike! I'm using one of the 60w plant bulbs. But I do want more plants and this one buld doesn't look like it would cut it, are you using a regular fluorecent bulbs or what, and how far away do you keep them?
Thanks again,
Chuck

[mayres]

I have a home made setup that has two cheapie fluorescent fixtures from Lowes on each of three shelves - four bulbs total. I have been using broad spectrum bulbs (daylight) and they seem to work well. This winter I decided to replace one with a grow light bulb and see if this makes any difference. All are plugged into a strip that is plugged into a timer - works quite well! I have the phals up to within a few inches of the bulbs (3-4). Of course as they spike I'm forced to be creative how they are put on my shelves. Other types of orchids that are tall are right up there nearly against the bulbs too in many places and suffer no ill effects. Initially similar to you I tried lighting a few orchids with a 100W single light bulb set in a reflector - not as energy efficient nor does it cover as many plants as well as the tubes. The generation of heat with regular bulbs is an issue to deal with too if there are too many of them. I will try and post a photo later - I've seen quite a few setups done similarly from people who have purchased shelves from places like Costco and hung similar fluorescents from them. Enjoy! mike

[c.mcadams]

Thanks even more. You are the best!!
I would love to see a picture when you get time.
Chuck

[mayres]

Okay Chuck -
These are not the best pictures but here goes! :-)
I had a supply of good clear finished 2X4 lumber that I planed to 1 1/4 X 3 1/4 from a previous project. I debated whether or not to stain or paint and decided the paint might look better in this application. It is made to be able to be dismantled and moved as needed. Two 2X12's for each shelf. You can see that I am overcrowded (also a few sunburned plants from being outside this summer). I have added a third set of lights not shown in the picture that are hanging from two sets of PVC 3/4" pipe hangers and will one day in the near future spread things out with the three shelves instead of two - which will probably get overcrowded soon too - but I hope not! I have a fan going nearby most if not all the day and a small electric heater to keep this area warmer than I keep the rest of my house. Like most of us on this forum - I would LOVE to have a greenhouse, but with my means I will have to make this do for now at least. There are 6"X24" trays with rocks (and water below the top level) under many of the plants and oneday hopefully all - for added humidity. Enjoyable and a challenge. I certainly don't have it all figured out! You can see I have put the 2nd row of plants up on cardboard boxes to get them closer to the lights. This allows me more flexability in the future should I put taller plants in here. The 3rd row not pictured is ready to go with the lower height and could also be adjusted as needed. Hope this gives you some ideas.



This gives you a closer view of the distance and how I have some phals and a few paphs crowded in height-wise

[c.mcadams]

thanks again Mike!!
this gives me some good ideas to start with.
YOU ROCK!!