Question about Indoor Lighting

[sanibel57]

Hello,

Newbie me again. As I look out on days getting shorter, I have a question about artificial lighting for orchids. I know there is a better word for this but I can't think of it. I am wondering how many people use growth lights during the winter and where you would buy one and what is involved in the set up. I have a east/northeast exposure. My orchid has done great through the summer but I am worried about the winter. Thanks in advance for all of the help I know I will get!!

I am also wondering if air from furnace vents will be harmful to the orchid. I have one over every window that I have! Thanks again.

[orchidlover55]

Hello Sanibel57 to the forum. There are several threads on lighting in fact I had ask the same question several months ago and so many helpful geeks answered my question , I can look them up and repost to your question when I find them. I have a Greenhouse outside and I had my orchids in it this summer. I have now brought them inside to their new home the greenroom. I put tables all around the room and place T-5 lighting over each table. I will find the website to the lighting and the threads I used and get back with you in a minute Debra

[orchidlover55]

Ok here it is I am not too good about posting other threads so I hope it works "o"


http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...-lighting.html

[mayres]

What will work for you is somewhat dependent upon what type of orchids you are trying to grow and if it is supplemental or all the light they will be getting......

[sanibel57]

Thanks for the link! I am just growing one phal so far but I am thinking of getting more. I need to do some more research about different types of orchids and what kind of enviroment they need. I am in Indiana so our days will be getting shorter and shorter.
Thanks again to all of you!

[FLBob]

I'm not sure what type of orchid you have, but orchids do have triggers for blooming. One trigger may be shortening/lengthening of daylight hours, another may be cooler temps.
If you use artificial lighting you might only want to use the extra light during the day.
I would attempt to deflect the heat vent so that the warm dry air does not blow on the plant.

[mehitabel]

Hi, Sanibel, I'm going to try to answer your original question.

I have been growing phals indoors in winter since 2003. IMO, you need to supply extra light in Nov, Dec and Jan at a minimum. In winter, here in MO, we are one state south of you, but we get probably 3 days of 7 where the sun shines. Even when it does shine, it is short and weak.

I set my lights to run 16 hours per day. I think you might find a bank of fluorescents too much for one phal. If you stay with one phal, you might want to put one of those coiled fluorescent bulbs into a floor lamp-- an octopus lamp or a bullet lamp-- and aim it at your phal 16 hours a day. Put it on a timer. You can put it 6-8 inches away if you move your phal closer to the light over a period of a week or so. This is the cheapest and quickest solution for one or two phals.

If you buy more phals, then you will find a bank of fluorescents can give them very nice light for the winter if you run it for enough hours.

I have the same situation as you-- furnace vents under every window. I deal with that by closing the vents in rooms where I have orchids. The orchids are also kept on humidity trays. This raises the humidity at leaf level. This combination works well, and I haven't noticed any undue suffering from it. The area where the plants are will be a few degrees cooler at night, but with closed shades or curtains, your phals will be fine. If you can afford it, keep your house at a 65F minimum at night (or supply a small room heater for nights, maybe). Phals just feel better if they don't have to endure lots of nights below 65. They won't show problems right away, but after a while, they start to show some effects.

If you buy a bank of lights, be sure to get 48" tubes. The reason for this is that the best light is in the center of a fluorescent tube. The light at the ends is much poorer. You can see then that with a 24" tube, the area of prime light is very small. The prime light area is much larger for a 48".

Similarly, you can get by with two tubes, but a four-tube bank will provide lots better light over a larger area.

If price isn't a problem, go for the T5's, they are wonderful and good-looking. But they do cost more. You can buy them online or from a local shop like Worm's Way. If you're on a budget, you can get a 4-bank of 48" shoplights at somewhere like Lowe's for a lot, lot less.

Mine are suspended on chains from the ceiling. It's a 2-person job, I think.

Hope this covers it.



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