Need advice on Adjustable Tabletop Lighting

[wieb]

Hi. I am new to this forum and new to the orchid hobby. I have a couple of orchids that I need to provide better lighting to than what I currently get from my east-facing window in my home. (I live in the Portland, Oregon area and will have a lot of cloudy days, especially now until sometime in May.)

I am looking for an adjustable fluorescent light source that can accomodate my orchids and I have found a couple of configurations on line that I would like some feedback on. If you actually have one of these two units, I would REALLY like your thoughts of how it is working for you, good or bad.

I want something that looks decent indoors ... my wife and I really don't want a PVC structure in the front room ... okay for a greenhouse, but not the home. If you have another suggestion of a different unit, please suggest away. I tried posting links to the website of where I found them as well as pictures ... but since I am new, the forum rules prevented me from doing so (spam, virues, other security reasons).

Thank you in advance for your time in responding. If you have questions, I will do my best, as a rookie, to answer them.

wieb

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HAUSERMANN'S TABLETOP LIGHT STAND
Hausermann's Tabletop Light Stand.jpg

NEW! HAUSERMANN'S GLOW & GROW TABLETOP LIGHT STAND - This one level unit is similar to our 2 level Orchid Garden Stand. Adjustable 4 bulb fixture with drainage system that allows watering without removing plants. Price excludes lamps. Dimensions: 51 inches wide, 22 inches deep 31 inches high. Now with new electronic ballasts. Uses flourescent bulbs OS-1145E or OS-1145GE. (requires customer supplied table)

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(Four) 20 Watt Tubes in these light fixtures

adjustable light table.jpg
•

Adjustable Height
• 1" square aluminum legs
• Lighted plant stand measures 24"h x 30"w x 23"d
• One light fixture (holding four lamps)
• Each fluorescent lamp is 20 Watt Wide Spectrum (included in order)
• White aluminum fixtures
• 3-wire cord and on/off switch
• Plus $11 shipping
• 3-15 business days shipping plus a few days for delivery

[kmarch]

If it's opinions you seek, in terms of lighting, they're exactly the same, each using 4 tubes, so no difference there. I'd go for the first one, the one where you don't need to take the plants out to water.

[mayres]

Hi Wieb! I live just below you in Keizer/Salem. I grow all my orchids (about 120) indoors in a non-greenhouse environment under lights this time of year. The kind of lights that will work for you is going to be dependent upon what kind of orchids you are trying to grow. We can discuss via this thread or you can go one on one if you want via the pm part of this forum or via regular email.

[bellina9]

That lighting system looks really nice! I think I might try to construe something like that myself. cool.

[sandra]

Mike, I need your opinion too....pretty please. I'm looking for more lighting also on my patio and I can't come up with anything except to bring all the orchids in the house which I can't do. Would it be defeating to think I can get a floor lamp with swivel lighting that would hold bulbs strong enough for my orchids, something I can bring in when it rains? Right now, I've got a few spot lights with 100 watt bulbs which is a big joke, I know. Suggestions?

weib, apologies. I'm going through the exact same dilemma as you with only north east exposure and no bright light until around April...not good! The units you posted are very attractive.

[digitalgate]

It all boil down to your decision whether you a handy man, budget conscious.
Or you want something that is pleasing to the eye.
Personally , I am budget conscious person. Plus most of the structure they sold locally, have poor reflector in them. SO why pay $200 to $400 for
something that don't meet my need.
I just counted my orchids 50+ of them indoor. That does not include
my plants in the rented space in the nursery. I bring them home when they
are blooming and often back with mites.Urggh...
To DIY, you have to be a electrician as well as a handly man. Of course
the trade off is the price. I only paid $70 for my setup. But i love the process
of setting up the shelf.

[sandra]

OK Mike, never mind. I just re-read your thread T5 Fluorescents ROCK! Woooooooh!. Forget I even asked. Is this an appropriate instance to say " oh triple fudge?"

[wieb]

Thanks to everyone who replied already.

First, one of the units I listed in the original e-mail was the smaller version of what I really was interested in. At the end of my reply is the larger model I am looking at.

Your responses to my open-ended request were good:

1. Good point on the easier drainage (vote for the 1st one)
2. mayres -- I'll be taking you up on your offer of help; I have a cattlyea, a phal, and a dendrobium (I know ... I now realize they have different cultural requirements, especially with regard to optimum temperatures, from what I read.) With regard to light, I think the phal needs less than the other two. I'm targeting ~2000 foot-candles (I think) for the cat & dendro. Any pre-cautions up front before I lay out the cash? I think you are going to tell me that they will all probably live, but they all won't flower. (I want them to flower!)
3. digitalgate -- The units cost about $200 - $250 including shipping. I am budget conscious, and can probably put something together, but it will be ugly and take forever & cost $ -- in the end, with the little money I would save, I think I would prefer to buy a "well-designed" unit. I guess that is my real question -- can anyone see any obvious defects in these designs?

Other questions:

• Should I assume these are T8 or T12? If so, are they adequate for my needs?
• Will I be able to find suitable lamps on the market that will fit these units and also get the orchids to flower?
• The descriptions say nothing about a reflector (thanks for reminding me, digital) -- should I assume there isn't one, or at best a poor one? Can a good one be purchased and installed easily if there isn't one (or is poor)?
• Is the clearance (~24 inches) adequate? Some of the flower spikes seem to be taller than 24 inches -- what then? How do you bring lights closer with tall spikes like that?

If you have seen these units in real life ...

• Are they robustly built or are they richety?
• Cosmetics are important -- would they fit well in a dining room or more suitable for greenhouse? I will placing the unit on top of a 4-foot table in front of an East-facing window.

I would appreciate any information on any of my long-winded questions (trust me, there's more). Even a response to one would be greatly appreciated. Other insights I haven't touched on are welcome, too. Thanks.
wieb

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(Four) 40 Watt Tubes in these light fixtures

adjustable light table 48-inch.jpg
Item # STPS440

Table Top Grow Light Flower Cart
Indoor Plant Stand

• Adjustable Height
• 1" square aluminum legs
• Lighted plant stand measures 24"h x 54"w x 23"d
• Optional Trays 22" x 11" tan tray (OPTIONAL - see how to purchase below)
• One light fixture (holding four lamps)
• Each fluorescent lamp is 40 Watt Wide Spectrum (included in order)
• White aluminum fixtures
• 3-wire cord and on/off switch

[mayres]

Sandra - if you can keep the weather off the light fixture one of the T5 fixtures might be the way to go? Now that it is getting cooler here I have found that the heat generated is no longer enough to keep my room warm (not an issue for you). For indoor use I think it is the easiest plan of attack - and the fixtures are really quite acceptable in terms of general appearance (not unsightly). Below is a photo of how I currently have my fixture set up. I used a couple inexpensive wall plant hangers to hang it from the wall below a window. Note that there is a flat surface on the hangers that I am now going to place a 1 X 8 or so to put some additional plants in the east facing window above. I am still in the experimental phase of finding the ideal distance between bulbs and plants. Initially I put the fixture in another frame that I have shop lights set up but the intensity was too great for the short distance I had - so have moved to the current configuration for this fixture only. Note that the fixtures shown earlier in this thread, like shop lights, will only provide enough light intensity for low light level plants like phals and paphs.
In your case, since you are indeed outside, I would seriously look at potentially putting up a 400W MH fixture that is convertable to HPS (works with both types of bulbs - dual purpose). It would light up an area approximately five foot square enough for medium light need orchids. If you have a heavy light need orchid or two you can just move it/them closer. It would be more critical that you kept water away from the bulb as it gets extremely hot in comparison to the fluorescent types. Do you have any hydroponic stores in your area? We have two here. Like any business they have people that just want to sell you something and they have people who are REALLY HELPFUL and will get you set up exactly as you need/want.

[mayres]

Close up of brackets used to hold up light fixture - for some reason they didn't take in my previous post?

[sandra]

Mike, leave it to you to give me another tuitorial here. Thanks again. I'm glad you posted the last photo as I just wasn't getting the description until I saw it. Unfortunately, none of that will work because of the weather interefering....it's just too dangerous. I don't even think I have enough light for the paphs and phals The house is probably going on the market this week and whereever I do go, one of the pre-requisites will be south and west exposures. I won't even look if it doesn't provide this, have always had it this way because of my enjoyment of gardening....until this last stop where I had no choice. No hydroponic stores here in the area. I'm going to have to find a way to get something in the meantime that I can move around, like a floor lamp or clip ons like spot lights or something.

[mayres]

If you don't have too many plants you are trying to light then a high wattage CFL might work OK in a shielded clamp fixture. One of the things important about purchasing fixtures is making sure the available light from the bulb is directed and shielded correctly - otherwise a high percentage of the available light given off by the bulb can be wasted - going off into non-orchid directions. You can never "harvest" 100% of the available light, but want to maximize as best you can. Places like Lowes and Home Depot usually only sell the CFL's up to tungsten bulb equivalents - maybe something around 50-60 watts (150W equivalents). If you can go to a place in your area (or online) that sells higher wattage you can probably get 2-3X that and still fit it into a conventional inexpensive clamp lamp fixture. If this concept sounds do-able for your situation we can kick around the idea some more either via this thread, pm or email. Good luck! mike

[sandra]

Originally Posted by mayres

If this concept sounds do-able for your situation we can kick around the idea some more either via this thread, pm or email. Good luck! mike

Sounds good to me Mike. Clamp on lights will work best for my situation in case weather conditions become skeptical. I'll look into finding whatever you tell me to get. A side note: my Dendrobiums have all done well. I know they benefited greatly from the light over the summer but point being, they all went on to bloom. Even my Oncidiums have done well so far and I have one in spike now. My Catts. have all grown new ps.bulbs but they won't go on to bud without the additional light (talking about 20 catts). And even though the phals. seem to be doing well, I haven't had any spiking on any of them but the weather hasn't changed enough so I'm hoping this is why. It's in the 80's today and the nights are averaging, high 60's. I'm still trying to remain optimisitic with them. I love my Phals

Thanks for your help with this.

[PhalPal]

First of all....Welcome to the forum wieb!

I have the exact same situation as you. I have several plants that are indoors but need more light and I am very concerned about aesthetics. I am currently shopping and researching (again) so I'll include a few links below.

Something that has not been mentioned is buzz. Some lights, especially the 'shop' type lights will have a constant buzzing sound when the lights are on. I would find this really annoying having it directly in my living space. What I have read so far is that having an 'electronic ballast' is quieter. Please keep this thread public; I can learn a lot from your questions!

Some interesting links:
Welcome to BuyPlantLights.com — Purchase indoor plant stands, fluorescent fixtures, bulbs and more!
Gardening Supplies | Greenhouse, Nursery & Hydroponic Supplies for Every Season at Home Harvest Garden Supply
Gardeners Supply Company - Garden Supply Store and Gardening Tips I especially like the 'Tek Grow Light'
Quality glass greenhouses, greenhouse kits and supplies for gardening enthusiasts.

Hope these are new to you and help you out.

[mayres]

Sandra - I have read comments from another person in Florida who has not had spiking phals yet either. Hopefully you will get some colder weather for them soon (not that YOU want it for yourself!).
PhalPal - besides my new T5 fixture I have SIX cheapie Home Depot/Lowes type shop lights - NONE of them buzz. I know what you mean though - in my distant past I have had buzzers. As you look at those fixtures keep in mind what I said about T8 bulb fixtures - OK for phals and paphs - but not enough light for catts!

[wieb]

Thank you, PhalPal, for the links ... I will check them out soon. And I'll keep this public, too.

mayres -- you said: "As you look at those fixtures keep in mind what I said about T8 bulb fixtures - OK for phals and paphs - but not enough light for catts!"

Where did you say this? Can you show me the link/post so I can read through it? Sorry if I missed it.

Thanks.
wieb

[PhalPal]

Sandra - I don't have any phal spikes yet either and mine have had sufficient night time lows. My cyms are going to explode about January! I'll let you know when (if)I get a spike and we can compare notes. I think mine just might be TOO cold.

Mike - from your posts and all my research the one thing I have decided on is to get T5's and at least 4/four foot bulbs. The trouble has been in finding a stand to support it with adjustable chains, not in finding the light fixture itself. I am crafty enough to make one myself but would rather not. We are going to be starting a major remodel in January and I have enough projects to do!

[mayres]

Just a thought.......
With very little effort and expense you could hang a fixture like I have noted above and also attach the shelf similarly with wall brackets. You could have this up and going in 15-30 minutes! When you get your house remodeled if you wanted something more sophisticated you could just take off the brackets and cover the holes over with joint compound, paint and voila! Back to the old way! A couple of additional options - you could use a couple vertical bracket mounts that have multiple adjustment slots to move the shelf and/or the light up and down. OR you could put them up without the vertical adjustment bar and just move the light up and down as you have noted with additional links of "S" hooks like I used or chain. You will probably find (as I have) that you will want particular plants lower or higher than others - and find that you are adjusting the plants up and down as well as the fixture - which can be done with small boxes, pots turned upside down, etc.