Lighting plant light

[digitalgate]

I have a few spectra of osram light tube. Can anyone give a comment?
After done some digging and using of T5 I still don't like the result. I read
somewhere that plant uses 400-500nm of blue light and 650nm of red light.
Osram have a series that built especially for plant. The spectra below
Man! i like the way it make just for plant. THis is L36-77 Flora
[IMG][/IMG]
However , locally this is not available.
I found a replacement. which is L36W 76

To me there is no much different between the two. What do you guys think?

To put things in prospective. I have here Metal halides OSram HQITS150WDL

and a HPS sodium vapour lamp.

which doesnt seem to fill the needs of plant! SO why pay $200 for something
don't work? Notice the blue spectra does not add up?

I have also thought of mixing a red light and blue light. Which also miss the
red wavelength by 50nm

However the blue seem to fill everything!

please comment

[pikevi]

I am not knowledgeable in the area of light spectrum (nor orchids).

According to the graphs L36-77 (or L58-77?) seems like the right spectrum for plants. Your choice of L36W 76 seems like the best of the rest since the 1st one is not available.

(N.B:I am not sure if the numbers correspond to the graphs and it is a bit confusing.)

I think optimum for photosynthesis is around or just below 400nm and other activities such as hormonal regulation takes place right across the spectrum but moreso in the 500nm or more, I believe. I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong.

The last one (L18-67) is interesting and coud be useful for growth. I have used that range for my aquarium plants as one of a pair of fluorescent lights.
They are quite expensive here.

I am sorry I can't be any more specific.

I hope someone will add more to help you out.

[digitalgate]

L18-67 is just blue tube . They are cheap about $8 per tube. My T5 cost the
same thing.
L18-60 is red tube.

L36W / 76 cost me $6.
However , In term of brightness (LUX) I will need 10 tube of L36W/76
versus 4 tube of FQ54W/830 or 860.
Does brightness = better?
1 tube of L36W/76 is 1800lux to achieve 18000lux I will need 10 tube!

[digitalgate]

L36 and L58 is the same thing L36 is 36Watt L58 is 58Watt

[kmarch]

Flouresceent lights made simple: In a 2-bulb/tube fixture, use one "warm" and one "cool" tube. This gives the broadest possible spectrum of light possible for flourescents and the most like natural sunlight. It also happens to be the cheapest option.

[PhalPal]

Kevin is that the type of lighting you are using?? Have you ever used something more sophisticated and didn't see enough difference that justified the extra expense, or are flourescents your only experience?

I am setting up an orchid room with my first artificial lighting and get so many different opinions. Digitalgate doesn't see a difference using T-5's, yet others rave about them.

Digitalgate - have you used the T-5's for at least a full year???

[pikevi]

I have been using twin fluorescent light fixtures ( 7 of them now) ever since I started . Each one has a cool white and a broad-spectrum bulb (40W each). Cool white is about $2 each and the wide spectrum is about $8 each. I believe it is suggested that we change the wide spectrum bulbs every year.

The plants are doing OK but then I have no other setup to compare it with.

I think the high end ones generate too much heat. If I am not mistaken almost 85% of the energy is dissipated in the form of heat rather than the light. Some may consider it to be wasteful and not too environmentally friendly.

I think there is a member here who has had success with T5s. I am sorry I can't recall the nick.

[Fabolusus]

When looking at light spectrum charts, it helps to have a photosynthetic response chart for comparison:

http://www.sunmastergrowlamps.com/Im...esponse_01.jpg

Here's the graph for the light I use, EYE Hortilux BLUE:

http://www.eyehortilux.com/images/mt...ORhtl-sd-r.gif

btw HIDs don't put out THAT much heat. My 400 watt barely raises the ambient temperature in an 800 square foot room 2 degrees Fahrenheit.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

Kevin is that the type of lighting you are using?? Have you ever used something more sophisticated and didn't see enough difference that justified the extra expense, or are flourescents your only experience?

I am setting up an orchid room with my first artificial lighting and get so many different opinions. Digitalgate doesn't see a difference using T-5's, yet others rave about them.

Digitalgate - have you used the T-5's for at least a full year???

No not that long , only a month. I know you are telling me . Be patience...
But the growth of my friends orchids drive me nuts.
Beside T5 gave me heat problem and I can't see much improvement in the
plant. I tried for a month and I dont like it. Well may be the article about
colour of light affect me.
I end up putting the plants outside in the sun where i see New roots, New shoot

However, I had use Dennerle Light tube($45) a piece which gave
me good result. But that will cost me $180 just the four tube. I am trying
not pay that much now.
I was thinking may be it is the colour that made the difference.

[PhalPal]

digital what type of lighting does your friend use??
Are you using your T5's in a really small room??

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

digital what type of lighting does your friend use??
Are you using your T5's in a really small room??

natural sunlight. His harden Phalaenopsis bloom twice faster than mine. Mine just
spike.[IMG][/IMG]
Urghhh....
It may be a good thing as i want to delay it to bloom on mid January where
chinese new year is round the corner. (which mean it blooms once a year!)

My T5 is in my living room with open windows and wind blow all the time. I guess
my problem is because I am using T5 HO (hotter). Mayres- I think is using the
normally T5. T5s will heat up a small room even faster.