How long do you leave your lights on?

[katrina]

Ok...so I added lights this fall and my original plan was to use the sun as my gauge for how long to leave my lights on. Meaning turn them on when the sun comes up and shut them off when the sun goes down. Being in Columbus, Oh this means that the days will get dramatically shorter as we head into December. I've scoured the posts and haven't been able to find anything stating time limit.

I'm now thinking my high light plants (catts/vandas) will require more 'sun time' than what would normally happen during an OH winter.

The plants w/supplemental lighting are hugely mixed but spaced differently for varying degrees of light...Phals - Vandas.

What is recommended? Those of you using lights...what do you do?

Thanks!!

[butt0n]

This is my first year with lights too and I've been mainly guessing. I had them on from 7am to 8pm during the summer months; so about 13 hrs. then just had the natural sunlight that came in past that. Now, they're on at 9am to 7pm and I'll probably lessen it more from there according to how it is naturally outside. I do have black curtains to keep them mostly covered at night so my house lights don't interfere with their resting and what not.

[Brooke]

When I grew under lights I kept them on 16, off 8. Since the intensity of the lights is lower than actual sun light, they need the added hours to thrive and bloom.

Brooke

[patticake]

I have mine on 16 hrs. in the summer- gradually taper down to 13 in the winter, then gradually back up to 16 in the summer. Mine are in my basement, so they don't get any supplemental lighting from windows.

[ALJ]

According to Ortho:

November to January: 16 hrs/day
February to June: 18 hrs/day
July to August: 16 hrs/day
September to October: 12 hrs/day

I just got Ortho's guide and I can't believe I didn't get it sooner!

[kmarch]

When I used lights I had them on 16 hrs/day in summer; 14 hrs/day in winter. I have the Ortho book and even after 10 years it's still one of my all time favorites, but I was a bit lazier than what they suggested whit my light timing.

[katrina]

Thanks guys! Your replies are much appreciated.