Are CFL bulbs good?

[kwarren]

I have recently strung six 100 watt equivalent CFL bulbs 18" apart and 18" above a 9' bench to augment the natural low light in an area in my solarium above my phalaenopsis collection. The bulbs are the daylight spectrum at 6500 K. and I leave them on for 12 hours a day. I spoke with a more experienced hobbyist today and he said they are absolutely worthless. I wish to hear from others with their opinion about this. Thank you.

[Subrosa]

They work. So do black and white tvs.

[Leafmite]

I wish I could give you advice on what you bought but I have no idea whether it would work or not. I still do not know much about lighting. Two years ago, I did quite a bit of research and went with T5HO fluorescent lamps. They work quite well. I even grow citrus and fig trees under them. Here are the links of what I have just in case you want to have a look:

https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Blaze-960...un+Blaze+T5-24

https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Flu...+t5+grow+light

The two foot sun blaze I bought from a friend who got out of orchids and I bought the three four foot, four bulb lamps from Amazon.

[kwarren]

Thank you both for your responses. And I will certainly look at the links you offered to educate myself further.

[Leafmite]

I just posted the links so you could see what I ended up buying for my set up. I no longer have the links bookmarked of all the sites where I read up on different lighting while I was trying to decide what would work. I do not grow many Phals (just bellina) and it will be going under the Sun Blaze this fall as it won't need as much light as the Cattleyas.
Good luck!

[estación seca]

They will probably work quite well, and won't heat up as much as will T5s. Many people have left CFLs behind because newer technology has some advantages, but strong 6500K CFLs can work fine for many plants.

Cannabis growers used 6500K CFLs for years. They are moving on to LEDs. I don't grow it, but I frequent hydroponics shops. I buy LECA and rooting hormone gel. I often ask the shopkeepers about current lighting technology.

[katrina]

I've used 100 & 150 watt equivalent for a few years and they are fine for some orchids. What are you growing? I have found them to be efficient for low to medium light plants..as well as some of the lower end of high light catts. Not enough for any of the higher end of high light catts.

Also, it sounds like you have them set a bit too far from the plants. Where I have used them...I have/had them rigged at no more than 12" above the plants...and some as close at 6-8" above. And I have to/ had to switch them out every year.

For those areas I've used cfls in years past...I'm trying LEDs this year. I even found what looks like it could be a decent one for higher light plants- it's a 300 watt equivalent -using 36 watts-4000 lumens w/5000k spectrum. It wasn't cheap, as bulbs go, but not super expensive but def more than cfls. I only bought one...testing it out. Won't know how it works out until I've used it for awhile though...the orchids come back inside this weekend.

---------- Post added at 07:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:54 AM ----------

Also...at 18" apart...you might not have enough. Again, it depends on what you're growing.

[PaphMadMan]

For any source of light, especially as a supplement for natural light, all that really matters is the spectrum and the intensity of useful wavelengths. The bulbs you describe will have useful wavelengths in the spectrum, and will increase intensity. Mission accomplished.

Will it be enough to give your Phals all the light they need? That is hard to say, but it is a cheap easy fix and presumably is aesthetically acceptable to you for the space. The best way to find out is give it a try for a few months. It can't do any harm.

[kwarren]

Thank you so much Katrina and PaphMadMan! As I stated the CFL bulbs are to augment low natural sunlight above my phalaenopsis. I've heard as you stated, Katrina, that it is advisable to replace with new bulbs once a year because I've been told they loose their "ump" as far as plants are concerned. I'll stay with CFLs because I could not afford to trade out LEDs once a year. And I will lower them to 9-12" above the leaves. Thanks for that advise! And I agree, Mr. PaphMadMan, that a T5 setup would create more heat which I do not want. Thanks again to both of you. Orchid people are so helpful!

[estación seca]

You need to trade out fluorescent lamps yearly, but LEDs last very much longer. They are not so expensive over time when considering lamp life and electricity savings.