What Lighting for orchids?
Wonderlite, GroLux, Sodium bulbs, LED's, CFL's, HID's, Halide metal bulbs, High pressure sodium bulbs etc., etc., and the list seems to go on and on!!! What is the best lighting for orchids?
I went yesterday, excitedly to a hydroponics store with the intention of getting the lighting for my soon-to-be orchids (1.5 x 3 meter growing space), 1hr later I left confused, frustrated and empty handed.
After this lighting situation is set-up I'm hoping to get:
Angraecums
Ascocendas
Acinetas
Aerangis
colegynes
Cymbidiums (chinese species, said to be warm growing)
Lycastes
Idas
Notylias
...and a very big risky maybe---Masdevallias
I've been advised that I need to have both blue and red spectrum lighting for well maintaining, growing and blooming the orchids(?)--not sure.
So Which bulbs give a good combination?
Some of the orchids require high but 'indirect' light and others need low lighting. How to solve this dilemma?
Could someone kindly tell me once and for all, what lighting will allow me to achieve:
- Strong, but indirect lighting
- Lighting that I can affix to the ceiling (1.25Meters from plants)
- suitable temperatures, i.e. it wont generate too much heat and fry my plants
-high and low lighting differences for e.g. Vandas and Lycastes.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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