Dragon's Year (LED Bloom)

[littlefrog]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

very nice! What brand and model LED? I'm looking at installing some new lighting in my basement and I'm torn between LED's and HO T5's.

Cheers.
Jim

That particular one was bloomed under a model I don't necessarily recommend. Sunshine Systems GlowPanel Pro (300W). It is a great system, and I can even get you a great deal on one, but I think it is too much for most people. I can't really afford them, and I get them wholesale... There is a 600W version too, I have no idea how much they cost, it isn't on my sheet.

I use mostly Glowpanel 45's (28W square units) and 'GlowUFO', 90W round units. For my money, they fit my needs the best. You might need something else.

I also use T5s. Both T5 and LED have their advantages. For looking at plants, T5s. For growing them, LEDs, I think. I do have white LED spotlights with a hit of blue and red in them, they are nice.

---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

Nice, Rob!

Don't see the LEDs in my near future. Besides the expense, I couldn't deal with the purple lighting (as I recall from your pics).

I've been looking into lighting for a while, and I think the expense is not really an issue anymore. A 'big' fixture of any type is expensive. A good HID bulb, digital ballast, and reflector is very expensive... Maybe a bit less than the equivalent LED, but one or two bulb changes and the price is through the roof. A nice T5 fixture isn't cheap either, and the tubes can get pretty expensive to replace. I think we are going to spend a lot on any lighting system that works. And we should, light is important.

The major downside to LEDs, which will keep most people from using them, is the color. For efficiency, you are stuck with alien purple. You can get white LEDs (I have some great ones), but not with the power of the purple ones. I sell them, and even I don't think they are really worth the money except in special circumstances. They are great when you need to use less power, and when you need less heat (for example cool growing terrarium, or some amphibians). When the price on white LEDs comes down by half or so (which it will, soon), then we might be able to talk about replacing CFLs with LEDs.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Paul

Nice, Rob!

Don't see the LEDs in my near future. Besides the expense, I couldn't deal with the purple lighting (as I recall from your pics).

That's just what I've been hearing about them. They make your plants look weird. I'll stick to my Sunblaster.

Gorgeous bloom though! I agree, the arrangement is fantastic!

[showme]

Where's a show when you need one? Great growing.
I grow under T5s and lots of natural ligght from southern exposure but it is not enough for a lot of my Catts. - it takes an outdoor summering to initate blooms on some of them.

[Vanda lover]

I always put my catts out for the summer and give them as much light as they can take. My book said that ctna would need more light that catts. It was wrong, the poor little guy got singed. It will be fine but it has no sheaths like the other catts do.

[littlefrog]

Down to three flowers now. It did stay with four for three days, that is pretty good. Never did find my good camera...