t5Ho Nova extreme, 10,000k + 460 NM Actinic

[adelong5]

Hi my name is arille and i started growing orchids when a patinet at the hospital left one that was a gift and i took it home and fell in love with orchids. My house however, has very poor lighting, so in an effort to get them to thrive i am trying to purchase lighting to suite my orchids needs. I just purchaesed a t5Ho 10,000k + 460 Actinic used for coral growth. Can these high output lights used for coral growth, be use to grow orchids, such as phalaenopisis and oncidium? I once used a small 50/50 coral life 10w screw in bulb with close proximity to my phalaenopsis with great results. I was able to get it to bud and respike, but the bulb was accidently broken. This light is a larger version of the small 10w bulb, but it's 10,000k insted of 6000k. If this can be used, how close to the plants does it need to be? I didn't want to open the light untill i found out if it would work because i paid 100.00 for it at jacks aquarium and pets and will return it if it will not work. Any help would be great thanks for your help< Arielle

[Tindomul]

Hi,

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Yes those lights are good for Phals, and might be on the high end. Which is good. I would keep them no closer than 6 inches from the highest leaf.
Their are others out there that will tell you the best temperature bulbs to buy and use, but I think you got the right start.

I will move this thread to the beginners section so others can see and chime in.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Hi,

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Yes those lights are good for Phals, and might be on the high end. Which is good. I would keep them no closer than 6 inches from the highest leaf.
Their are others out there that will tell you the best temperature bulbs to buy and use, but I think you got the right start.

I will move this thread to the beginners section so others can see and chime in.

Tin, I think this should be in the Growing Under Lights forum

[Tindomul]

You are right, totally forgot that place existed. Hehe. Thanks.

[adelong5]

Thanks for the input, im not quite sure how to use the site yet so thanks for moving the post arielle

[s1214215]

Originally Posted by adelong5

Thanks for the input, im not quite sure how to use the site yet so thanks for moving the post arielle

Hi Adelong5

I think you might gradually want to change your bulbs to 6500K or a half/half mix of that kelvin tube and 4500K tubes. I understand if you want to use the 10,000K tubes, but I worry the spectrum may not give you the best results. As Tindomul said, it may be ok for low end light need orchids - I am not sure.
So I think it safer to swap them for the right kelvin tubes, even if gradually.

Sylvania make 6500K Grow-Lux tubes for example , that are made to have higher red spectrum light needed by plants for good growth. The higher the kelvin, say like 10,000Ks the less red out put. Thats why coral growers have to carefully decide what kelvin tubes to buy. 10,000K gives great growth to coral, not so great colour, but 20,000 may look nice, but growth will be slow as the spectrum suits mostly water species. So they often chose a mix or add actinics which are useless for growth, but give better colour balance.

By the way, actinic wont be any use to you for plants either. maybe swap those out for the 6500K?

I hope this is of some help

Brett