Lights...again. - Page 2 - Orchid Board

jmmehler · #1 10-08-2013, 03:39 PM

I started out with a 4' 4 lamp t8 (32 watt) fixture from Home Depot but found that while it would bloom phals, it just wasn't enough light. I have since purchased 4 High Output (54 watt) fixtures from 2 different vendors. These put out twice the lumens as the 32 watt fixture. Still not sure they will make my cattleyas bloom but time will tell. Also found a method of using one single, and one double 1" pulley (from Loews), and para-cord to create a method of hoisting the fixture up and down.

jeremyinsf · #2 10-08-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmmehler

I started out with a 4' 4 lamp t8 (32 watt) fixture from Home Depot but found that while it would bloom phals, it just wasn't enough light. I have since purchased 4 High Output (54 watt) fixtures from 2 different vendors. These put out twice the lumens as the 32 watt fixture. Still not sure they will make my cattleyas bloom but time will tell. Also found a method of using one single, and one double 1" pulley (from Loews), and para-cord to create a method of hoisting the fixture up and down.

Which fixtures did you get?

jmmehler · #3 10-08-2013, 07:49 PM

They are t5, and not t8. I bought 2 from htgsupply.com for about 149 each. I bought 2 from growershouse.com for about 110 each. htgsupply lets you choose 2 3500k and 2 5000k lamps with each fixture. At Growers House I bought both at the same time and chose one with 4 3500k and one with 4 5000k lamps then installed 2 of each lamp in each fixture.

Ross · #4 02-06-2007, 03:58 PM

I forgot to add - check the following threads where I show pics of my CF setups. My recommendation is to dump the mercury vapor fixture (which has a non-standard base) and go with CF if that's all the space you have. There are some pretty high output models. Also keep in mind the CF fixtures, for some reason, have about half the life of full length straight T5 bulbs of same wattage.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ied-these.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...solutions.html

This shows my upstairs grow area where I am supplementing natural light with CFs. I made a home-made light setup with an extension cord and two CF bulbs. I don't have the space here for anything more robust.

If you have space, then a dedicated T5 fixture with 4 or 6 or 8 tubes is worth the investment, over time.

20jlr · #5 02-06-2007, 06:30 PM

Do the compact bulbs in this picture work well for orchids? It would sure be an inexpensive way to add more light.

Ross · #6 02-06-2007, 08:14 PM

They work just fine, it's just that they are an expensive solution if you can do 24" or 48" banks. It's not terribly expensive (about $28 per bulb) It wasn't possible in my case so I opted for these. I realise I will have to pay for balasts when I redo the bulbs.

HDCochran · #7 02-08-2007, 01:26 PM

The upper lights are four 24" biax tubes; the lower ones are four newer 48" tubes in the fixture from ebay,

Ross · #8 02-08-2007, 08:35 PM

Looks similar to mine

Linnie · #9 02-12-2007, 02:44 PM

Ross and anyone else who grows under CF

Have you tried to measure the footcandles for your setup? If you have, what kind of light meter are you using?. I bought a cheap Hydrofarm Light meter that says it measures fluorescent and sun but I can't get a reading on my CF.

I have four Full Spectrum Spiralux Vita-Lite, 23 Watt, 5500K, and two 50 watt Sylvania Spot-Grow lights.
I just recently brought my plants inside while they are waiting for their new "orchid room" so I just bought these bulbs hoping I can keep my orchids alive for the next month. There are four windows facing every direction except South so they get some natural light too.

IT is so BRIGHT in there that you would think you are outside, but no reading on the light meter. Perhaps I just need more light??

Thanks I forgot to add each of the 23 Watt full spectrum put out 1380 Lumens .

Ross · #10 02-12-2007, 02:56 PM

Yes I have measured both my setups. As I showed above, I use 3 55watt full spectrum lamps to supplement full sunlight. I leave the screens in the windows to temper things a bit (many of the bright light orchids' leaves run a bit on the red side) And I get 2500-3500 foot-candles at the leaf surface. In my terrarium I measure approx 1000-1500 FC next to the three minis that need that much light (Dendro aberrans, which shows nice reddish leaf color and Maxillaria variabolis which is nice light-green color). Near the bottom of the terrarium, farthest from the lights I only measure about 400-500 FCs. Everybody in the terrarium is lovin it so far. There is a bank of 4 T5 tubes hung in contact with the top of terrarium. The bank of tubes puts out about 2000 FC. The meter I use is a dual scale Light Intensity Meter by Environmental Concepts. Hope this helps.