Well i read 5 pages worth of threads about T5, HID, blue, red, cool, warm lights with their pros and cons. I currently have a monoculture of phals growing under modified HPS 440W (added blue light) system with light intensity ranging from 1300 to 500 foot-candles depending on plant position under the system. Everything is spiking constantly without any timing modification (12hrs year round).
I have no other system to compare of course but I feel vegetative growth is somewhat slower but my main complaint is that flower size is about 10 to 20% smaller than first blooming when bought (grown under natural light by producer). I fertilize with MSU for demineralized water (wich i use) at 1/8 teaspoon per gallon twice a week with monthly flushing to avoid salt buildup. Have great root systems.
So my question is: is there an absolute best artificial light system that can reproduce natural daylight and really give the same results flower size-wise?
I don't know if it is the best solution but i have seen a grow room with two 600watt Metal Halide lights and one 400watt sodium. They had many different types of plants and when I saw it there were catt., phal., vanda, and onc. all in spike and they all looked great.
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Orchids: The more you acquire the more you desire