How many foot candles are they rated for? You are correct in that you will want 1000-1500 footcandles for your orchids at the surface of the leaf. This may mean you will want higher at the output level. That is usually rated at the bulb surface. You will want at least double the needed light level of the plant if the plant will be at 1 foot from the bulb. So if your target for Phals is 1000 Foot-candles at the leaf surface, then you need 2000 foot candles output from the bulb. I recommend t5 lights as the best light source. I use a 4 tube light bank and it is rated at 1500 foot candles, 1 foot from the light bank.
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Ross
http://orchids-ross.blogspot.com/
I don't do most Dendros or large, "floofy orchids". For me it's minis (like Angraecoides), Masdies, Paphs, and others that crept in somewhere along the line. See my orchid list for complete collection (usually not current.)
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