increasing light levels on grow stand - Orchid Board

ladyslipper · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi all, I can't find if this has been asked but if I wanted to increase my light levels for my phals, could I buy a higher wattage full spectrum tubes? Right now I have 2 40 watt bulbs that are 48 inches long & the stand is perpendicular to an east facing window.

Could I buy say, two 60 watt tubes or something like that?

thanks - mary

Ross · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyslipper

Hi all, I can't find if this has been asked but if I wanted to increase my light levels for my phals, could I buy a higher wattage full spectrum tubes? Right now I have 2 40 watt bulbs that are 48 inches long & the stand is perpendicular to an east facing window.

Could I buy say, two 60 watt tubes or something like that?

thanks - mary

Basically you have two options: either move the lights closer or increase the output. This could be with more lights or stronger lights. For Phals (you're lucky here

) you could replace the shop light fixture with one of the newer t8 "skinny light" fixtures (still 2 tube) in daylight or move way up to t5 high output fixtures. Personally I'd try the t8 before I sprung for the t5. I use t5 myself, but have tried the t8's and now moved them to other uses (like Kitchen lights). The t8's are significantly brighter. Hope this helps.

Oh, yeah, daylight bulbs will work just fine. Full spectrum aren't necessary.

ladyslipper · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2007, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsfrid

Basically you have two options: either move the lights closer or increase the output. This could be with more lights or stronger lights. For Phals (you're lucky here

) you could replace the shop light fixture with one of the newer t8 "skinny light" fixtures (still 2 tube) in daylight or move way up to t5 high output fixtures. Personally I'd try the t8 before I sprung for the t5. I use t5 myself, but have tried the t8's and now moved them to other uses (like Kitchen lights). The t8's are significantly brighter. Hope this helps.

Oh, yeah, daylight bulbs will work just fine. Full spectrum aren't necessary.

Thanks for the response really good info. One question though. how far from the light should a phal be for best results? I have got a few small phals on upended pots & coffee cups to get more height but they are still about a ft or more from the light itself. The larger phals are about 10 inches from the light source. I have 2 in bloom and the flowers are about 5 inches from the light.

I got the full spectrums from home depot or rona in Calgary and didn't think they were pricey (but they do throw heat though). regards Mary

Ross · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 09:54 AM

Mary, the only real solid way to determine distance from lights for ANY species of plant is to know how much light the plant depends on. For Phals it could be as low as 750 Foot-candles or so and as high as 2000 foot candles or so (not much higher than that). You'll need a light meter designed for indoor gardening which you might fine at a big box store, but I doubt it. You could get one at a hydroponics store if there's one near by or order from web sources.

Phallgirl · #5 (**permalink**) 07-28-2007, 09:25 PM

I just bought a little plant stand with 2-20w grow lights. I know that's not going to do it but I couldn't find any 40watt bulbs that are 24". Do the T5 bulbs you are talking about come in 24"? If I go to Home Depot are they going to know what I'm talking about when I ask for T5 bulbs? Any suggestions would help since I'm short on space.

ladyslipper · #6 (**permalink**) 07-28-2007, 09:59 PM

Hi Phallgirl, from "watt" I understand, the 24inch tubes really are not long enough to do much good. I don't know a lot about the T5, 8 or 12, and I don't know if I would trust homedepot enough to rely on them to know what the different Ts mean. (no offense to homedepot really). I know what you mean by being short of space though, do you grow near a window (hopefully a south facing0? You can also grow the lower light plants like the Phals. I am amazed at how much the information around the care of orchids has changed since I first became aware of orchids in the '80s.
mary

Phallgirl · #7 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 03:01 PM

Hi Ladyslipper, In the 80's orchids were way out of my league. Couldn't afford or take care of them at the time. I was in the Mini Rose garden then

. So currently I have a window for some of my resting orchids but I have my "pets" that I hover over under the lights. There is a perfect space between the kitchen and the dining room for a little light garden and thats where I have my stand. I'm gona go to HD and see what they have because I'm not sure there is enough light with the 2-20watts.
Has it been 20 years already? Now we get to surround ourselves with beautiful orchids. Much easier to find and purchase. Information and support are more available too, like this great Orchid board and members.

OrchidTess · #8 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 03:24 PM

I switched from regular fluorescents to T-5's and WOW the brightness difference is amazing I was growing Phals under 4 T-5's (leaves and roots were turning red or yellow leaves on the violacea types) but I made another plant/light stand using 2 T-5's seems much better.

ladyslipper · #9 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 04:08 PM

Hi guys, when I started growing 'chids phals were pretty mundane, pretty faces and well, pretty boring! Now, they are pretty amazing, pretty marvellous, and well pretty great! I don't ever remember hearing about novelty phals or fragrance phals. Tess, I would love to have your set up but at least right now I have a small stand from LeeValley tools that I am going to try to use for at least another yr. I want to use those T5s though, do you know if the tubes fit into a normal ballast? Did you have to buy a special ballast for the T5 tubes?
regards, mary

OrchidTess · #10 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 04:21 PM

In the 1985 I was fortunate enough to move close to a nursery who specialized in Violets and Orchids...That was the beginning of the "fever". I still buy orchids from that same place....The Little Greenhouse, who no longer grow violets (imagine that)
The stand itself is from Lowes and yes I had to get a special ballast. High Tech Garden Supply is where I get my lights from. I just started with the T-5's so I cannot tell you if blooms will improve, however I do have a light meter and went from 8 regular fluors at 600-800 foot candles to 4 T-5's for 6000 foot candles! A 2 bulb fixture is enough for Phals.