Lighting opinions needed!

[caseydoll]

I was hoping someone could help me out with my newly developed plan! Terri posted a link to this great stand she just purchased 5-Tier White Shelf. I was interested in getting one too and putting some lights on it. I was thinking of putting it in my spare room against a wall and not by a window. My question is, how many 4ft T-5's should I get for each shelf? I know I won't know for sure how bright it will be until I try it but was hoping for some general guideline. I was thinking 2 per shelf but really I am just guessing. I grow mostly phals but I also have some paphs, phrags, onc., and just a couple catts. Thanks in advance!

[caseydoll]

Sorry, the link to the 5 Tier shelf isn't working for me. Maybe this one will.

5-Shelf Black Steel Wire Unit

[quiltergal]

Sara, if it's not near a window I would think 2 per shelf would work for Paphs, Phrags, & Phals. I'm not sure if it would be enough for Catts and other high light lovers. Hang on and I'll go check the FC on my shelf with 2 lights. OK, right next to the lights it's about 2,000 fc, but drops off to around 1,000 as you move away from the light. If it were me I'd set up one shelf for Catts and other high light lovers and put at least 3 lights maybe 4 on that shelf.

[FinnBar]

i checked out the link you posted and if you plan to have the shelves at approx. similar intervals plants are quite close to the tubes.
two 4ft t5s put out more than 9000lumens which at that distance sounds like a lot for lower light orchids, maybe even too much. it will depend a little on the conditions they're used to but it's probably good to "break it to them gently"

Catts could probably use the 3rd tube, i don't know if 4 is necessary. some people say when growing under lights you don't need as many fc's as the light output is constant for the 12 or so hrs. it's on. do you have the chance to add one later if it seems necessary?

the light output is a lot bigger at the center of the tubes compared to the ends, might be useful when placing the plants. please keep us updated with your observations, this is a really interesting topic.
Antti

[John]

Hi Sarah...I have had Catts bloom under 4 T8 tubes, they are 32 watt vs 54 for the T5's. You may want to anticipate the height of your plants and spikes. I have trouble with things wanting to grow into the tubes and then they burn. On the Phals keep an eye out for the flower spikes. I have about 20" between most of my shelves. Looks like a great project. John

[caseydoll]

Thank you Terri for checking your light levels! That was really helpful! I think I may do it like you have yours with the 3rd shelf taken out. Hopefully you don't mind me stealing your ideas. One of my catts is a little tall so I will probably need the room.

Thanks to everyone for your helpful ideas. I think I may do 2 tubes per shelf and 3 for the bottom shelf for my catts. I will see how much light 3 puts out and maybe add a 4th if needed. I plan on getting the individual fixtures so it will be easy to add or subtract. And it's a lot cheaper that way! I'll be careful with my plants touching the bulbs. I was thinking that if one is in bloom I could move it back out to my window in the dining room so I can enjoy it more.

I will keep everyone updated on my project. I think I will probably get the stand in the next week or so. The lights may have to be a Christmas present because I don't want to spend too much on myself before the holidays. This will be the first time I'll be growing under lights so I'm a little nervous about it. But I'm hoping all my 'chids will thank me for it! I don't have a ton of orchids but I've spent a lot on them and figure I should invest in something to help them actually bloom. I forget what some of them even look like! Thanks again!

[quiltergal]

Gosh I don't mind at all Sarah! I'm so happy to be able to share an idea that worked for me.

It will probably take you awhile to figure out what plants to put where. I did some rearranging of plants and lowering of a couple of shelves after my initial set up. It takes a couple of weeks to determine if things are working for you. One thing I discovered is that with all my plants together on their humidity trays they create a little micro-climate and the humidity on the upper shelf topped out yesterday at 88%, low was 51%!! Unheard of in my area, and that's with the heat on!

[Ocelaris]

I would reccomend some T-8s if you are doing budget lighting, like you can pick up 2, 2 bulb setups i.e. 4 lights, 4 foot long for like 50$ ... I think you can find a 4 bulb fixture for what you would put in a kitched, although a bit large, for about that price.

For bulbs, I would reccomend 4000k color temp sometimes called "cool white" but definetly not "warm white" and if you can find bulbs in the 80 or greater CRI (Color Rendering Index) they do pretty well for plants. Often times called "840" for 80 CRI, 4000k... as opposed to "830" for 80 CRI, 3000k etc... I have had good success with these, and they're pretty cheap. I'm just saying that you can skip the "plant bulbs" as they IMO aren't much better than the standard bulbs... ok, standard decent bulbs, there are some "regular house lighting" bulbs that are atrocious, but you can find good ones too for cheap.

Or if you wanna go mega light, you can look at T-5s or Compact Flourescents, ahsupply.com is a good place, but they are going to be pretty $$

Personally, I would think 2, 4 foot bulbs would be the minumum, and I think 4 would be ideal, but I tend to over light my plants. You can always have a 2 light and 4 light setup and see which is better, and add more if you want later.

My sister had the same setup, 4 shelf unit, with 4 bulbs (4 foot T-12 florescents) and everything did well.

[Brooke]

Hi Casey - I had or used to use, the exact same unit you are considering. The shelves are adjustable and I never used the fifth shelf -you need the extra depth available for different plant heighths.

The shelves in the unit are deep enough to hold three regular flouro light fixtures but not four. Having one shelf set up with three lights is great for high light plants. Keeping some of the shelves with two lights, with a space between the two fixtures, is really good for plants that send up spikes. I used risers for individual plants to keep them close to the lights so I did not have to raise and lower my lights. I had areas where I did raise and lower lights but I got lazy and decided it was easier to move a pot up and down, rather than the long fixture.

My other suggestion would be along the same vein as Terri and creating micro climates for your light stand. If you put a covering on the three sides and top, humidity will increase in the area and not sucked out by a bigger, drier room. Wal-Mart has "emergency blankets" in the car department, dirt cheap, that will help trap heat and moisture. I've also put insulation foam board around some stands.

I hope this has given you more food for thought.

Brooke