Advice needed on a LED light for my Neos

[camille1585]

I’ve been looking into getting a led strip as supplemental lighting, as I can’t locate replacement bulbs for my old power compact CFLs ( I used in my previous apartment with not so good natural light) After following discussions here about Ikea’s Vaxer led bulbs, I was thinking about getting their Vaxer led strip. However, I have no idea how it compares to my old 55W cfl fixture (bulb was about 50cm long, covering the whole width of the shelf, and the Vaxer led is 47cm).

The led light is 16W, 4200K, 100 μmol/m²/s PPFD. Spectrum is 25% blue, 35% green, 40% red (link here, but in Dutch since Ikea USA doesn't sell this. VAXER Led-plantenverlichting - IKEA)

As a bit of background: my orchids all sit on a shelving unit in front of a south facing window, and the bright light during the growing season seems to compensate for short and dim winter days since they grow and bloom fine (Noting that my orchids are mostly Phals, Paphs and Oncs). Given how exceptionally dreary this winter is (on average 1 sunny day every 7-14 days), I’m concerned that my recently purchased Neofinetia aren’t getting enough light, especially since in the wild they get a lot of light in the winter. The supplemental light would be for them, and the bulbs would be between 10-12 and 30cm above them, depending on which shelf I put them on.

My question basically boils down to wondering if the Vaxer strip is suitable for my Neos, or if I need something different.

[Subrosa]

I'm not familiar with the Vaxxer, but if you were using a 55W compact fluorescent with the "U" shaped bulbs, it's going to produce A LOT less heat. In most situations that's nothing but a good thing, but from your description of your growing conditions it could be a consideration.

[jcec1]

I can't help with the led lighting question, but I have my vandas in a south facing window, and have had no issues about lack of light, mine all happily bloom - in fact I have two producing spikes and one blooming at the moment. I'm pretty sure that it's duller and greyer here in winter than in the Netherlands - so while I'm sure that supplemental light would be beneficial it may not be entirely necessary.

This is probably the same product in the UK for those of us who don't speak Dutch

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/i...-art-70333454/

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I'm not familiar with the Vaxxer, but if you were using a 55W compact fluorescent with the "U" shaped bulbs, it's going to produce A LOT less heat. In most situations that's nothing but a good thing, but from your description of your growing conditions it could be a consideration.

Yes, that's what it is. The heat isn't too bad with it (though still much more than a led) since I had reduced the heat output by replacing the standard ballast with an electronic one. The extra heat was welcome in the winter (when I use lights) especially for the Phals, but with the Neos I don't want them too warm during winter.

---------- Post added at 05:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:04 PM ----------

Originally Posted by jcec1

I can't help with the led lighting question, but I have my vandas in a south facing window, and have had no issues about lack of light, mine all happily bloom - in fact I have two producing spikes and one blooming at the moment. I'm pretty sure that it's duller and greyer here in winter than in the Netherlands - so while I'm sure that supplemental light would be beneficial it may not be entirely necessary.

This is probably the same product in the UK for those of us who don't speak Dutch

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/i...-art-70333454/

I didn't think to link to the UK site!
I don't grow Vanda myself, and do know people here that grow them without supplemental light in the winter. However Neofinetia are a bit different, in that the highest light they get is in the winter, since they grow on deciduous trees. In one of the Neofinetia Facebook groups I belong too I was advised to get lights (by UK grower), and most people in northern-ish Europe seem to supply extra light in the winter.

According to the weather statistics our area only got around 20 hours of sun in December, 60% less than usual (could be worse, the southeast of the country had such bad weather that their sunshine total was 13 hours). If the plants don't need the light, I sure do!

[jcec1]

That is not a lot of sunshine, just looked up the West of Scotland and we actually had a sunnier than normal December - 44.4 hrs, double what you got! I see why you want additional lighting.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by jcec1

That is not a lot of sunshine, just looked up the West of Scotland and we actually had a sunnier than normal December - 44.4 hrs, double what you got! I see why you want additional lighting.

More sun than here than in western Scotland?? But the weather there is horrendous! I regularly visit a friend in Edinburgh, and the east side of Scotland always gets more winter sun than here in the winter. We changed hiking plans many times due to bad weather in the west. When we went on Skye, locals told us it rains nearly daily from October to April...

[camille1585]

No one can advise?

Maybe I'll get it anyway, and use it to start my tomato seedlings if it's not sufficient for the Neos.

[Dollythehun]

Camille, I didn't answer because I have no Neos. I did get Sunblaster Strip LEDs and they are amazingly bright. They are compact, cool and easy to install. My Catts are blooming under them.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...4Myj7Z5Fe0bbHi

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Camille, I didn't answer because I have no Neos. I did get Sunblaster Strip LEDs and they are amazingly bright. They are compact, cool and easy to install. My Catts are blooming under them.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...4Myj7Z5Fe0bbHi

Thanks, I'll look at the link to see how the sunblaster compares to the ikea led.

[camille1585]

I had time to check the link this morning, and compared to the sunblaster led, the Ikea led puts out about half the lumens/watt. So I'm wondering if the Vaxer is bright enough... A shame I can't get a sunblaster here!