Grow lights and sun exposure

[Rhonda Svoboda]

I have actual grow lights that I got off amazon. They are free standing LED grow lights that cost about $60.00. I noticed last year that the light intensity wasn't as strong as the previous years so I consider them 'disposable.'
I am getting a high quality T5 or equivalent this fall but I get confused when shopping around for them. There are so many models and systems to choose from. I am just a hobbiest- not a commercial grower so finding a system that meets my needs, is aesthetically appealing, and affordable is tough- any suggestions?
BTW- am I suppossed to put my Catt.'s in full sun 8 hours a day? Some say yes and others no. One of my Catt.'s can't get enough sun and a couple others burn- does it just depend on the individual orchid?

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by Rhonda Svoboda

I am getting a high quality T5 or equivalent this fall but I get confused when shopping around for them. There are so many models and systems to choose from. I am just a hobbiest- not a commercial grower so finding a system that meets my needs, is aesthetically appealing, and affordable is tough- any suggestions?

Just a few questions. What is the size of your growing area (are you using racks, etc)? When you say high quality T5 or equivalent: do you mean T5 (and/or T5HO) fluorescent, or T5 LEDs? What type of budget will you be working with? Are you planning to use this as a supplemental source of lighting, or as your sole source of lighting?

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Ok. Lots of good questions. I am talking LED lights. My budget is between $250-$350. I have about 30 orchids. The grow light will be in my formal living room- which is not often used but still very visable. The plants are in front of a southern exposure window bank- see picture. I use 3 large plant stands. In the dark months here in MI, October-March the grow light is the primary source of light as we don't get a lot of sunshine.
I am not sure of SQ FT but here are the measurements of the area. 10.6 length x 5.4 width.
I put them outside late May through early October.

[wisdomseeker]

A very nice area, indeed!

How did your original Amazon LEDs work out for your plants ~ outside of loosing intensity and being disposable?

You still have a few months to plan & figure out your options (hopefully overcoming the challenges of staying within budget, keeping it aesthetically appealing, along with finding a light source that will supply your orchids with what they need). I understand the need for something that's cosmetically pleasing, especially in a formal room that is very visible.

Do you intend on continuing to use a "free-standing" type light, or can you hang your lights (e.g., off the ceiling, off a light stand)? If you go the "hanging route" you might have better control with light spread and intensity by adjusting the fixture up and down, unless you opt for a dimmable fixture.

There are other options besides T5 LEDs... pendants, panels, etc. If you decide to go with T5 LEDs, a 4ft. (4-6 tube) hanging fixture, or a couple 2ft. (4-6 tube) hanging fixtures might just fit the bill. With the T5 tubes, you can always configure the bulbs to your liking (Kelvin temperature & spectrum). Hoping others here on OB will chime in with some suggestions and opinions for you.

[Shadeflower]

I will recommend my favourite led for you https://www.amazon.com/UEETEK-Energy...3&sr=8-11&th=1

They can be screwed into your current free standing unit so nothing additional needs to be bought,

3 of those (because I know your unit takes 3 bulbs) and you'll have a spectrum your plants will respond to really well.

[Ray]

Rhonda.

Check out the lights sold by theorchidhobbyist.com. They were designed specifically for orchids and are the best “bang for the buck” around. Email Jeff and he’ll help with getting the right ones.

No, your cattleyas cannot tolerate full sun for 8 hours. They prefer bright, diffused light.

[SADE2020]

Ohhh what a view

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Wow!! Tons of great ideas and advice!!! Thank you all.
The lights from Amazon were awesome for the price!!! They really worked out well. I chose a model that had a built in timer.
About 2 1/2 years are their 'lifespan'. The timers stopped working accurately and I couldn't use another one because of the built in unit.
The light intensity also slowly dimmed. The major drawback was I ended up with free-standing lights everywhere- 5 in all. All the cords and lights looked terrable.
So I am looking for a hanging light. I think it will allow for more light and it will be easier to place plants according to their light needs.

[estación seca]

I would suggest getting a stand-alone appliance timer or heavy-duty outdoor timer from a hardware store. These are heavy duty and last a very long time. Plug a power strip into the timer, and plug your fixtures into the power strip. Do not get a digital timer. They don't last very long. Mechanical timers will last for many years.

Outdoor timer:
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...timers/3461977

Indoor timer:
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...timers/3395332

LEDs should last for many years without dimming. Get a high quality unit like the one Ray recommends. They are more expensive up front but last much longer.

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by estación seca

LEDs should last for many years without dimming.

I'm glad es hit on this point.

LEDs are a good choice because of their reliability, efficiency, and long operating life. People unfamiliar with LEDs often hear (read) that LEDs don't produce heat, which is untrue.

Heat kills! Thermal management plays a major role in the above. Prolonged heat can shorten the useful life of LEDs, causing light output to decrease at a faster rate than at lower temperatures.

Don't really want to go down the long-winded technical jargon hole, so I'll keep this simple. Most LED manufactures publish graphs that show light output as a function of junction temperature (junction temperature function is like a relationship of the thermal path, ambient temperature, and current driven through the LEDs).

Bottom line ~ controlling the temperature of LEDs is important for a LED system to perform optimally. This is usually done with heat sinking (passive or forced > forced usually means the addition of a fan). Heat can also be the enemy of color shifting in LEDs.

And for what its worth... I have a couple 12-year old mechanical timers that are still going strong (used for turning on/off light fixtures).