Shop lights for growing orchids?

[Cymbaline]

Hey so long story short I had a friend who needed a place due to stay so I lost my orchid room to her daughter so the kid can have her own room for once.

Now instead I have an indoor green house for my plants but I don't have a convenient window which my orchids were getting sun from. The grow lights I have were to help supplement the times when the sun moved from the window and range from 40 watts to 75 watts but I don't think they are enough now.

I measured the output using a light meter and I was getting something like 38Klux ( with the sun ) and now it ranges from under a KLux to 11 Klux.

I want to keep my orchids indoors. It's nicer for me and my backyard just sucks to grow any plant that doesn't want to be beaten down by the sun.

I want to get some stronger lights than what I have now and I have a few choice but a carnivore plant grower here in Texas told me he just uses Harbor Freight shop lights.

I'm thinking about getting one or two of these guys from Harbor Freight.


But I can't find any reliable info as to whether your normal shop lights is as good as grow lights. I get mixed info that Yes they work fine and No , grow lights have a proper spectrum.

I'm aware that plants can probably get burned by LEDs too so I'm also going to try and be careful about that.

This forum has a lot of people who's opinions I trust. I noticed you guys are smart and experienced about these things so please wise ones .. can you help a newbie out ?

[Roberta]

This is the grow area that I set up when I first got started in orchids. http://orchidcentral.org/GrowingAreas/indoor.jpg

I found that generic full-spectrum fluorescent tubes worked as well as grow lights... but I did have some natural light from a window. This was a lot of years ago... LEDs didn't exist yet. But I did find that the very cheap (Home Depot $9.99) shop lights worked quite well. I got excellent reblooming on Phals.(lights on for 12 hours a day) It probably would not have been enough light for Catts and Vandas to grow well, those I was growing outside except in winter when I set up "Vanda City" in the spare bathroom with a big HID light. http://orchidcentral.org/GrowingAreas/Vandacity.jpg

[estación seca]

It's wonderful you helped your friend and daughter.

There are a lot of threads here in the Growing under Lights forum. For something quick and functional. the 4 foot long LED shop lights from Home Depot or Lowes have worked for people.

[Ray]

Take a look at the LEDs sold by theorchidhobbyist.com

[Cymbaline]

Thank you!
I completely missed that there was a growing under lights forum. Didn't scroll down far enough ...