LED Light UMOL and PPFD

[Pieceittogether]

Hi Experts,

After spending two days figure out what light i need to get in the basement for a 4x2 space with different type of orchids..i am officially can say..more confused than when i started. I read so many thread in here, but still didn't find a recommendation on LED's light and height.

I found the below article on UMOL, and i simple want my cattleya and some dendrobium in my table. I am not sure what LED light to get at what hight. Most "Grow light" on amazon are for cannibis, and Umol in the center is about 1000-1500 at 12-18 inch from the plant. According to the article below i don't need that much at all. The only way to get that accurate reading is with a $500 umol meter.

My question: What is working for you. What LED light you purchased (if you know the LED count that will be great so i will have a reference point), and how far do you have them away from the orchid. My setup is 4X2 table, with mix of orchid ranges from cattleya, dendrobium, Oncidium.

i was looking at this Amazon.com

but that seems to be too much light and i have no idea what is the UMOL if raise it up to let say 24 inches.

An Introduction into PAR, PPFD and Why You Should Forget Lumens
– High Desert Orchids

Low light plants (Phalaenopsis, Begonia, Ferns, Jewel orchids, some Paphs, African violets) ​40-60 umol/m2/s​

Medium light plants (Oncidium, Phrags, some Dendrobium, Pothos, foliage plants) ​100-150 umol/m2/s​

High Light Plants (Cattleya, Brassavola, Rupiculous Laelia, Some brighter-growing Aroids) ​200-250 umol/m2/s

[Shadeflower]

I can't answer your question as I have no idea about those values. Even with a light meter I'm not sure those valuse mean that much.

To answer your question in terms I do understand, for your space your need a full spectrum led like the viparspectra between 20 and 40 watts.

Whether it should be 20 or 40 depends but I wouldn't go much higher than 40 watts for your space.

The smallest viparspectra uses 100 watts and can be adjusted down to 40 watts if you wanted but that's quite an expensive light to use at half power.

If I was you I'd get this one Orchid Hobbyist

It would have to be hung about 2 feet above the orchids. So that would be 2 feet above your tallest orchids. Light then diminishes fast the further you go so you can actually grow Cattleya's and phalaenopsis together.
The phals will be much further than the Cattleya leaves and you can use the Cattleya's to shade the phals.

[Pieceittogether]

Thanks for answering shadeflower. so as kept looking i found an alternative setup, which i can start with few barrina grow light (your typical LED light) might be enough to reach ranges i want as far what they list for umol. am i over thinking this. they are around what you said, each light is 24W LED, two get get me to 48W. However 2 feet above the tallest orchid that probably will work for phals but not cattelya's


Best Grow Light For Orchids: Buying Tips & Setting Up
How Much Light Do Orchids Need? (with Light Chart)

[SADE2020]

I use this if could give you a reference.
SANlight Q1W - sanlight.at

[My Green Pets]

I use two Spider Farmer SF 1000's in my grow tent, and my collection is mostly Cattleyas. They have thrived and bloomed well with the lights from 50 to 60 cm above them. You can see them in action in any of my YouTube videos from the past year.

[thefish1337]

Most of the chinese LED panels you can buy have a somewhat accurate chart based on the area that they cover and a PPFD value. I grow most of my Cattleya with a PPFD of 300-400 for 12 hours. They grow and bloom well under this light recipe. total wattage of my lights are 200 ish watts.

[estación seca]

4 x 2 - keep it simple; just go to Home Depot and buy two 4' long double-tube LED shop lights.

[Shadeflower]

my recommendation was for grow lights.

If one goes for garage lighting like the barrina, you better use twice the power.

If you look at Missorchidgirld's video on lighitng her orchid shelf with Barrina lights you will notice she used 4 per level.

So like you say 4 = 24 watts = 100 watts

She has 3 levels on her shelf (that's one of her several shelves - in Cyprus, sunny Cyprus that is)

So so 3 x 100 watts for her one shelf on for 12 hours per day will use roughly $300 per year (I think prices have gone up so probably slightly over $300 per year running cost by now)

With a grow light the running cost will be $150 dollars per year.

So another way to look at it is that the grow light will be free compared to the barrina light after 1 years use.

And the barrina light will continue to use more year after year after that.

No brainer really but Missorchidgirl has a lot of followers and nobody is interested in saving the planet so barrina lights it is for all.

[Ray]

You definitely ought to check out the lamps offered by theorchidhobbyist.com. They are designed specifically with orchids in mind, and are the best “bang for the buck” out there.

Jeff Young, who designed them using a spectrophotometer and PAR meter, is very helpful.

[Pieceittogether]

Thanks for answering. just to make sure, 2 double that is 4 *4ft led light, at what height do you recommend?

---------- Post added at 09:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 AM ----------

Thank you again. Now I see what you mean.

---------- Post added at 09:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 AM ----------

Very helpful channel you got there. Thank you.