lighting help please

[brighteyez]

ok, so i have no east or west windows in my town home. i have one north and one south window, but i'm not sure that either get enough light to my chids. you see, there is a large overhang on both sides of the house, plus, at least recently, it's been constantly cloudy. i've been thinking about getting some lights for my plants so i know they are getting even and predictable light. i could really use some advice on how to go about this. i'm starting from scratch. what kind of lights work best? how do you go about setting them up? any advice or opinions would be really appreciated!!!

[justatypn]

It's pretty much a given that your an indoor grower like myself, condo living. I have a breakfast nook which gives me 3 sided lighting and still use indoor lighting. Nothing fancy on my end, a quick trip to the depot and bought "shop" lights with florescent 75 watt bulbs and clipped them to my metal shelving.

If you can give us an idea of your set-up I am sure others will chime in with their thoughts and ideas that might be workable for your type of set-up.

[Ray]

I'm no indoor lighting expert, having abandoned that for a GH long ago, but you should first start by evaluating the light need of your plants - you might need no suplemental lighting for phals, for example, while catts may.

Whaddaya got?

[brighteyez]

well, let's see. i have a miltassia, 2 phals, which are mature plants, and then i have 4 seedlings, dendrobium spectible, dendrobium macrophyllum, paphiopedilum barbilight, and a trichopilia tortilis.

as for my 'set up,' i don't have one. i just started growing a month ago or so, and i just moved into my house. i was thinking about getting shelves or some sort of plant stand but haven't gotten anything yet. right now the seedlings and the miltassia are in the windowsill, and the phals are on the kitchen counter, but will move around the house as well.

[Ross]

I use a south window, but with our climate and with the mix of plants I maintain I have to supplement with t5 florescent lighting. Here is my setup:



I just got some clamp on sockets and fixed them to extension cords.



They're on an appliance timer. With this style I can position them wherever they do the most good. Seems to work, as I bloom all the different kinds from Paphs and Phals to Cats, Brassia, Brassavola, Encyclia, Dendrobium, Beallara, etc.

[brighteyez]

wow, that set up looks rather elaborate and intimidating to a real newbie like me. lol. as for different orchids needing different lighting, do you just place them closer or farther away from the light? i have one, a paphiopedilum, that's supposed to be full shade, and some others that need med-high, and one that needs full light.

[Ross]

Yes, placement determines how much light. All my Paphs and Phals get dappled sun when the sun shines. I try for around 2000 foot-candles for low light species, but some end up with less. The highest light plants tend to be very close to the lights (like under 4".)

[mac]

Hello!
I am new to this forum, and posting for the first time. My name is Melissa. I have recently added orchids to my hobby list, and am enjoying it quite a bit. I'm excited to have a network of other orchid-enthusiasts to chat with!
I have a gathered a small collection of great plants, and have begun to think about lighting as well. I also am not sure where to really begin in this process. What options should I look into for some beginner stage intermediate lighting?