LED Lighting?

[randy98745]

Hello All: I recently picked up a LED light bar (LGM3.) Im really limited on space as I only have one window that gets good light for growing. Does anyone here have any experience with this type of setup? I was interested in it because it only uses 6 watts of power. Any advice/ideas are appreciated.

[Ross]

Have no experience with LED for this purpose, but LEDs generally send out false brightness in the sense, the foot candles are less than the apparent brightness. For the money and for the power consumed, you can't beat compact florescent lights such as http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com...ct_68_prd1.htm This is what I use for my window growing.

[Wendy]

I've never used LED either but have heard that they aren't all they're cracked up to be. (very bright but not much 'useable' light) Has anyone here used them who can share their experience with them?

[bodaciousbonsai]

I have a l.e.d. on my coral reef fish tank. It is only there to represent the moon and to activate spawing with the corals. As far as using them for orchid growing I would not use them because of the low end spectrum they put out...blues,maybe purple, and violets. but the foot candles have to be nill if any. You would be far better off using the power compact bulbs. I use the same kind of lights that I have on my reef aquarium. 10,000 k daylight and 420 460 nm antenic blues, these blue bulbs activiate chrolophyll A & C in a coral reef. well orchids share the same chrolophyll The orchids love it. vandas put out the nice reds too.
Clay