MORE buds!

[quiltergal]

Does your fixture have a reflector? Mine doesn't. I just bought the bare bones ballast and tubes, daisy chained them together and called it good. Could be the heat is building up inside the hood of the fixture and has no way to escape. Since my bulbs aren't enclosed any heat rises up and around them. Here's a pic of my set up. Taken last spring. The shelves are now packed! I'm also using the 6400K, 54W bulbs. I have burned a leaf or two, but only when they were actually touching a bulb.

[VickiC]

Hi again Terri,
What a great setup....what I would give for as much natural light as you have. Looks like your orchids are happy there.

Yes, my fixtures have reflectors built in. You have a good thought about heat building up, but if that is the problem, do you know of a solution?

Thanks! Let me know!
Vicki

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Does your fixture have a reflector? Mine doesn't. I just bought the bare bones ballast and tubes, daisy chained them together and called it good. Could be the heat is building up inside the hood of the fixture and has no way to escape. Since my bulbs aren't enclosed any heat rises up and around them. Here's a pic of my set up. Taken last spring. The shelves are now packed! I'm also using the 6400K, 54W bulbs. I have burned a leaf or two, but only when they were actually touching a bulb.

[quiltergal]

I'm not sure what the solution is Vicki. Seems like somewhat of a design flaw. I would have thought venting would have been built into the hood. Short of drilling holes in the top I'm not sure what to tell you. Wish Ross was around more, he's better at this stuff than me. I'm sure he'd have a better suggestion.