LIGHTING: Clamp-on CFL Grow Lights . . .

[NeoNJ]

I just ordered a Clamp-on CFL Grow Light - 2700k/40W CFL bulb and fixture.

Does anyone have experience in using this type of supplemental lighting?

[jrodpad]

I have one with a 150w CFL that I use to supplement the light that my orchids get from an East facing window. It works great and doesn't get hot so you can get it nice and close to the higher light orchids. Enjoy!

-J

[camille1585]

CFLs are a good source of supplemental light, but 40W is really not much so you'd have to place it quite close to the plants. What kind of light are your plants getting already and what orchids would you use it for? With a reflector the lit surface area would be quite small, unlike standard neon tubes.

2700K would not be considered a growlight, it's more suited for blooming rather than growth. Your plants are missing out on the blue end of the spectrum, so if your aim is growth, this is probably not what you should be using.

Most people use either 5000K, a mix of 2700 and 6500K, or only 6500K. 5000K also is what gives the plants the most natural colors, so it's more pleasing to the eye.

[NeoNJ]

Thanks, Camille --- big help. I appreciate it.....now than,
I have all of my orchids - Mostly potted Neofinetia, and mounted Aerangis/Angraecum in a large windowsill with SOUTHEAST exposure - so they get Bright Sun in the early AM - say, like 8AM to 11AM......I'm using the Clamp-on for supplementing the light.

I could have ordered a 5000K 40W bulb, or upgraded to a 5000K 200W bulb .....

Which do you recommend for me.....?

Any help is appreciated.

[johnblagg]

I buy 68 watt 2700k phillips cfl lights at Home depo for $13 each and have 4 over two tables of orchids ....I also have a 100 watt metal halide over one end of one of the tables for extremly high light needs ....LOl den aggeratum and catts I think need a little more to make blooms.

They work very well for me and I get lots of new leads and have one catt almost ready to open its first bloom...and a couple of minature roses on that end in the corner blooming as well.

actually the color spectrum being in the red end of the range will make most plants grow longer internodes and get a bit taller ...blue end helps get more compact plants....

And I do have a couple of lights in the blue end of the spectrum so they balance out

[camille1585]

I don't really know. Personally I think a 5000K is better, since it covers most of the spectrum useful to plants.
Depending on the area you need to cover, it may actually be better to get 2 bulbs (although more expensive then). As for the wattage, I don't really know, I only supplement my orchids with PL lights so it might be hard to compare. 200W might be a bit much though.

Neos like a lot of light especially in the winter (which is when they get the most light in their natural habitat)

Have you tried searching in the 'growing under lights' forum? Lots of people use cfls, so you could get an idea of what's being used. I think Ross (doesn't post much anymore) supplements his windowsill with 2 x 100W CFL. I'll try to look some stuff up too.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by johnblagg

I buy 68 watt 2700k phillips cfl lights at Home depo for $13 each and have 4 over two tables of orchids ....I also have a 100 watt metal halide over one end of one of the tables for extremly high light needs ....LOl den aggeratum and catts I think need a little more to make blooms.

You actually find higher wattage CFLs at Home Depot? I'm looking to set up a small budget terrarium for my mounts, and the highest I can find in either france or netherlands is only 20W. Any higher than that you have to go shop online.

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by camille1585

You actually find higher wattage CFLs at Home Depot? I'm looking to set up a small budget terrarium for my mounts, and the highest I can find in either france or netherlands is only 20W. Any higher than that you have to go shop online.

I do, but you have to realy look to find them ...they are usually in the section with the light bulbs beside the hps and mh bulbs they are self ballasted cfl types so they fit a regular light socket...

I went Saturday and bought another in fact and they had moved them to the section with nothing but cfls and down on the very lowest shelf ...the brand name on this one is TCP and 68 actual watts and equivalent to a 300 watt incadesent ...and 2700k.

I also often go to electrical supply stores and find them also.

[camille1585]

I have seen some at hydroponics stores and growshops, but only the 200W kind. Way more than I need, I just want to get 2x 45W for the terrarium.

Sorry for the thread hijack.....