Artificial Light - Orchid Board

aramina12 · #1 01-12-2013, 11:18 PM

So I recently moved with my orchids (thankfully it appears they were undamaged by the ride), but now I have a big dilemma. I originally thought I'd have a window for them, but as it turns out I'm staying in a basement apartment and my room has no windows. I'm looking into artificial lighting but it seems like a lot of the options take up quite a bit of space and I have a fairly small room. I have three orchids; a phal, a paph, and a dendrobium. Previously they were all three in an east facing window and thriving in it.

If anyone has suggestions as to what I could do that wouldn't take up too much space I'd really appreciate it!

SlipperGirl · #2 01-12-2013, 11:32 PM

repotme.com has a small light but it is very pricey. I think you should try Rays.

Ray · #3 01-13-2013, 09:38 AM

First you have to consider that you have three different light level demands - the phal being a low light plant, the paph a bit brighter (I grow them both at paph light levels), and the den fairly bright. That can be accomplished simply by adjusting the distance from the light to the plants.

Working with a manufacturer, I custom-designed a 13w led bulb that puts out about 1200 lumens, which would be fine for your plants, positioned to be roughly 9" from the den, and 12"-15" from the others.

Bill U. · #4 01-13-2013, 11:48 AM

Ray's bulb suggestion would work well for you. Another suggestion to try is getting 1 or 2 clamp lights that are available from Home Depot or just about any home improvement store and use a full spectrum (6400K) bulb- I recommend a 23W CFL (which is a 100W equivalent of an incandescent).

I personally use this for one of my indoor roses (I know, not an orchid) that loves full sunlight except that I don't have a window to give it that. With the rose under the CFL for 12 hours/day I have seen nothing but exponential growth! (and sometimes when it's pretty dark outside and I want to "share the love", I will put some of my phals and phrags a bit farther away from the light, but they still love it too!)

There are plenty of options- each with their pros and cons: you just have to figure out what will work best for you and your space. Good luck!

isurus79 · #5 01-13-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

First you have to consider that you have three different light level demands - the phal being a low light plant, the paph a bit brighter (I grow them both at paph light levels), and the den fairly bright. That can be accomplished simply by adjusting the distance from the light to the plants.

Working with a manufacturer, I custom-designed a 13w led bulb that puts out about 1200 lumens, which would be fine for your plants, positioned to be roughly 9" from the den, and 12"-15" from the others.

The great thing with these bulbs is that they fit into any incandescent socket. I put two of these bulbs into a aquarium light hood (for a 10 gallon tank) that I got for about $20 @ Walmart. Cheap, easy to find and they already come with reflectors, not that this type of bulb really needs them.

Ray · #6 01-14-2013, 10:24 AM

Actually, I'd like to know how that reflector is working?

The LEDs have to lenses on them, so each one emits in a hemispherical pattern. While a reflector is no necessary, capturing the light emitted to the sides and reflecting it down at the plants would be a plus.

isurus79 · #7 01-14-2013, 11:44 AM

Ray,
The LEDs are on the right side of the picture. As you can see, the lights fit very well. They are a bit larger in circumference than what the hood was designed for, so I think the reflectors are doing their job, but maybe not quite as much as what the "normal" incandescent lights would see. I drille some eyehooks into the top of the hood so it can hang down from some decorative outdoor pot hangers that I've drilled into the wall.

P.S. I have a small Stapelia variegata (cactus) that has gotten a nice purple coloration from the LEDs, so I'm guessing there is a lot of good PAR from them.

Untitled by Isurus79, on Flickr