Adequate Sunlight for Cattleya - Page 5 - Orchid Board

DesignerofBeauty · #41 01-10-2017, 06:47 PM

Salixx, Thanks for the helpful information about lighting! I'm probably going to get a lux meter on amazon - I have been considering that.

I agree LEDs seem the way to go! Is the LED bulb you purchased at Walmart a regular lightbulb (one you'd use as lighting in your house) or a grow light? The only thing I don't like about LEDs is the blue/red light. I am just considering purchasing a white one.

The Laelia Praestans is very cute!! It's a good thing there isn't more room in my apartment. I'd have over 100 orchids if my house if I could. They're so cool.

Salixx · #42 01-10-2017, 07:02 PM

The bulb from walmart is a standard bulb designed for household use. There are usually three options - cool white (6500k wavelength), warm white (2700k wavelength) and daylight (5000k wavelength). For some reason, at my Walmart, the daylight spectrum are located separate from the other bulbs, so keep that in mind if you go looking for them. The daylight one kind of combines the other two and provides an overall, hypothetical, better growing spectrum that either of the others.. I did forget to mention that the plastic bulb (that looks like the old incandescents) should be taken off, if you can. I have a rotary tool (dremel) that I cut them off with. This allows more and better lights for the plants.

I also have purchased a few of these:
3 In 1 E40 To Three E27 Base Socket Splitter Lamp Bulb Adapter Converter Holder | eBay

I've made my own "growlights" with them and by buying a cheap pendant lamp cord on Amazon.

DesignerofBeauty · #43 01-10-2017, 07:39 PM

I don't have those sort of tools in my house - but I'm sure I can find a regular white LED grow light.

Dollythehun · #44 01-10-2017, 07:44 PM

Also check out the lights Orchid girl uses on You tube. They are attractive and inexpensive. She uses them to supplement.
My artificial light setup for Orchids - Orchid Nature

Dollythehun · #45 01-10-2017, 07:47 PM

Also check out the lights Orchid girl uses on You tube. They are attractive and inexpensive. She uses them to supplement.
My artificial light setup for Orchids - Orchid Nature[COLOR="Silver"]

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Salixx · #46 01-10-2017, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesignerofBeauty

I don't have those sort of tools in my house - but I'm sure I can find a regular white LED grow light.

You can tell how deep the addiction is by the tools one has bought specifically for the orchid hobby, lol! I don't regret my dremel (off brand though) one bit. I'm a DIYer though.

The bulbs can still be used with the plastic casing, it just won't be as bright (you lose ~150-200 lux at 6'', IME). A cheap hack-saw would also do the trick.

I had trouble finding white-looking grow lights, but you might have better luck. I only found those ugly red/blue only spectrum ones... not the most attractive for a living space. As dolly posted as well, spotlights can work. They mostly are just regular LEDs without the plastic bulb and with a higher wattage anyway (the bulb disperses the light in a home setting as LED diodes are spot-light like on their own).

DesignerofBeauty · #47 01-10-2017, 09:36 PM

I actually found a white LED light- but I'm not sure if it's excessive. I don't know if I need 12 or 24W considering there's already sunlight coming from the window.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...VLRHTOFD2&th=1

I'll get this bulb, and use this fixture (and discard the ugly red/blue light):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...A2HX5IJIDAHE96

I don't like how big the bulb is (my boyfriend thinks it'll make our bedroom look ugly). I would prefer to use a regular LED lightbulb from Walmart. I'm wondering if lux reduction by not removing the plastic casing is significant enough. If not, A) I'm driving myself crazy for nothing lol and B) I'll just use a regular LED bulb instead of a "grow bulb".

EDIT: Sorry if I'm driving everyone else crazy too

Salixx · #48 01-10-2017, 11:04 PM

If aesthetics are a concern, and understandably so, you can do some minor adjustments. For instance, stick with a regular bulb from Walmart but get one with higher wattage. They do sell 75watt and 100watt equivalents at my local Walmart (and I live out in the boonies, so you might have more choices). You can also just try it - the bulbs are Walmart are less expensive. I think I paid ~$2.50/bulb, though there is a "partnership" deal with my electric coop that lowered the price a bit. I also just bought a 6pk of warm whites online for about the same.

You could also pick up a hack-saw at Walmart (usually under $10) and remove the plastic case (carefully) with it.

I will warn, no matter the bulb, a bare bulb looks ugly, but can be spared by a lamp with a shade on it. I'm lucky that my boyfriend is a functionality person and doesn't worry about appearance... I get away with a lot when it comes to my orchids!

Don't worry about going crazy until you're thinking about buying a house so you can have more orchids....

Roberta · #49 01-10-2017, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salixx

Don't worry about going crazy until you're thinking about buying a house so you can have more orchids....

That is what I did... and I'm sooo glad, the orchids are happier too... but in the meantime, there is always room for one more orchid...

DesignerofBeauty · #50 01-10-2017, 11:20 PM

You guys are incredibly helpful and supportive.

We live in a 500 sq ft apartment at the moment. I'm limited to one window and my orchids are crammed. I know when we move into a house I will TRY not to buy more. But I can't promise it won't happen.

In the meanwhile, I'm aching for a Angraecum Distichum for my globe terrarium. It's taking a lot of will power not to purchase it!

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Salixx, I think I will do as you suggested and cut the casing off.