Cymbidium lighting question

[DAve Terwilliger]

I think - no conformation yet - I got some Cybidiums at the Duffin sale. My question is what is a good inexpensive lighting for them. I have been reading so mush here I am completely confused. Are LED tube lights good? with or without ballast? Thing is - they didn't seem to be getting bids...I could end up with 42, none or anything in between.

Anyway...I live in eastern Pa, it is cold and sunlight hours are rapidly shrinking. I don't want to kill them.

Thanks,
Dave T

[estación seca]

42? Forty-two???!!!?!?

How big are these? That will have some bearing on what to recommend. Cymbidiums in cold-winter climates need as much light as possible.

Do you have space for 42?

[stonedragonfarms]

Realistically, if you're going to do anything other than Cymbidium goeringii under lights, you'll need a pretty serious set up, and a way to both a. keep the foliage cool & b. keep winter day temps in the low 70s, nights into the upper 40s. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I'd shoot for either a combination of mh & hps lights on moving tracks, or COB on the same setup (you'll either end up spending $$ on equipment or energy)

[estación seca]

It would probably cost more in electricity to cool a basement with enough high-pressure sodium lights for 42 Cymbidiums than it would cost to cool a whole house in midsummer.

[DAve Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by estación seca

42? Forty-two???!!!?!?

How big are these? That will have some bearing on what to recommend. Cymbidiums in cold-winter climates need as much light as possible.

Do you have space for 42?

Yes - 42 - I guess that is why nobody was bidding on them. Not sure what we got yet. No, I don't have room for that many. Usually I get one out of every 10 bid I post. I expect I'll be passing out quite a few if I won many.

They said - "you may have won" lots 100, 109, 112, 116 It was Bounds Auction Company - Duffin Estate Orchid Business Liquidation Sale Day 1. So, no idea what we got.

[Subrosa]

I flower some Cymbidium in my indoor set up, and temperatures are the tough part to get right. I'm in Schuylkill county and the Cymbidium just came in a couple days ago before the freeze. They stay out in full sun as long as we're frost free, and LED panels provide plenty of light over the winter, but only warm tolerant varieties bloom for me.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by estación seca

It would probably cost more in electricity to cool a basement with enough high-pressure sodium lights for 42 Cymbidiums than it would cost to cool a whole house in midsummer.

Just leave the basement door open a smidge...

[DAve Terwilliger]

what LEDs do you use? I was looking at Hyperikon T8 T10 T12 LED Light Tubes without ballast. Thoughts?

[Subrosa]

I use repurposed Taotronics 120W panels intended for reef aquaria. I use 2 to light a 2' x 4' area bright enough for the Cymbidium. There are similar lights available for less than $100 per fixture.

[malteseproverb]

WOW I'm so upset to hear I missed this auction, as I've been buying from Duffin for years and had hoped to attend their last sale! I went over the summer and purchased many plants for cheap but they weren't sure what they were doing with the rest of their stock. Anyway this is also probably karmic as I accidentally (semi-intentionally) killed my last 2 cymbidiums, which I bought from them years ago, by leaving them outside this past weekend when lows hit 25F. I say semi-intentionally because, although I got them to re-bloom a few times, my experiences growing cymbidiums in my house is that they're annoying and take up too much space. By the way, I never used lights and was able to get them to rebloom by keeping them next to my draftiest window during the winter, and 6-8 hours of full sun during summer. Those things are crazy.