Watts of LED per square area needed for growing orchids?

[Brian1212]

the lights you have posted so far are all not very good.

I have not used blue and red lights in over 10 years - they are horrible to look at, produce bad growth and were only marketed as good lights 10 years ago because at the time only red and blue led's could be manufactured cheaply.

Times have changed. These days you want full spectrum which is a white light that produces all colours. no colour = black, all colours = white.

You can get different spectrums amongst the full spectrum, from 3000k to 4000k to 5000k to 6500k. 3000k has more red and yellow. 6000k has more blue.

Any spectrum is fine - 3500k is considered the optimum level of colour but any full spectrum will beat a blurple light.

Ikea are amongst the cheapest seller of full spectrum led's and they are decent but not the best.

I found a good light for your purpose if you can use amazon, have a look at:

Bozily Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum with Timer-75W COB CREE Sunlike Plant Light with 3/6/12/24H Timer 5 Dimming LED Sunlight Growing Lamp for Plants Seedling Blooming Fruiting [Upgrade]: Amazon.com.au: Lawn & Garden

I would have suggested you would need roughly 30 watts of a decent Led's so 2 of these lights for your area (20 watts each but can be adjusted to any level)

I bought the light myself beginning of the year - it's 3000k - produces a lovely sunset orange glow and plants are responding well to it. I know the description says 75 watts but marketers always overstate the led's capacity with the argument that 75 watt chips have been used however the chips can never be powered at 75 watts (or that is the equivalent of 75 watts of older lights like High pressure sodium) - it draws 20 watts from the power socket which is the important bit to know to compare it to other led's.

[daemondamian]

Thanks again for the further feedback & info

Unfortunately being in Australia the suggested lights are either completely or currently unavailable here or would require shipping from overseas & may not have the correct electrical plug connections.

I did however find several Cree LED flood light units available from within Australia that have electrical plug cord & connections.

12~24v 18 Watt Cree 6-LED Work/Boat Lights (Sold as a Pair) $52.90.

This seller on amazon.com.au seems to be from Australia & has several Cree LED floods but only a few have a cord and plug:

LED Outdoor Flood Light, 70W (500W Halogen Equivalent) Bright Security Lights, Cree LED Source, 6300lm, 3000K Warm White, Waterproof Yard Lights with AU Plug $62.99.

Or a 100W version that comes in 6000K or 3000K.

The smaller lights are 6000K & would offer more specific placement & height adjustment & I could always add more if it seemed necessary while the bigger ones from amazon.com.au would have to be in a central fixed position but come in 3000K as well as 6000K.

Alternately I could get the big 70W 3000K light & supplement it with 2 or more of the smaller 18W 6000K lights.

I could also mount the big light out a bit from the wall & on an angle so that it doesn't produce glare.

[camille1585]

I can't really give input on your newest selections, but one other option could be the VAXER LED bulbs from Ikea (I checked Ikea australia for them). They are meant for plants, and the reviews I had read were quite positive. I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for, but thought I'd put it out there. VAXER LED bulb for cultivation PAR30 E27 - - - IKEA

Someone on OB tested them and made a nice review. Sadly the photos are gone from the thread, but if this is interesting for you, you could contact him. I don't know how many he needed (spacing and height) Review/Results using IKEA VÄXER LED plant grow bulb PAR30 E26

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I can't really give input on your newest selections, but one other option could be the VAXER LED bulbs from Ikea (I checked Ikea australia for them). They are meant for plants, and the reviews I had read were quite positive. I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for, but thought I'd put it out there. VAXER LED bulb for cultivation PAR30 E27 - - - IKEA

Someone on OB tested them and made a nice review. Sadly the photos are gone from the thread, but if this is interesting for you, you could contact him. I don't know how many he needed (spacing and height) Review/Results using IKEA VÄXER LED plant grow bulb PAR30 E26

Thanks for the info & suggestion Camille

Unfortunately the nearest Ikea is 1.5 hrs drive away from me & they don't deliver.

I think I'm going to get the 70W light and the pair of 18W lights which will give me 106W of lighting in both 3000K & 6000K & the ability to tweak/adjust their position with the potential of adding more 18W lights later on if necessary.

[Ray]

If you’re going for white LEDs, you’re likely better off going with warmer color temperatures.

For one, color temperature has little to do with the true spectrum; it is strictly how it appears to the human eye, and two, lower color temp chips tend to emit more far red, which is supposed to be better for blooming;g.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Ray

If you’re going for white LEDs, you’re likely better off going with warmer color temperatures.

For one, color temperature has little to do with the true spectrum; it is strictly how it appears to the human eye, and two, lower color temp chips tend to emit more far red, which is supposed to be better for blooming;g.

Thanks Ray

I ended up ordering the LED Outdoor Flood Light, 70W (500W Halogen Equivalent) Bright Security Lights, Cree LED Source, 6300lm, 3000K Warm White, Waterproof Yard Lights with AU Plug.

I double checked with the website that had the 18W 6000K lights & it turned out that although the description said 'pre-wired' that they do not actually come with an electrical plug.

Will update this post when I've set up my new light