Looking for main light source for Miltonia noid, Phragmepidium Pearcii and Aeridis Fl

[Longroots]

All of these plants are fairly similar in lighting requirements, and I'm looking for a suitable bulb light (not tube) to use on them. The light will be about 8-10 inches away from the plants.

I currently run a Sansii 15w for my Cattleya which loves it, so that's too strong for the plants I need lighting for, and unfortunately Sansii don't do a weaker bulb.

[Roberta]

Just a thought, if you can't find a suitable light... maybe get one like what that works for your Catt, and either place it farther away (light intensity decreases as the square of the distance) or add a bit of shade cloth or other shading. It's a lot easier to decrease light than to increase it. (I'm an outdoor grower, I can't change the intensity of the sun but I can, and do, add shading for plants that want less light)

[Longroots]

Unfortunately the socket I plan to use won't allow it to get that far back. Also my setup uses shelves which go up to the ceiling which won't allow for the light to be raised that high above either .

[wisdomseeker]

Strongly agree with Roberta's suggestion.

Don't know if you can adjust the height of your bulb/bulbs (and/or fixture) above your plants.
LATE NOTE: I must of submitted my reply right after you replied to Roberta (about not being able to adjust the height of your bulbs). So, that answers my question in regards to whether or not you can adjust the height of your light above the plants.

Sounds like it's a favorable source of light for you now, especially if your Catt is happy. Sansi LEDs have good specs and a good CRI.

Another option might be using a dimmable bulb. I'm not sure if the Sansi LED bulb (the one you are using now) is recommended for a dimmable fixture.

A lower wattage bulb is another option, although it may be hard to find one that equals in comparison to what you already have. If you can creatively engineer something to help block some of the intensity (e.g., screening, etc.) it might do the trick, although I don't know how cosmetically pleasant that would be. But hey... just a thought.

[Longroots]

It's annoying as IKEA had grow bulbs that I bet would be perfect but by they discontinued them. I may scour some old threads to see if something comes up

[Shadeflower]

Interesting, I hadn't even noticed that Ikea stopped selling their grow lights. I'm still using two of them at mine but I wasn't planning on replacing them with the same.
I have since found something I prefer. I know you say you don't want tube lights but they honestly spread light better so are actually better for shelves where you won't have to hang it so far from the plants and light will be spread to more plants. I don't see the disadvantage

ueetek Lamp Energy Saving 9 W E27 LED to fit all the Fish of the sheath and the Box of Aquarium Fish (White): Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

[Longroots]

I saw that aquarium bulb and was thinking of testing it out.

My shelves are very small and compact, and the layers I have and the positioning of the brackets really isn't ideal. This shelf is the top shelf also which has the smallest space, and the only way I could use a tube is to drill into the ceiling, which apparently may or may not have asbestos so I'm not touching it!

It turns out Sansii do a 10w bulb, I'm not sure if it's still going to be too much for the likes of a Miltonia or anything around the phal mark.

Amazon.co.uk

[Tonio]

if raising the light is no option, you can use a light diffuser between the bulb and the plant.

I have used a lot of acrylic light diffusers to shade begonia species from direct sun. They are UV-stable, water resistant and are available in a wide range in terms of how much light is transmitted. It can be as low as 15% or as high as 90%.