question about light and heat
Awhile back, electricians installed T5 lights in the room I plan to grow my orchids in this fall and winter. My plants are now outside on my backporch, as they have been all summer. I know it won't be too long before the weather at night will be too cool for them, so I'll have to move them in. With your help here on OB, I was able to determine the approx. correct distance the lights should be positioned above my orchids, but now I'm concerned about the heat in the room. I know that as the temp. drops outside, the room will become cooler, as well....but....I would like to move my orchids inside sooner than necessary if possible because I've had a few issues this summer with the wind blowing some off of the shelves on the porch (as recent as the last few days). I haven't monitored the temp. in the room at night yet, but I have for the day: Yesterday, the temp. outside was about 85 degrees most of the day, generally speaking...and inside the grow room, it was about from 90-95 degrees according to the thermometer. That's not preferable for some of my orchids, but that's another issue than what concerns me most at this time. It is the temp. between the lights and the two shelves (especially the upper one). Using that upper shelf as an example, the height between the lights and it is approx. 26" and the light fc is approx. 1600. I understand that approx amount of light would work fair for my Phals (maybe a lil too much, but not greatly). ?? Measuring about 1/2 way between the two (approx. 13") yesterday with a spot temp gauge, I measured about 104-105 degrees....that's terrible....no way could I put orchids there. Do you think I have misunderstood because I didn't think the T5s heat output was that high. By the way, I had a humidifier and fan on at the time, too.
I would appreciate your thoughts and advice.
Thanks in advance,
Vicki
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