Are these lights too close?

[Pinkcat]

Hello everyone,
First of all- don't laugh at the humidifier- it works!
Do you think these lights are too close to these plants? They are about 10 inches or so away from most of the phals. 2 T-8 bulbs. The shelf is actually pretty deep so some of them are further away from the lights as others. I figured it would be pretty hard to fry orchids with florescent, but I don't want to take any chances.

[Oscarman]

Hey Pinkcat, I don't think they are too close. Let your plants tell you. Orchids often show their reaction to the maximum amount of light they can handle with reddish coloring in their leaves. If your plants are flowering well - it must be good.

Don't be fooled, I have burned leaves, flowers and buds on fluorescent tubes.

Was the humidifier the inspiration for you log-in name? It's great!

[smartie2000]

Looks good to me. The leaf colour is fine and the plants are blooming, a sign that lighting is fine.

[cupcake]

Please let me laugh at your humidifier! It really makes me smile!

[Blondie]

That looks like a really great set-up! I don't know anything about lighting yet, but I'm eager to learn from your experiment.

I had one of those humidifiers (it was an elephant), but I had to get rid of it because it spit out a lot of "white dust." It got on everything, and I got sick of cleaning it up. It was soooo cute though...

[sapphireeyes27]

I am still really learning a lot, but from what I can tell, if it works for you... it works for you!! I love the humidifier, though! I just might have to get one of those for my little orchids. My husband loves the AC so the house is really dry. Maybe a frog to go with the plant theme...... ;-)

Rachel

[Candice]

HELLO KITTY!!!!!!! THATS SOOOO COOL!!! I didn't realize that was a humidifier! That's awesome!!! I love your setup!!!!!! Your 'chids look great too by the way, really healthy from the pics! If I were to move my 'chids indoors I would get that same humidifier!!!!

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

Hey Pinkcat, I don't think they are too close. Let your plants tell you. Orchids often show their reaction to the maximum amount of light they can handle with reddish coloring in their leaves. If your plants are flowering well - it must be good.

Don't be fooled, I have burned leaves, flowers and buds on fluorescent tubes.

Was the humidifier the inspiration for you log-in name? It's great!

Okay I know I should know this by now, but if the leaves are showing a reddish coloring, is this bad? Does this mean to move them a little further away from the lights? Does the reddish color go away eventually?

[Ross]

Most orchids will show a reddish color particularly along the leaf margins. Some may turn almost maroon before they fry. In answer to your other question, if you were have plants like this, reducing the light should eventually lead to greener colors. I had an encycli that got one or two days of direct Florida sun in the Keys. It turned completely maroon-red. That was in April or so. It has finally (3-4 months later) pretty much shed the reddish color and is more green. Having said all this, many folks like to "push it" a bit and grow Cats, etc. so that the leaves are slightly reddish.

[smartie2000]

I leave the plants alone when they get red. Some plants are better off slightly red. It doesn't seem that you are getting too much red.