growing under CFL - Orchid Board

jcaballero · #1 10-09-2012, 08:50 AM

I have several orchids growing under 100 watt CFL and they are doing better than they did when they were outside. Some of the orchids include oncidiums, brassavola nodosa, cattleyas and others. Surprisingly enough, the brassavola and a few of my oncidiums have spikes. Most of these orchids I have never seen them flower, since they were the type of orchid that is sold in a bag (Better Gro). I'm very excited and can't wait to see the flowers.

I'll post pictures once the flowers open.

naoki · #2 10-09-2012, 03:53 PM

Excellent! Which brand of 100W CFL are you using? I'd be interested in photos of your setup in addition to flowers.

31drew31 · #3 10-09-2012, 09:16 PM

Good to hear. But is this an actual 100W CFL or 100W equivalent? They often get mixed up and just looking to clarify.

Magnus A · #4 10-10-2012, 06:46 AM

How do you know that it is the light and not the drastic change in growing conditions that have affected your plant?
Just do not draw extensive conclution about one parameter when you change several!

jcaballero · #5 10-10-2012, 10:56 AM

The only thing that has changed for the orchids is just the light.
The lights are 100 watt equivalent. They run for 13 hrs. So, the orchids are getting a constant amount of light for 13 hrs, vice outdoors when light can be reduced by several factors like clouds, shadows, etc. My backyard doesn't have many places where the orchids could thrive without me building a shadehouse. Anyways, they look happy (with the exception of some who got too much rain), and I'm happy!

Purple_phal_gal13 · #6 10-20-2012, 06:46 PM

Did I spot a mottled leaf Paph of some sort?

I've also currently started to grow my phals and my new paph under a CFL 27W which is a 100W equivalent. It's roughly in the 6700K range. I'm glad to see someone have good luck growing under these kinda of lights.

I have my lights on a timer for roughly 14hrs.

TarantulaSteve · #7 10-21-2012, 04:35 PM

Thanks for the good read. Im hoping to get my first orchid(s) next weekend and will be sticking to 100% artificial light, and wanted to try CFLs. You guys are increasing my confidence.

naoki · #8 10-21-2012, 08:21 PM

Steve, if you have only 1 or 2 orchids, CFL may be ok. But once you start to get a few orchids, you might want to consider to move up to linear florescent lights: T8, T5 HO, or T5 normal output. You can get more lumen per W than CFL. Once you start to use lots of artificial light, you need to pay attention to the electricity cost (instead of initial cost of fixtures).

What kinds of orchids are you getting?

Magnus A · #9 10-22-2012, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcaballero

The only thing that has changed for the orchids is just the light.

You have moved the plants from the outside into your house!!
I assume that you have the same humidity variation as outside in your home, that you have the same temperature variation and that you have the same wind condition in your home as outside! do your plant dry up in the exact same time inside and outside and in that case, how did you do to verify that? I also have to assume that the absolut value of the humidity, temperature and wind spead is the same in your house as outside.
Otherwise your statement is incorrect!

No you have drastically changed all growing conditions for your plants and reduced the light quality to a spectral distribution way of the quality of the outdoor natural light...

I do not say that your orchid grow better outside I just say that your plant has had a mayor change in all growth parameters and you can not attribute that to your light source alone!

jcaballero · #10 10-22-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnus A

You have moved the plants from the outside into your house!!
I assume that you have the same humidity variation as outside in your home, that you have the same temperature variation and that you have the same wind condition in your home as outside! do your plant dry up in the exact same time inside and outside and in that case, how did you do to verify that? I also have to assume that the absolut value of the humidity, temperature and wind spead is the same in your house as outside.
Otherwise your statement is incorrect!

No you have drastically changed all growing conditions for your plants and reduced the light quality to a spectral distribution way of the quality of the outdoor natural light...

I do not say that your orchid grow better outside I just say that your plant has had a mayor change in all growth parameters and you can not attribute that to your light source alone!

You are right. I don't. Orchids are happy now and so am I.