Question re: LEDs - Page 3 - Orchid Board

butterfly_muse · #21 05-10-2013, 01:41 PM

Fair enough. I like the use of in situ, btw. (I'm an archaeology major, stuff like that makes me giggle). I guess we can set up and get a light meter and go from there. We've got a temp/humidity monitor as well, which I just got a calibrator kit for so I can make sure it's all taken care of when we get to our new place.

naoki · #22 05-10-2013, 02:33 PM

This is probably nit-picky, and most of you don't care, but the two figures in the first page are "absorption" spectrum. The "action" spectrum is a bit more relevant with regard to photosynthesis. Not all absorbed energy will be converted to carbon fixation equally. Action spectrum reflect the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of light for photosynthesis. If you look at the action spectrum, there is a much deeper dip in 520-620nm (green-yellow region). Here is the typical action spectrum used in textbooks. http://www.miracleoflightandcolour.c...p_image047.jpg

butterfly_muse · #23 05-10-2013, 02:36 PM

Does that affect the type of light I should get?

naoki · #24 05-10-2013, 02:53 PM

It may influence your choise if you would like to get the most growth with the least energy wasted. But many people prefer whitish light than purplish light.

butterfly_muse · #25 05-10-2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naoki

It may influence your choise if you would like to get the most growth with the least energy wasted. But many people prefer whitish light than purplish light.

I don't really care about wasting light per se, I more care about providing adequate light to my plants that allows for proper growth and blooming. I need the lights to almost replace real sunlight since our windows just won't be enough.

naoki · #26 05-10-2013, 03:09 PM

I guess if you need to light a small space, the yearly cost of electricity isn't so problem. If running cost doesn't matter much, I would probably go with T5 HO. 4-feet 2-bulb T8 (shop light) is enough for Phal (about 4'x8-12" of usable space), but T5 HO is more flexible in case you decide to get plants which requires more light. But two of Ray's LED will be good, too. I have one, which I'm not using yet. My species phals are under 28W Blue-Red grow-light type LED, about 1 foot above the plants, and it covers 1.5'x1.5' area. They grow and flower well, but I wouldn't recommend this unit because of their terrible customer service.

butterfly_muse · #27 05-10-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naoki

I guess if you need to light a small space, the yearly cost of electricity isn't so problem. If running cost doesn't matter much, you can probably go with T5 HO, which is a safe choice. 4-feet 2-bulb T8 (shop light) is enough for Phal (about 4'x8-12" of usable space), but T5 HO is more flexible in case you decide to get plants which requires more light.

I think we're gonna go with the LEDs for now (fiance's dad was a fire chief, he switches everything he can to LED, lol) just because of the low wattage pull and the fact that they don't put off a lot of heat (curious animals and such). From what I read on the original thread about Ray's LED lights, they were just as good if not slightly better than the T5s.

Island Girl · #28 05-11-2013, 03:27 AM

I just wanna thank y'all for this informative thread! It was a conversation, (instead of a technical, w/ numbers, slightly confusing talk/lecture if that makes sense?) and it was enjoyable, and informational!

that helps

My grandfather was an engineer, so y'all gave me a bit of a laugh too

NatalieS · #29 05-11-2013, 04:46 AM

Just to add my very small

worth.

I've been using standard, house-hold, LED lamps with some of my orchids for over a year now. They respond very well even to these types of LED. Here's a link to my original setup experiment:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...se-set-up.html

There are two orchids in there that prefer high light and both bloomed under those lights (to my surprise). The third is not yet blooming size but grew well and has doubled in size.

If you want to experiment with your orchids in different rooms around the house and you tend towards form over function, have a go at experimenting with some nice LED lamps. If you start out with a few lamps you have the freedom to move them around with your plants until you find a room they're happy in (don't forget, lighting isn't the only condition your plants respond to - you might find some rooms are consistently cooler than others which your phals might not like). If you're happy with the results you can put something more permanent and professional in later.

butterfly_muse · #30 05-11-2013, 10:28 AM

Omg, that mini greenhouse is TOO CUTE!!! O_O!!! It makes me want to buy a table just to perch it on. xD I was actually thinking of getting a sofa table because we will have a long wall in the dining area that is going to end up with a lot of voided space. I thought about lining them up on one of those with some humidity trays (yes, I have read Ray's article about them not working, but I thought if I could create a mini-zone in the immediate area it might help some) and having the lights with them on the table, maybe it would save me some hassle of trying to suspend lights or figure out something else.

Thank you for the suggestions!

And Island, don't worry. xD I don't understand all that technical stuff (ironically I learned about the inverse square law in a planetary geology course, and that's about as far as it goes for me). I have to make my fiance explain it to me in human words otherwise my eyes gloss over. Heehee!