growing under lights... how long?

[CJR66204]

I just wondering how long should I keep my lights on right now they come on at 6 in the morning and go off around 10 p.m. and so they get about 8 hours of no light... the days are getting shorter so should I also make my lights go off shorter also?

anything would help thanks..

[orchidsarefun]

I copied this down from a website - forget which one - in hours

Jan 11.75
Mid- Jan 12
Feb 12
Mar 13
Apr 14
May 14
Jun 14
Jul 14
Aug 14
Sept 13
Oct 12
Nov 12
Mid- Nov 11.75
Dec 11.75

[The Orchidist]

I got this info from a trusted site and I am following this as we speak with 400w metal halide on timer

Timing of light for Orchids per month / Day

November to January: 16 hrs/day
February to June: 18 hrs/day
July to August: 16 hrs/day
September to October: 12 hrs/day

[CJR66204]

Orchidsarefun...Do you use this chart? and if so how are your orchids doing?

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by CJR66204

Orchidsarefun...Do you use this chart? and if so how are your orchids doing?

I have followed this for about 3 months and they are doing great. I have T5's and T8's. You can see the seedlings under 1) Miltoniopsis Harold Fister and 2) Nobby's Amy - search the threads....

[CJR66204]

Oh cool I just went and looked your Orchids look amazing! I grow under 3 Fluorescent/ and one LED light panel... right now my are growing leafs and roots like crazy I hope they put out some flowers soon....

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I have followed this for about 3 months and they are doing great. I have T5's and T8's. You can see the seedlings under 1) Miltoniopsis Harold Fister and 2) Nobby's Amy - search the threads....

I found this too
Growing Orchids in the Basement - Orchid Society
There are a lot of articles on the internet - most say between 12-14 hours of light is necessary.

[CJR66204]

Cool thanks for the info... I am guessing since my orchids are growing new leafs and new roots so I guess I am doing something right..

[naoki]

For people who is supplementing natural light with artificial light, something like this would be cool:
http://www.inda-gro.com/pdf/Pro-420-PAR-DH.pdf
I don't know the cost of this unit, but it would be cool if there is something similar for hobbyist.

[sbrofio]

From November to April I use LED light for maximum 10:45/11 hours a day. I saw that more hours of light than this "mistake" the grow/rest periods of orchids that make growth season/ rest season.

For orchids whom haven't a marked rest/growth difference (for examples hybrid phals), a friend of mine gives 12/13 hours of light every day: phals won't stop growing but if you want to force flowering, must give a period of 6 weeks of colder temps, less light and less water.

I read, some times ago, that commercial phals used to be grown no-stop for 2 years, then cold, darker, drier and.. here are the stems