Lighting Questions

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by billc

Jeremy, 12 hrs on, 12 hrs off. The leaf surfaces are about 14-17 in from the bulbs. I think the reflective mylar in the new grow tent is giving them a lot more light than I thought it would.

Bill

That's an excellent point I didn't consider yet. I find my flowers turn towards mylar (meaning, away from me haha) when growing but I suppose I wasn't thinking about how much light it adds overall. Good thought Bill.

I cut down 1 hour today to see how things go.

[larrylwill]

I too am facing NW. I have my orchids in a room that has trees in front. In the summer I get dapple sunlight starting around 2-3pm until dark, in the Winter I get a little more sunlight but nothing direct and the windows are from a 4 seasons room and a little tinted. I am able to re bloom all my phals as they sit on the top of the rack, but no Cats or Oncs.
Last summer I added 2 shop fixtures from HD and T8 bulbs, 4 in all 4ft. I lined the reflector with tin foil for more reflecting. I had some T8 2ft kitchen single fixtures with bulbs so I put 8 on the other rack. I started running them from 5am until noon, then until 2pm. They are about 18" above the shelf bottom. Pots are 4-6" This winter I have already bloomed 3 different cats or Oncs and here is a Onc in bloom I just put on the dining table.