New growing space - help needed!

[NKOrchid]

Haha, I'm sorry that I'm terrifying you! The reason I'm researching so much is because I don't wanna set fire to my orchids and I don't wanna waste money on stuff I don't need.
I might've done some math wrong. Something else that just occurred to me is that my plants wont be one foot from the surface of the bulb. More likely half a foot away, so I'm guessing that I can double the foot candles. If that's right then my plants definitely do not need 25000 lumens!
To be fair I don't quite get your calculations, but I think that a setup of 7500 lumen (which in my space would be 13.000 lux) at a half foot distance should be good enough. I guess it went wrong at the foot candles. Since we don't use that here, I was unaware that it has to do with distance, even though that sounds totally stupid now seeing that it has 'foot' in its name.
Does these calculations sound more right?

[estación seca]

It's very hard to grow tall plants and short plants together under lights. Not many people manage to grow full-size Cymbidiums indoors under lights, and do it well.

[Leafmite]

I don't know anything about the measurements of lights but I did quite a bit of research and this is what seemed recommended for fluorescents. This type hooks snug against the shelf above so I don't waste room hanging them.. This is my third winter using them (I just put in new bulbs). All the orchids have been doing very well and this winter I am growing citrus, figs and some other plants under them, too. This is a picture I took just after moving everything in (excuse the clutter, please). I have since added a few other plants.

[Tetra73]

I really don't know what to tell you. I made the choice to use a particular light setup based on my past experiences blooming and reblooming my mini phals under 4 t8 4ft bulbs, in a small terrarium. That's roughly about 9000 lumen. But the tubes can degrade overtime and the rating is referring AT THE BULBS. As soon as the distance is beyond 6", the intensity would drop by greatly.

Is fortunate that I am a photographer in my second job. I have the tools. When I began to meter my 6 t8 tubes, 4ft long, I was only getting 1000 fc to 1500 fc within 6 inches to the bulbs. That would make sense why my mini phals were about to bloom for the 2 years I have them. Knowing these, I know I need twice the light for my oncidiuim and dendrobium. I wasn't basing my decision on some math.

I decided my a 4 LED bulbs fixture with 100w equivalent each. I did a light reading on it by placing the light meter in between the 4 bulbs. I am getting sun light intensity. EV is 15 or at iso 100, f16, 1/60s (those who knows about the sunny 16 rule in photography). Yes, with 6000 lumen.

BTW, initially, I was only using 2 LED bulbs in supplementing my 6 t8 bulbs. I was seeing good results and the oncidium pseudobulb tripled in size. My dendrbium was turning lime green and my cattleya leaves are turning a bit red and with robust growth...only within 1 month. So, I decided to add another 2 more bulbs.

I use what I use because of trials and errors and my budgets. Frankly, I won't pay more than $30 for a CFL bulb when I can get a t5 4ft long strip for $28 on ebay.

---------- Post added at 02:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I don't know anything about the measurements of lights but I did quite a bit of research and this is what seemed recommended for fluorescents. This type hooks snug against the shelf above so I don't waste room hanging them.. This is my third winter using them (I just put in new bulbs). All the orchids have been doing very well and this winter I am growing citrus, figs and some other plants under them, too. This is a picture I took just after moving everything in (excuse the clutter, please). I have since added a few other plants.

If you have a DSLR at home, you can measure your light intensity. Set your camera to fully manual. Set your ISO to 100. Set your shutter speed to 1/125s. Set the camera metering mode to spot metering. Point the camera to a middle grayish object, like a pot, or on the a leaf. Adjust your F stop, aperture, until the exposure needle is in the middle. If you need f16 to center the needle, you are getting sun light intensity. At f10, partial sunny. At f8, cloudy. At f5.6, really, really cloudy and overcast with a chance of rain.

[NKOrchid]

Estación seca: Yes, it's quite difficult and they might die. I'm trying to put the tall ones with the tall and the short ones with the short, but that's only possible if they have the same requirements. I bought these very tall cymbidiums because they were super cheap and I've never had one before, so... I had to give it a go.

Leafmite: Looks like a cool setup! And great idea with the hooks. I'm really trying to work out something that takes up less space vertically. I'm thinking of buying some sort of bulb that's way longer than it's broad and then hang it horizontally even though it's not made for it.

Tetra73: Basing your decisions on earlier mistakes and experiences makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with light and an actual growing space. I've had orchids all my life pretty much, but I've never had shelves for them with fans and lights. I really want to make it as right as possible, cause I don't have a lot of money to re-do it.
Of course some things you only learn by doing and trying out different things over and over again! By the way, thanks for making me realize that I did not need 200W bulbs at all.

[rbarata]

Have you considered something like this? Takes much less space than a shelf for the same pot qty, and it can handle tall plants.

[Tetra73]

Originally Posted by NKOrchid

Estación seca: Yes, it's quite difficult and they might die. I'm trying to put the tall ones with the tall and the short ones with the short, but that's only possible if they have the same requirements. I bought these very tall cymbidiums because they were super cheap and I've never had one before, so... I had to give it a go.

Leafmite: Looks like a cool setup! And great idea with the hooks. I'm really trying to work out something that takes up less space vertically. I'm thinking of buying some sort of bulb that's way longer than it's broad and then hang it horizontally even though it's not made for it.

Tetra73: Basing your decisions on earlier mistakes and experiences makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with light and an actual growing space. I've had orchids all my life pretty much, but I've never had shelves for them with fans and lights. I really want to make it as right as possible, cause I don't have a lot of money to re-do it.
Of course some things you only learn by doing and trying out different things over and over again! By the way, thanks for making me realize that I did not need 200W bulbs at all.

You should make your decisions based on what people use and what they are growing. I would think that with a book shelf, you are better off with a t5 fixture (2 bulbs). T5HO maybe more light but they generate a lot of heat and isn't that energy efficient. I used to use a 39" T5HO fixture for my planted tank aquarium. The fixture is HOT.

This may interest you...it comes with a bulb too, although only 65k.

T5 HO Indoor Grow Light - 4 ft 1 Lamps DL8041 Fluorescent Hydroponic Fixture Veg | eBay

You can always try LED grow light if the whole red and blue colors do not bother you....

[NKOrchid]

Rbarata: That is quite smart. I'm pretty happy with my shelf and I just bought it, but that way of storing them that's shown in the picture is probably more space sufficient. Maybe I can implement it somehow in my shelf.

Tetra73: That is what I'm trying to base it on, I've read tons of posts, etc. However I will definitely make my own mistakes too. I've looked into tube lights and they'd fit my space pretty great, but for some reason it's really hard to find tubes with high lumen, the right color and CRI and a fixture that matches in length and watts. When I say it's hard to find I mean on a Danish website. I've found some solutions on international websites, but the shipping costs a ton and I can't really afford it. I don't know why it's so hard to find... I'm kind of surprised myself, but it might have to do with the fact that my space is only about 35.4 inches wide.
The tube you've linked to looks great, but they don't ship to Denmark. I have looked myself on Ebay and Amazon and a ton of other places and for some reason new issues pops up with every solution I seem to find.
Your advice is much appreciated.

[Tetra73]

That's because with florescent bulbs, the wattages and lumen are set based on the length of the fixture. Is how it is. If I can and other can get Phals to bloom and rebloom under just t8 or t12 light fixtures, t5 or even t5ho fixtures should be enough for some medium light intensity orchids. If not, you can always add supplemental light or side lights.

If red and blue color lights are your thing, sure, try some LED grow light too...

[NKOrchid]

Red and blue color is really not my thing. I'd rather it looks as natural as possible so I can view my plants and their awesome flowers!

Oh btw, what do you do about the humidity and ventilation? And how important would you say that ventilation and humidity is? Is one more important than the other?
Is it good enough for the same air to circulate in an enclosed space? Or do I need to bring in fresh air?
If I need the fresh air, the "old" and humid air will be transported out directly to my living room... Which I'm not sure would be the best idea.