What Lighting for Indoor Orchid Garden?
 

As a beginner with 5 cattleya, a few dendrobiums and 2 vanda, I'd like to have the right environment so as to add many more orchids.
I'm wanting to convert an upstairs room (really an open loft area) into a 'small' orchid garden (1.5 x 3 metres) and therefore needing advice on lighting this area.

I need to supplement the usually cloudy day time light which passes through 2 ceiling windows and 1 side window, all facing south-East.

Not sure how this works but, Firstly, I was thinking of dividing my orchids into 3 categories according to temperature, lighting and humidity requirements. i.e. Hot, temperate, and cool temperatures,
high, medium and low lighting; the same for the humidity requirements ---hi, med, lo.

After this lighting situation is set-up I'm hoping to get:
Angraecums
Ascocendas
Acinetas
Aerangis
colegynes
Cymbidiums (chinese species, said to be warm growing)
Lycastes
Idas
Notylias
...and a very big risky maybe---Masdevallias

I've been advised that I need to have both blue and red spectrum lighting for well maintaining, growing and blooming the orchids(?)--not sure.
There's only one store near me which sells lighting/supplies for indoor gardens and this is what the guy proposed in the link below:

http://www.indoorgardens.fr/catalog/...-igs-1240.html

He however warned me that this could generate too much heat 30-35°c in winter and almost 40°C in summer.
I want to affix the lighting to the ceiling which is apprx.
1.25 meters from the plants. The sales guy says this is too far to really benefit the orchids.

Some of the orchids require high but 'indirect' light and others need low lighting. How to solve this dilemma? Will the light intensity really be too much?

Could someone kindly tell me once and for all, what lighting will allow me to achieve:
- High, but indirect lighting
- Lighting affixed to the ceiling (1.25Meters from plants)
- suitable temperatures, i.e. it wont generate too much heat and fry my plants
-A separation between high and low lighting for the orchid needs
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lighting
 

Hi. I added a product called "Wonderlite"
Orchid Lights, Humidity Trays, Grow Lights, Plant Tables, Watering Globes & Watering Stakes
after I bought a house and my plants, just 7 phals at the time, wouldn't bloom, and just didn't look happy. Within 3 months of setting up the light they were all in bloom. Since then I've gone crazy and am up to over 200 plants of various genus. Check out the red/blue spectrum chart on their web site as I think this is a major selling point of theirs. They also have a recommended placement chart for different plant light needs. I have found this light extremely helpful to my growing indoors and have tons of new growth and can bloom anything so far. I don't have experience with any other lights (e.g.florescence), but hear they work well too. Good luck!

Hi Jeffg, how many watts do you use? Does local store carry this light? Do you have a pic of your grow area? I have used hydrofarm grow light and fixture for 3 years no luck blooming my orchids so,
im thinking of changing my grow lights.

light
 

Starwhiz,

I use the 160w bulb and got a "swiveler" fixture to mount. At $90 shipped, not inexpensive, but, what's the cost of even a mild greenhouse trip??
Not in stores as far as I know - website only. My understanding is that it works so well because it fills blue/red parts of spectrum.
Pix of grow area on member info or, better yet, social group titled Western North Carolina Orchid Society.

After 3 years without results, I'd probably change too. I swear by these lights. Good luck. Jeff

lighting indoor orchid garden
 

Thanks for the info Jeffy. Can you tell me how far are the plants from the light bulb? How hot is the light? Do you know the fc near the light? thanks again. -leo

light
 

Leo,
The light comes with a guide for placement of the plants - from 1-7 feet, if I recall, based on their light requirements. I have them mounted so nothing is any closer than about 18" (Catts Tolumnia etc) as the lights do get warm. I have ceiling fans that keep the air moving and that helps disperse the heat.
I tried to check FC's with a meter, but didn't feel an accurate read happened, as I also have light from windows.
These are strong lights - I have bloomed Catts Onc. Tolumnia, well, everything with them. I can only recommend.
Jeff