Need advice, starting out with lights
 

Hello,

Restarted my collection about half a year ago, and since days are becoming shorter in my already low-light conditions i feel it's time for me to invest in a light set up.

However, since this is my first time with lights and my small collection of under 20 species i would like to start out with a budget setup to learn.

Now the question is what will be suitable for my condition, looking to stay under approx. 100 euros and saw they offer complete kits, linking below;

PL: Complete set (24 Watt)

PL: Complete set (36 Watt)

PL: Complete set (55 Watt)

Here is a link to the full page of lights they offer

I would prefer ordering from this vendor (click), since they also sell the heating pads i am looking to get, they also offer complete sets, please advise!

Now my question is, should i go with one of these sets, and if i do does it contain everything i need to install and make them work?

To give you an idea of what plants i grow i will outline below what i am growing currently;

Cischweinfia dasyandra
Bulbophyllum putidum
Bulbophyllum lepidum
Bulbophyllum longissimum
Maxillaria picta
Aerangis modesta
Nanodes porpax
Rhyncholaelia digbyana
Dendrobium toressae
Mediocalcar decoratum
Barbosella australis
Dinema polybulbon
Maxillaria juergensis
Maxillaria parahybuensisis
Maxillaria sophronitis
Dendrobium laevifolium

I am still waiting for some to arrive but most on the list i already own.
I am growing them on windowsill currently and can provide good conditions except lighting.

Need some lights that can support about 10 plants atleast and will be easy for me to handle so please advise if the "set" will do, and what one i should go for.

Also links to information about lighting would be usefull, really no clue on what makes a good set!

Jeff

I have a 36W and a 55W, both from Rainforest Frogs (I live a 40 minute bike ride away from their shop). You get the light, ballast, socket for the light, and the reflector, and have to put everything together yourself. The electric cable+plug is not included so either you order one as well, or get one somewhere else. I installed mine on an aluminum 'board' (ballast gets extremely hot) and hang it above the plants.

I use these to supplement the light of some of my plants (need to get some more lights) get from their north-east facing window in NL, and also as the main source of light for some phals in FR. Nicole (Blueszz) made an orchidarium for her phals with 4x36W and I think she had to turn off 2 of them because the phals spikes were frying.

And I have to say that I very much recommend them. I have the phals in france under the 36W, and they were turning purple. In NL I use the 55W, and I would say that you can grow any orchids that are fine with intermediate light levels, maybe even interm-high orchids if you put them close enough.

If you do get any, just an FYI Rainforest frogs does not stock the 55W so they must first order from their supplier, so you may have to wait a few weeks for them. I ended up waiting so long to get my 55W one that the store graciously gave me an electronic ballast for the same price. I'll probably get a custom built terrarium from them once/if I settle down in Wageningen permanently.

@ Jeff
from what I have read, using two of the PL: Complete set (24 Watt), should do, but don't take my word for it I am just starting out, I just remember reading that somewhere about a month ago that, if you want to get really into it, you can set them up in an aquarium, lined with either mylar or aluminum foil to keep it cheap. hope this helps

@camille; thanks, did you also see the complete set i linked does this contain everything you listed i need?

and yeah, i would like to hang it above a tank in the future so i would probably have to make my own "mount" for the lights? or are these for sale also for a decent price?

i dont mind spending money on lights or mounts for them but if it is into the ridiculous range then i'm not bothering.

thanks again, would like to read some more information before i order

At Rainforestfrogs you will get everything I listed except for the electric cable. At the other website you show you don't get the reflector (or cable) with it. As for mounting I used whatever I could find laying around in the basement. The 55W is mounted on aluminum, the 36W is on wood. You will also need electric wire to wire the ballast and light holder together.Then you'll need a drill to put holes in the mount to screw everything on. And also need to know how to assemble the darn thing! (I had my uncle do it for me)

I would think that wood is the easiest. You can go to Gamma (you're in NL right?) and get a board, and if it bothersome getting it home I think they can cut it for you. My wood mount is about 6-8cm wide. If you go for wood it would be a good idea to buy one of those silicon baking sheets at Action or Blokker and cut pieces to put 1 or 2 layers of it between the ballast and wood to avoid a fire hazard. I will look up the emails I got from Nicole when she assembled hers.

If you would like, I can post a pic of mine so you see how I did it. (if I can find the photos!) But overall if the assembling bit doesn't scare you too much and you have the equipment for it, these lights are cheap considering how well they work. My uncle already had everything he needed, so i can't tell you how much extra it costs to make homemade mounts.