Need help with art.light for phals in florarium
 

Hi!

I've been reading a lot before writing but i figured it would be best to ask for your advise directly. I'm building an orchidarium where i only want to grow phal. species so i need the same condition everywhere in the growing area. The measures would be the following and the red line is where i thought to put the artificial lighting.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...riterv-2-1.jpg
I'm planning to have all the plants mounted and hanged on the back sheet. First i'd like to ask if my concept of having the light installed right in front of the plants rather than on the top of the florarium is good or not because i've been told all over the last month that it won't work well. Everybody thinks that this way they will grow badly towards the lamps and will be deformed, shaded, etc which i really can't understand why. In my opinion if i took the lamp and put them on top i would have sufficient light on the upper 10"-12" area and that's it, all the plants lower would only suffer. (If i had to place the light on the top i couldn't even imagine how many tubes to use in order to get sufficient light levels at the lower areas.. :S ) I really can't think of a reason why i shouldn't try my idea as i pictured it above.. Please please correct me if the one who's wrong about it is me.
The other thing is that i now maybe get the idea of lumens and kelvins and other stuff, so i guess having two 24-30W 6500K T5 or T8 tubes ~10" away from the plants would be correct. I wasn't able to find any lamps around 2700k but i hope i will manage without it. So these are the followings i've found and thought to use, please tell me which one should i go with.

- T5 HO F39W/865 daylight 6500K 16x849mm (Osram FQ or Philips TL5)
- Sylvania Grolux T5 FHO39W/GRO 8500K 16x849mm (might be a little too much kelvin?)
- Osram Biolux T8 L30W/965 Daylight 6500K 26x895mm (probably the best choice i think)

I've figured daylight lamps are better for my purpose than skywhite and should use HO instead of HE, hope i'm right. I've read and heard that if i can get anything with 965 rating it's a winner... :D I don't know that either.
So, if i had to i also could do a combo with lesser watt tubes on the front and one big bulb on the top (eg. 230V 65W E27 daylight 6500K 3500lm), anything is possible just suggest me something please :D I would be very grateful for any information. Thank you!

Maria

The T8 has a better CRI, but fewer lumens output, but for phals that's not as critical, you're probably correct about the choice.

I don't know what to think about the lighting orientation. Sunlight is naturally from above, but if the plants lean forward, it will actually replicate how they grow attached to trees (and prevent moisture retention in the crown). Have you considered making the enclosure taller, and having two levels of lights?

Thx for the reply! You mean something like this?
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chidarium1.jpg
Yes i've considered the idea but only for a slight moment because if i use this kind of 2-terrace-living-place thing than i don't see what's the point in me hanging the plants at all :D Than they should remain in pots and sit on trays in order to grow upwords, don't they? Anyway, i'm buying 2 of that biolux for sure and a light meter, and than i'll decide if they go to the top or not, i guess.. But i'm up for any other opinions or suggestions :)

Well, the florarium is ready and has been working well for the last month. Fortunatelly I didn't have to prepare the set myself coz I got the whole lamp as a package. So I used 2 t5 tubes and everybody's happy under it so far :)
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/DSC00445.jpg

Looking good!!

Nice looking orchidarium! I guess you'll know if the lights are enough for the ones at the bottom when those start spiking.

I liked your original idea about having the light from the side. While it may not be natural, I know that in Japan (which is tight on space) some lettuce is grown hydroponically on the walls of tall closet like structures with the lights on the side.

Very nice set up.
Joann