converting sauna --8 bulb T5 HO --too much?
 

Planning to convert a sauna that we never use to a grow space. I am thinking I will have one T5HO fixture for the room. There are benches at two levels so I can have orchids at various heights/distances from the light. I would like to grow a high (catts, small vandacious hybrids) medium (oncidium) and low (paphs and phals) by placing them higher or lower under this fixture. The room will comfortably accommodate a 4 foot fixture. I am wondering whether to go with a 8 bulb T5HO fixture. This would be very bright but I would keep the plants at varying distances from the lights. Would appreciate any thoughts/guidance on whether 8 bulbs is just too much . . . .Also, would appreciate any recommendations on vendors.

You did say sauna. It will get very hot in there with that technology.

They have some good LED lights you might investigate that would help keep the heat down. I just bought a two foot LED light from Amazon:

Amazon.com : Sunblaster LED Grow Light Fixture 6400K - 2 ft : Garden & Outdoor

And you are going to love that light, Leafmite!

Yes, sauna, but the heat is turned off! Should have clarified that! It is basically a cedar paneled room with benches, and since it is enclosed I can control humidity and temperature.

I took notes when you mentioned it. :)

What distances are you anticipating - light-to-plants - for the various heights?

Ray, thank you for your response. The short answer is that I can control the distances. I have sent you an email with more details about the space. Would so appreciate your guidance!

Email response given, but once you start a thread, you really ought to follow it through to its conclusion, so others may learn from your query and the responses.

My point is high-output T5 fluorescent lights (HO T5) generate a lot of heat, perhaps not much less than the built-in sauna heater. If you have that space closed you will need an air conditioner to keep the plants from cooking.

This is why others have recommended LED lighting, which runs cooler, and can be more efficient/lose less energy to heat. Most of those have a built-in inverter to convert from the wall AC to the DC they use, and that also generates heat.