One toe into the water - First terrarium

[Paul Mc]

So, I don't understand why as the science is beyond me, but on my light meter (non-app) there is a switch to change the reader from CFL to sunlight. If I use the sunlight on the CFL, it makes the reader read extremely low, but flipping that switch makes it higher. I am thinking your app may be reading for sunlight and not alternate light sources, thus the lower reading.

[Paul Mc]

Perhaps Ray can chime in on this as he seems to understand the science better and might have a better answer than I.

[ATXOrchids]

Yeah I'm definitely not jumping to any conclusions yet...I have the LED array on for 12 hours and "daylight" length matters too...I'll be upping the light intensity this weekend and will play around with my phone meter to see what I get.

I'm just glad the Phal. is growing b/c I paid good $ for that years ago. The Oncidium is a rescue, but that would be satisfying to get it healthy.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

So, I don't understand why as the science is beyond me, but on my light meter (non-app) there is a switch to change the reader from CFL to sunlight. If I use the sunlight on the CFL, it makes the reader read extremely low, but flipping that switch makes it higher. I am thinking your app may be reading for sunlight and not alternate light sources, thus the lower reading.

Make sure that the reader is using the same measurement for both sources; daylight is often measured in foot candles (fc), while artificial light is often measured in lux. 1fc=10.76lux The whitegoods app measures in either, you just change the settings tabs. One other thought Patrick; did you switch the app to use the front camera when you were measuring?

[ATXOrchids]

I have an iPhone 3, so I have to use the back camera, however I did get the hang of using the timer and checked other light sources. If I take a reading like 1 ft from a ceiling fan with 3 daylight bulbs, I get 1500 fc or more, so I think it's working correctly.

[ATXOrchids]

Okay, I made a couple changes tonight. I replaced the LED array with a single CFL. It's a 5000k but I forgot to check the wattage. I also took the Oncidium out of its media and confirmed that it was rotting away. But there are some new roots up top. I put it back into the wooden basket without any medium and raised it way up to the light. I measured the light with my phone. The Oncidium is getting around 4000fc and the Phal. is getting about 120fc. I probably need to raise the Phal. up a bit to get it into the 1500 zone.

[isurus79]

I would also add some media to the Oncidium. Going from rotting media to no media is a pretty big change for a stressed orchid! And then buy some more orchids! lol

[Paul Mc]

I would also add that going from that low of light to that high of light on a stressed plant may cause some issues as well. Just keep a sharp eye out.

May I ask if there was a reason for the 5000k? You really would want something closer to the 6500k as this is closer to the color spectrum used by orchids. Just my 2 cents.

Overall, looks like great progress! Keep us posted in how things develop. And for heaven's sake, fill that thing with orchids!!!! LOL...

[quiltergal]

The 6500ks are also much less expensive than the 5000s. I've been using T5s for years with only 6500k bulbs, and have successfully bloomed everything but vandas.

[ATXOrchids]

I used the 5000K bulb because that's what I had lying around. I just went to Home Depot and see that they have a line of 6500K long tubes (T# etc) but I could not find any CFLs in that temp. I'll probably order a couple online unless someone knows where to get them from the big box stores locally.

Okay, I'll put the Oncidium back into medium, but will keep it drier. I'm sure that little guy is very confused

Thanks for all the input!