I got a light meter, and am surprised at the readings

[SnowFalcon]

I knew the task lamp I bought was bright it's producing almost a 1000 footcandles. Crazy I found an app for my phone and it seems to be working

[Call_Me_Bob]

Actually, 1,000 footcandles is pretty low. To give you an example, good light for phalaenopsis is in the range of 1,500-2,500 footcandles

[SnowFalcon]

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

Actually, 1,000 footcandles is pretty low. To give you an example, good light for phalaenopsis is in the range of 1,500-2,500 footcandles

why can't everyone agree on the same range? It's gets confusing after a while as to how much light to give.


I've gotten answers between 500 to 2000 it's frustrating

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by SnowFalcon

why can't everyone agree on the same range? It's gets confusing after a while as to how much light to give.


I've gotten answers between 500 to 2000 it's frustrating

Sorry, I replied to that via Tapatalk and all that showed up was part of one of your posts, I didn't see all the other replied.

People all can't agree on a range because for each orchid grower there is a different method to growing. 1,00-2,500 is an optimal range, but that's not to say that given the right circumstances (such as increased humidity and airflow to the accompany higher light levels) Phalaenopsis can't do well under other light levels 1,00-2,500 is just what is optimal.

[My Green Pets]

Right, i mean mine has five buds getting ready to open and its been getting 150-300 fc since october. More light, more flowers, i guess.

[AvantGardner]

I grow under lights in my basement in the winter. I have a 400 w HPS and a 4 x 2' T5 setup that run for 12-13 hrs. My phals read about 500 fc, which is well below the reccomended 1000-2000 fc. They don't stop blooming! My multifloral paphs read about 1000 fc, which is well below the recommended 2000-3000 fc, and the leaves of my Lady Isabel are nearing sunburn. Point being- I don't trust my light meter.

When I got my light meter I was summering my plants outside in a shadehouse and was disappointed at the rate of growth (or lack thereof). As it turned out 50% shade plus 80% shade plus almost continual tree shade throughout the day was just not enough light. The light meter worked great for this application and confirmed my hypothesisat first I removed the 50% cloth for a few days, then the 50 went back on and the 80% came off. It was amazing how my plants took off.

I had heard the warnings about using light meters in home for both under lights and windowsill applications. Somehow my plants survived last winter, and the fc reading of my last light setup was somewhere around 100 fc. Needless to say my plants didn't thrive. But I still managed to bloom a paph roth...

Let the leaves tell you what your plants need. Dark green misshapen leaves are a sure sign of too little light, I know this from experience. Bleached out yellow leaves are a sure sign of high light, I know this from experience. And while many factors play in to those facts, decent temp/humidity/water/fert, once your plants adjust to your conditions it's amazing how tolerant they are!

[My Green Pets]

It's so true. Three months of short, dark, cold days and still I'm going to have some flowers. Orchids are awesome

[Magnus A]

You are probably mixing up light values!

The very high values recommended is often the maximum light intensity at mid day at the natural habitat, close to the equator and that has very little to do with the plants need !

You have to consider the accumulated light energy the plants get over the day and if you use artificial light you have a constant flux of light over the day that is NEVER present in nature!


If those very high light values were correct it would be impossibly to grow orchids indoors in terrariums! And it is not!

[My Green Pets]

Today the angle of the sun has finally reached the point to where direct light made it through the windows. This is the first ray of light since the beginning of November.

Light meter readings have skyrocketed to 4000-5000 lux/400-500 footcandles on the orchids and over 8000 lux/800 fc in the direct light.

I feel that I can safely say that the dark period is over! Bring on the growth, bring on the light!

[Vanda lover]

I think that sometimes orchids can get by just fine on less light than recommended. My neighbour has a neglected paph that is stuck between 2 huge jade plants in a North window. It is now in spike.