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

[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.

[My Green Pets]

That was...some science right there. So I should be looking at 50 to 70 percent roughly of the maximum recommended levels? Either way, my experience this winter has shown me that at less than 2000 lux and a photoperiod of less than 8 hours, my phals will spike and flower, although the flower count is low.

[Optimist]

Plants and humans use light differently. Plants photosynthasis has do with color wavelengths, not light intensity. Foot candle light meters are for photography.

Plants photosynthasise using the orange and red spectrum, at about 600 to 700 kelvin.


The human eye can only see about 550.

I kind of think when people say Light, they are all talking about different things.