Led grow lights tripod

[IvoPhal]

Winter time and sunlight is to 4 p.m.
I found some cheap grow lights in the basement and I’m wondering if they do more harm than good ( see pic below).
I read the forum and the recommendations were 750 fc for 10 hours approximately …
Could you help me with choice to use them if yes, which spectrum or to invest for better ones (talking about winter time).
Right now the paphs are close to window E/South . You can see on the top are branchys ( 1 concolor is going to bloom).

 

[big923cattleya]

The bottom image is of my orchids going under an 8 tube, T-5 tube fixture sold by Hydro Farm. Only 6 bulbs are lit. That is a single Cattleya bicolor in the image. Today there are 35 orchids within that 4’ x 4’ area.
Foot candle reading 3” below bulbs are a little over 2,800. I operate under the feeling that mature Catts need 30,000 total foot candles total to flower. Divide 30,000 by 2,800 means about 11 hours a day. I have it on a ten hour timer, 7 am to 7 pm. I have a C. amethystoglossa x C. aclandiae hybrid pumping out 9 flowers on two spikes. Things look really good under those lights for about eleven weeks now. Fixture was around $130.

The top image was from a three bulb shelve on a plant cart. Those shelves are adjustable height wise. The Compact Cattleyas, hybrids and species are getting 10 hours a day of around 2,000 ft. candles. A mixed collection of smaller Paphs. like helenae, henryanum, armeniacum, emersonii etc. are about 6-8” below the three tubes. They are growing well and blooming.
All my experiences in life have left me with the idea that I HATE TO SPEND MONEY TWICE!!! That is why I sprung for $130 fixture. I wanted as much light intensity as I could rather then going much cheaper and having the plants fail to bloom.
I just love my results so far!!!

 

[IvoPhal]

I suppose that mine have to be changed, thank you for the illustrative exemple.

 

[big923cattleya]

You are welcome.
I am not a salesman for Gardners Supply so no commission. But I have to say that I could not get big Cattleyas to do much of anything under the three tube shelf. However under the other, BOOM! Things are much better.
It came with tubes, chains to hang it from and heavy duty wiring! For the 8 months I use it, I guess it will cost me way less than $100 to illuminate it. 240 days x 10 hours equals 2,400 hours. I do not think that they are costly to run.
Just hang it and plug it in.

 

[TyroneGenade]

Winter time and sunlight is to 4 p.m.
I found some cheap grow lights in the basement and I’m wondering if they do more harm than good ( see pic below).
I read the forum and the recommendations were 750 fc for 10 hours approximately …
Could you help me with choice to use them if yes, which spectrum or to invest for better ones (talking about winter time).
Right now the paphs are close to window E/South . You can see on the top are branchys ( 1 concolor is going to bloom).
View attachment 50898

What are specs for the lamps? Does it tell you wattage, PAR or PPFD? You need at least 200-300 PPFD over the plants.

I have a PPFD meter app on my phone I use to estimate PPFD. These are typically calibrated to white light and will underestimate your actual PPFD. I think you would need to multiply your measurement by 1.3. I will double check and get back to you.

Plants will grow toward the light so overhead lighting is much better than from the side.

 

[IvoPhal]

60 watts, from the seller description:"Blue light (420nm-460nm) can promote plant germination and seedling growth, red light (630nm-660nm) can promote the plant flowering and fruiting, white 3500K high uniform light increases light intensity and is good for the whole plant growth phase."

 

[big923cattleya]

You are welcome.
I am not a salesman for Gardners Supply so no commission. But I have to say that I could not get big Cattleyas to do much of anything under the three tube shelf. However under the other, BOOM! Things are much better.
It came with tubes, chains to hang it from and heavy duty wiring! For the 8 months I use it, I guess it will cost me way less than $100 to illuminate it. 240 days x 10 hours equals 2,400 hours. I do not think that they are costly to run.
Just hang it and plug it in.

Those T-5 tubes are rated at 6,500k
I forget what wattage they are. I really think they were like +/- 50 watts each.
Like I said, I use foot candles. I have to take a picture of my light meter in a while and add it to this thread.

 

[IvoPhal]

Thank you big923cattleya, yes, indeed in not expensive to run. I have to think about "chains to hang it from and heavy duty wiring". My family is not going to be happy about that, unfortunately.
I downloaded the PPFD meter app, like TyroneGenade and after work I'll measure to see If mine lamps works for my purposes (phals and paphs) at all.

 

[big923cattleya]

The chains are bright, small linked, and silvery. Not ugly really.
The wiring is black and a heavier gauge for the consumer's protection. The plug has a ground wire. I would honestly say that the unit is not pretty looking but it is no an eyesore either.

 

[IvoPhal]

Yes, indeed, it's really compact, 3 ways to use it and it's available in Europe too, thank you very much for "lightening" me!

 

[TyroneGenade]

Hello,

I have two of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-24-Led-Linkable-Grow-Light/713072660 and then some of these : https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Inte...4-7988303-0955128/ref=rp?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The Grow lamps are 12W and give 43 PPFD at about 12 inches. This is about 3.6 PPFD/W. The Barrina are 20W and give about 47 PPFD at 12 inches. This is about 2.35 PPFD/W. So, the conversion is about 1.5x going from grow lamp PPFD to 6500K LED PPFD.

I have about 90 total PPFD at plant level over my plants and the lamps are on for 12 hours per day (DLI ~ 4). This is enough to flower Tolumnia, Ansellia and mini-Catts. It is ample for flowering Paphs and Masevallia. My windowsill Catts get about 200-300 PPDF per day (8-10 hours direct sun) so that is a DLI of 6-11. Catts apparently need a minimum of 150 PPDF so I will need to get another light bar over my home-catts.

 

[IvoPhal]

Thank you very much for guidance I downloaded PPFD meter and right know I’m reading the manual.
Very useful info regarding how to use properly artificial light and the links from Amazon.
At least but not last, I love your signature - the quote from Voltaire. Very, very true!

 

[southernbelle]

I use 5,000 k 4’ tubes 42w each. My high light cattleyas grow and bloom well (even digbyana) under 3 tubes 24” -30” above canopy. Other catts under 2 tubes, phals, milts, Paphs unde r1.

 

[TyroneGenade]

I use 5,000 k 4’ tubes 42w each. My high light cattleyas grow and bloom well (even digbyana) under 3 tubes 24” -30” above canopy. Other catts under 2 tubes, phals, milts, Paphs unde r1.

View attachment 50909

That's about 190 PPFD.

 

[southernbelle]

That's about 190 PPFD.

I have a PAR meter that measures LEDs accurately. Just checked. That table has plants measuring 250-350 PAR depending on where on the table they are. Highest are near center and +- 20” top of canopy below lights. Others are +- 24-30”. I didn’t need this many tubes and could have fewer with lights closer to plants, but really wanted the head room, as I lift plants to sink to water.
I also grow smaller phrags using this light table from Gardener’s Supply.
https://www.gardeners.com/buy/bamboo-display-led-light-garden/8598086.html

 

[IvoPhal]

Very nice set up, really stylish.
Actually, my led "grow" lights are totally useless - 15 PPFD μmol/(m2-s) in the evening, at canopy level.
So, I'm looking for plant stand trolley form amazon or Ikea and I will assemble it with real grow lights.
Thank you all for the help, without your guidance I'll continue to keep non-existing "grow" lights and fertilize weekly, weekly...

 

[IvoPhal]

Update:
Cloudy winter day and some PPFD measurements next to window:
Still wondering about lights…to the February the light should be around 8 hours….

 

[TyroneGenade]

Those numbers look great.

 

[IvoPhal]

Windowsill measurements, I try it this way during wintertime without rest and watch them closely, feeding weekly.
Thank you for your help.

 

[big923cattleya]

Here are a couple of images of the light meter I am using. It comes with directions and a protective case. I found it on e-bay for about $38 dollars.
Not only do I get my foot candle readings that I prefer, I can get temperature, humidity and a host of others.