Indoor Orchid Lighting With Grow Lamps
How to get your orchid lighting right with grow lamps
The orchid family of plants has an amazingly large amount of diversity. Up to 30,000 species of orchids are known. They are popular with people who practice indoor gardening. Here we look are going to be looking at orchid lighting requirements and different ways of meeting them.
When growing orchids indoors, it is important to remember that not all orchids have the same requirements for healthy growth and flowering. Some require low levels of light. Others require higher light levels. Each species has its own specific needs for temperature range, type of soil, amount of moisture, and so on. If the orchid grower is interested in a specific species, then the needs of that species should be researched and accommodated. On the other hand, if the grower has an existing plant environment that is not easily modified, then he or she should search for orchid species that are compatible with that environment.
There are several strategies for providing for the light requirements of orchids grown indoors. The simplest and lowest cost is, of course, to rely on natural light. This may or may not be possible, depending on the orchid’s light requirements and the availability of sunlight in the plant’s location. The opposite extreme is to use only artificial light. In many cases, natural light supplemented by artificial light will be the best approach.
When selecting grow lights to provide light for plants, several factors should be considered. One is the light spectrum produced. Different spectra may be appropriate for different plants or phases of plant growth. The spectrum of a light is generally stated in color temperature in degrees Kelvin. Thus a fluorescent cool white grow bulb may have a color temperature of 6500 K.
Another factor is the total amount of light produced by the bulb or lamp. This is generally measured in lux or foot candles. The amount of electricity consumed is important in that for large installations the capacity of electrical circuits available may be an issue. The heat produced by a lamp is also sometimes a concern, as lots of heat may be harmful to plants or require extra watering.
Incandescent light bulbs are the oldest form of grow bulb. They have a relatively low color temperature and are usually only effective to supplement natural light. They are inefficient in their use of electricity and produce substantial amounts of heat.
Fluorescent grow lamps are probably the most commonly used. They are significantly more efficient than incandescents and are available in more appropriate color temperatures. They also last much longer than incandescent bulbs.
High pressure sodium bulbs, sometimes used in combination with metal halide bulbs, are relatively efficient, but don’t provide the full spectrum of colors needed throughout the total lifespan of many plants. They can be effective when used to supplement natural light. They unfortunately do not enable humans to see flowers in their full range of natural colors.
LED grow lamps are rapidly becoming the technology of choice for illuminating indoor plants. They are highly efficient, long lasting, and can be built to provide exactly the colors needed by plants. Historically rather expensive, they are becoming pretty affordable, particularly considering their efficiency and longevity.
Those are the main options available today for indoor orchid lighting. Please remember that orchid species differ a lot. Research the requirements of yours before making placement and lighting decisions. A well tended collection of orchids can give great pleasure over the years.
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