Need Grow light help?

Hello everyone,
I admit I am a total newbie when it comes to grow lights as I was spoiled with a house with many east facing windows. However I am finishing medical school in May and have put a bid in on a house in the city that I matched in to complete my residency. The house has great qualities but is really short on natural light. My orchids are on two shelving systems that sit in front of large windows. I would like to purchase some economical (energy and initial purchase price wise) lighting systems for the orchids. I also like a natural looking light as opposed to the "purple glow" that I see from some of the lighting. I have seen 3 tier systems with natural looking LED light selling for around $850 USD which has light on each of the three shelves. I am not sure if this is the best way to go or if there is a better way to light up my green things since I can no longer depend on natural light. My oncidium hybrids will go under the patio on a table most likely but the paphs and phals will be the ones using the lights. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Hi Traci all the best may everything going very smooth coming May. I have no experience growing using artificial light but now days they are so many LED light with low energy consumption definitely good for your project I believe Ray can give you some idea/input including Geoff,Elio and others.

Tracie, I am sure you are very glad that the school part is almost over, now on to the treating of us!

As you know, like Zain, I am also in an area where artificial light is like a new science I have to learn, I would agree someone will know and give you some good advise. Good luck and keep us posted!

Fortunately for you, Traci, phals and paphs are relatively undemanding of light, making your efforts that much easier.

i agree with you, and highly recommend white LED lamps rather than the red/blue ones that give plants an alien look. The key variables are area to be covered, distance from lamps to plants, and lamp wattage. Definitely go with linear lamps, rather than incandescent bulb replacements, spots or floods.

Assuming your shelves are roughly 12" x 48", and spaced about 18" apart - meaning maybe 9"-10" clearance above the plants, you may be able to get away with a single strip per shelf, although a couple of lower-wattage ones would provide the same intensity, spread more uniformly over the shelf.

They don't HAVE TO be plant lights, either. Certainly that's preferred, but not essential. Google "LED light strips" and you'll find plenty. A couple of 32-watt "equivalent" lamps (17 watts actual) in a shop light fixture would probably work well.

Thank you Zain, Jack, and Ray. Yes it feels good to get to the treating part of medicine. I know the first year will be tough but I am looking forward to it. Ray I will google those LED lights and see what I find. I have two neon as well but I am guessing they will do okay with the grow lights as well. I have one small window that I will put a collection of plants by and then use the grow lights for the majority of them.

Neon????

Oh I love autocorrect. Neofinetia falcata and Psychopsis