Got a grow-light for anniversary, please comment!

[evArgreen78]

Looking for some opinions and feedback on personal experience with indoor supplemental lighting and greenhouses.

I received a 150w High power sodium light system for a gift and am eager to set it up. I have several cattleyas, encyclia tampensis and some oncidium orchids. I believe these are plants that prefer more light than my phals, so I would place them under the new light. They are already in a window that gets daily filtered light, a place my phals love but after reading I am thinking my other plants need more light to reflower.
So, question 1, does anyone use HPS lights or have any experience with them? From what I can tell, this size light will cover a 2X2 area, but with the window light it seems like that should do the trick.

My second plan, for who knows when , is to get a small, multi-shelf, closed-in greenhouse unit off a website. It would fit in the window area, have the room to hang a light and also a fan. I could also control humidity/temp this way. I would want to use this HPS in that as well, so does anyone have experience with that sort of set-up?

I apologize for so many questions and info, I think the coming fall is bringing out my mama instincts to prepare all my babies for winter

[78Terp]

Yes, you are right, catts, oncidium types encyclia.... like more light than phals.

I have several of the 'mini-greenhouses'. And have added fluorescence T5 lights to them. HPS generate heat, I think. So the plastic material of the mgh might not work well with HPS. Though you don't have to use the plastic cover of the mini-greenhouse and just make modular shelving out of it. I have it both ways. My outside shelving is made of leftover mini-greenhouse parts. And I have 3 mgh's with the covers on.

[raybark]

I agree with Harvey, your HPS would be too much for an enclosed, mini-GH.

They put out about 40-45% more light than does a T5 HO fluorescent of the same wattage, so you're going to need to put it at a greater distance from the plants, too.

[evArgreen78]

Very helpful! I would have been pretty disappointed if I melted my new greenhouse. So if I opted to use the HPS for the cattleyas and such, it would have to be in a more open area, and maybe use my current spot grow light in the enclosed MGH... Geez, seems like this lighting/humidity/heat thing can get pretty complex.