Metal Halide Indoors

[Scucci]

It's starting to get a little cool at nights here, and with Tennessee weather being what it is, I worry about it actually dropping a little too low and day now.

I have some cattleyas that I'm going to be moving inside within the next couple of weeks. I was looking into getting some lighting for them since I don't have a southern window. I was looking into getting a new lighting setup, but since I can barely afford to even pay my phone bill right now, that's out of the question. BUT, I do have an "old" (old as in I've had it for a while, but new in that I've never used it) lighting setup for a reef tank I was building. It's two 175w MH bulbs, reflectors and ballast. The bulbs are 12K (12000K). I was wonder if this would be good enough to keep the orchids inside during the fall/winter/early spring?

The spot I was looking at is about 2.5ft tall so the lights would be hung from there and the plants would be @ 1.5ft away from the bulb... is that too close? I've been trying to read around but I can't really find much information on MH bulbs and orchids.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[nagurski]

1.5 feet seems too close, but I'm not an expert with MH lamps. I've used my share of HPS, and they get extremely hot. I wouldn't want them close to the foliage.

I would try to have at least double this distance.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I'm just bumping this for the growers who use supplemental lighting. (I also moved the thread to a more appropriate location where it will get more views and increase your chances of a quick and certain response.)
I feel like the heat from the lights would be too much at that close range - THAT SAID - I do not grow under lights, especially not the metal Halide lights. Hopefully one of the growers here who do will see this post.

cheers,
BD

[Magnus A]

I grow under 150 W MH and would say that 1.5 feet is on the close side. the heat radiation from a MH is significant and could burn your orchids.

For the color temperature it is better than nothing but way to blue compared to ordinary plant light. Though If you do not have anything else it is better than none.

[Naoki]

My Vandas are under 400W MH light and the current distance is only 1.5 feet or less. Those leaves are 'apple-green' and some are showing 'purplish' color. They, however, seem to be much happier and I do not see any sign of being burned.