What to do about lights for orchids?

[Chris in Hamilton]

Karin, are you absolutely sure there is not a problem with your electricity?

[raybark]

Harvey - Did it ship from me, or drop-ship from the manufacturer?

Please contact me via email.

[sciencegal]

Karin, are you absolutely sure there is not a problem with your electricity?

My electricity hasn't burned out any but these brand new ones. I have them plugged into a surge protector strip. When they go out there is a strange sound like something hitting metal. When then second one went out I was standing next to it. Nothing happens for an hour or so then the lights begin flashing like crazy.

Good news is - I emailed Lights of America on Sunday with my complaint. I just received a reply that they will send me three ballasts at no charge. I can't see how they can be replaced but I am taking them up on the offer.

[Chris in Hamilton]

There are several online tutorials on how to replace a ballast. They might help.

[sciencegal]

I have spent two days looking at online tutorials. The ballast on this light is integral with the end piece and the cord. It is all glued together. If they replace the whole end piece that will work until they burn out.

I decided to go with directional LED bulbs as far as investing in anything new. LED seems to have the best ratings as far as not dying. I ordered an 8 pack of Phillips 100W equivalent which are rated at 1500 lumens and they were on sale at half price. I will have to get some clamp-on reflectors but I know I can get them pretty cheap in town. Plus LED hardly uses any electricity and they are not hot. I also ordered two CFL grow lights which are rated as being 5000 to 6000 lumens but I find that hard to believe. They are big 8 inch lights. There are too many worrisome reviews that they burn out in 24 hours, but most reviewers have not had that problem.

If the replacement ballasts work I will continue to use those lights. I have been swiping the lights from my dedicated seedling germination shelves to replace the burnt out ones, so in the spring I will have to replace those. Otherwise, I decided to not invest in anymore lights or fixtures that blow out constantly.

[Snowflake311]

I grow my orchids and "other" high light plants under LED lights. I love it. They are cooler they are consistent and no need to change anything. They last a long time. I have had an LED light on my aquarium for years. All the bulbs are just as bright as the day I got it. My orchids have been under LED lights for 6 months now and doing great. I have 4 or 5 in spike. I have new growth on the others. It is working really well. My red LED is = to a 60 Watt CF When it comes to LED you have the Watts the fixture uses and the Watt number that = what a CF light would be. If that makes sense. This is more than enough for the orchids.

I highly recommend people make the change to LED for so many reasons. The technology is there the lights of today are great.

Here is my set up.

[sciencegal]

I am switching slowly to LED but I simply cannot stand the glowing pink ones. I found that the same company that makes the fluorescent ones that kept burning out the ballasts (they sent me three new ones for free by the way) make a very affordable LED shoplight. I got one and it is very bright (normal light). I have my Latouria dendrobiums under it with no additional window light and they are spiking with the lights on 12 hours per day.

[Azizan]

I grow my orchids and "other" high light plants under LED lights. I love it. They are cooler they are consistent and no need to change anything. They last a long time. I have had an LED light on my aquarium for years. All the bulbs are just as bright as the day I got it. My orchids have been under LED lights for 6 months now and doing great. I have 4 or 5 in spike. I have new growth on the others. It is working really well. My red LED is = to a 60 Watt CF When it comes to LED you have the Watts the fixture uses and the Watt number that = what a CF light would be. If that makes sense. This is more than enough for the orchids.

I highly recommend people make the change to LED for so many reasons. The technology is there the lights of today are great.

Here is my set up.

May I know what can red light do to orchids? I mean the purpose of using red light on orchids. Thank you in advance.

[Snowflake311]

May I know what can red light do to orchids? I mean the purpose of using red light on orchids. Thank you in advance.

Red light is what promotes blooms. SO if you want good blooms you want lights in the red spectrum. A full spectrum is great. In general for all plants blue light is used by the plant to make leaves and roots. Red light is used for blooms and fruiting. All plants use mainly red and blue light from the sun. They are now saying that plants do like green and orange light too but they need more of the blue and red. Since I want blooms I go with the red light. I would have rather had a Full spectrum LED like the one I have for my "other" plants. I got these Pink LED lights cheap and they work great. I take the plants out from under the lights once they are in bloom to enjoy them.

The lights I use for plants that need full sun are these LED that have 3 different settings one for Veg that is blue one for Bloom that is Red and one with all the colors Full spectrum. Orchids are not that picky.

Veg mode for leaf growth


Bloom mode for flower


and ALL for Full spectrum and more power.

[sciencegal]

Some LED manufacturers say that plants only utilize a narrow spectrum of light wave lengths so they use only those colors so that energy is not wasted on the wave length colors that the plants do not need. Others do not agree and produce full spectrum white LED grow lights. One company shows a comparison and their white full spectrum LED lights produce better growth. At least that's the way I understand it.
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