Growing Orchids Under Lights

[gardenguysorchids]

Hi, My orchid collection has out-grown my windowsill space. I am moving most of my orchids to the basement. They have been outside since May and have done well. The area I am using in my basement is 10' x 10". It has a large double glass sliding door that faces due East. The 2 walls will be covered in white plastic shower curtains. I am planning on using two shop lights for this area. Will these work and will they be enough. What are the best tubes to use? Orchids will be on large refridgerator shelves which are raised off the floor. I have catts,dens, oncids, wilsonia, militonia, slippers and phals. I am planing on keeping my slippers upstairs in east facing windows. Will this system work. I don't want to sink a ton of money into this. I will have fans for air circulation and heat when needed. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I moved my orchids to the basement today since I am having a horrible invasion of web worms this year and am going to be away on vacation next week. I placed the dens and militonias next to the glass door on the floor, the oncids are on a rack behind them about 30 inches off the floor, behind them are the phals. Any orchids that are spiking and my slippers are upstairs at East facing windows and my catts are on a sunny balcony. Hope I am not giving too much info but just wanted to cover all bases so that you could give me advice. Thanks so much in advance and hope to return the favor sometime. Thanks, Bill

[cindiras]

Hey Bill! I gave you an answer when you posted under another thread. Are you using 4 foot fixtures? Try to find either a bulb specifically for plants, or go with a wide spectrum bulb. I use wide spectrum bulbs at present. That is bright enough to flower oncids and some of the catts,but not bright enough for all my catt varieites. Momilani Rainbow likes to be directly under the center of the fixtures. I put phals to the outer edges of the shelves (the fixtures are centered over the shelves). Is that any help?