Growing Orchids under lights..

[raindeepak4u]

Hi all ,

I am planning to grow orchids indoor with CFL or PLL or metal halide lamp.the reason why i am going for indoor means , i am basically from india, we have a lots of temperature fluctuation through out the year. so planning to keep some dwarf species under controlled environment . so i am looking for your suggestions and feedback.

[delilah]

Go for it, Deepak, though you'd wasting all that lovely heat and humidity available outdoors. It depends on what you want to grow, though, I suppose.

[Germinatorman]

Remember that metal halide is a blue light, good for growth and for raising young plants. High Pressure Sodium is yellow light and good for bloom. Mixing the two is also an option. For miniatures, I use T5 flourescents. I am blooming rupiculous laelias under them as well as miniature oncidiums, Sophronitis and mini ascocentrum. They are too bright for most of the Masdevalia.

[orchidlady]

I also have T5 fluorescents and have had great success after switching from T12. I use a combination of the warm and cool grow light bulbs. Difficult to grow anything tall, though.

Susan