LED lighting.

[raybark]

The reason LEDs became so popular with pot growers is the low energy consumption.

Basements can have the windows blacked out, and carbon filters can be put on vents to quash the odor emanating from the plants, but "Hello, Mr. Jones. I'm Officer Smith, and I'd like to know why your electric bill is double that of your neighbors?" Lower that with LEDs, and you're less likely to be caught.

I have been growing some plants indoors under LED bulbs I have custom-made made for resale. Because I did not want the "alien" appearance in my home, they are made up of cold white, warm white, and red diodes to better match the plants' spectral needs, while still appearing true in color. I am using one over phals, paphs and some African violets about ten feet from a small, north-facing bathroom window (i.e., the lamp is the sole source of light), and two in a terrarium in my family room (again - sole source of light), and everything is growing and blooming nicely under them.

I have been considering completely insulating and enclosing my greenhouse, and installing LEDs in it for year 'round growth. I pay roughly $4500 a winter to heat the thing, so if I can cut that significantly, the payback on the LEDs might not be so long.

[pavel]

Ray, pertaining to your situation you might find my post on this thread useful:
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...e-reasons.html


Oh and for his lighting, he is using all LEDs. The LEDs are in 4ft tubes like the standard shoplight fluorescent tubes. As I recall he uses a ratio of 2:1 or 2:1:1 white to red & blue. (I can't remember if the red and blue LEDs are mixed in one tube or if it is a tube of red and a tube of blue.) He said that the white tubes are brilliant enough to easily dispel the purple "alien" appearance one would otherwise wind up with.

[raybark]

Was that "Littlefrog", by any chance?