"news" writes:
orchids. This hobby is becoming more and more intense for me. So I decided
that it is time to install an artificial lighting system. Could you suggest
sources where to look for them? Because it would be placed in an apartment,
an aesthetically pleasant design would be a plus.

Please share your expertise.

I picked up mine from http://www.ils.no/. The site is norwegian only,
I am afraid. You want the menu on the main page which reads
"Display/effekt belysning", then "230V"/"230V-Spotlights/3T
strømskinner". Have a look at "Spotlight Millennium HQI". I have a 75w
now, plus 5x50w of halogen spots on the same rail, which keeps my phal
and epidendrum happy. I am going to visit them again to pick up
something like a 150-250w fixture to keep my vanda and dendrobium
happy - and to save a bit of power. Electricity is pricy in Norway
right now.

You want the rod-formed bulbs (Rx7s), not the bulb-shaped ones
(G12). They yield more light for the same wattage.

These kinds of lights are used in supermarkets, usually in the veggie
department. Ask your local supermarket who does their electrics, then
call them. They can either help you out themselves, or point you in
the right direction of a vendor.

A 75w HCI bulb is far too bright to be comfortable in an apartment. I
run mine from 7am to 5pm with a simple timer. It isn't on when I am
here. People say you should consider changing the bulb once every
year. The bulb costs something along the lines of $30 here.

You don't want to know the price of the fixtures with all the
trimmings.

Geir