Thanks!

So , your saying that 2 -48` shoplight ( 4 tubes ) will be better for ma
Phal than a 1 -48`shoplight ( 2 tubes ) .
What about the kind of tube you`re using?
I was thinking a mix of Cold and warm or just Daylight?

Claude

"TZ" wrote in message
om...
| Hi Claude,
|
| Unfortunately, published footcandle measurements for orchids are for
| natural daylight at noon in greenhouses. This means that morning
| light levels will slowly increase to the maximum at noon and then
| decreas until dusk.
|
| Flourescent lights are on 100% intensity for the duration of the day
| so the total number of photons hitting the plant over a 16 hour day at
| a measured value of 600 fc under flourescents may be equal to the
| light a plant gets in the greenhouse with 1000 fc.
|
|
| Also, (I may be wrong on this) I don't thing light meters for sunlight
| accurately read the light coming from flourescents since the
| fluorescents only produce a few wavelengths of light (blue GREEN
| red)[mostly a green peak plants don't use very well] where as sunlight
| has a continuum of wavelenths (rainbow).
|
|
|
| The general (cheapest and fairly efficient) fluorescent light settup
| for orchids is 2-48" shoplights (= 4 tubes; giving about 800 fc) on
| for 14-16 hours/day, with Phals placed about 8-14 inches under the
| lights. 20" fixtures put out much less light = your low readings
| (count up the watts to get an idea of the energy your plant is
| getting). They are OK if the plant is getting some window light and
| you are tight on space.
|
| After 8-12 months the tubes start putting out WAY less light even
| though the human eye doesn't recognize it.
|
|
| Hope this helps.
|
|
|
|
| "PhalGuy" wrote in message
ws.com...
| Hello all!
|
| Today I bought a light meter to be able to get a measure in foot-candle
of
| my fluorescent.
|
| I have read in books that Phal are best grown between 900 - 1200 feet
candle
| during summer time and 1300 - 1500 feet candle in winter time.
|
| Last year, I have bought 6 20 inch long Bright Stick GE Sylvania Grow
and
| Show for my phal.
| When I took my measurement today, at 1/2 inch from the light, I was
getting
| around 200 feet candle!!!!
| I tried with a regular 60 watts incandescent bulb and I got 500 feet
candle!
|
| Here`s my question:
|
| In two weeks from now, I`m changing my light fixture for 3 48 inch long
2 X
| 40 Watts fluorescent tube.
| If I put two Daylight 40 watts tube, am I going to get the necessary
feet
| candle for my plants?
| Would it be better if I put one ColdWhite and 1 WarmLight ?
|
| I am so confused! I just want my plants to be happy and to finally
spike!
|
| thanks
|
| Claude