I am at about 18 months with the 150 watter Gene, and the plants under it
are still doing well, but I was thinking about replacing it and putting the
old one in the GH for after-dark visits.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
news:n7Fch.406$R_1.246@trndny08...
Ray,

I know there have been discussions in the past when these bulbs came out.
How often do you replace this type of bulb? For HID and tube fluorescents
they should be replaced annually.

The 125W bulbs for $36 could be interesting when I start my garden
seedlings
in March. I have a basement full of cheap shop lights from "BG" (Before
Greenhouse). They are pretty dirty looking and one by one I throw them
away
as they stop working each spring. Each 125W bulb would be 3 of the tube
type which makes them about twice the price. The advatage I see would be
that they could be more flexible with setting them up.

Gene




"Ray B" wrote in message
news:qKAch.1439$g_3.852@trndny02...
If anyone is getting nervous about keeping their plants over the winter,
FarmTek is offering their high-output, full spectrum compact fluorescents
at
a discount right now - 150W (CRI 93, uses a standard medium Edison base)
is
$36, 200W (CRI 90, Mogul base) $110. They also have them available with
a
good reflector fixture that can accommodate either.

I use a single 150-watt fixture for a 4' x 5' seedling and flask bench in
my
basement, and it works great.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!