I recently bought an Hydrofarm light meter, with the intention of
setting up lights for growing an orchid in my apartment.

I noticed it has two scales one for fluorescent lighting and another
one for HI/Sunlight. It is the kind that has a needle crossing the
scales, the maximum reading is 5000 footcandles for HI/sunlight and
500 fc for fluorescent. For the amount of light that I can see
measured under fluorescent vs sunlight. I cannot see how will I ever
get more than 1000 fc, not that I can even measure them now according
to the meter.

I do understand that the light that is visible to the human is
different to the light needed by plants. But then, when I look at the
top of the meter there are 3 light cells. I don't know much of
lightcells. But having 3 it seems like each one could detect a
different spectrum of light. If that was the case, shouldn't that make
up for the need of two scales?

Anyway, I don't think I could afford an HI lamp, plus having only one
orchid would seem a waste, (not that I wouldn't eventually buy more).


Please help me.


Arturo Hernandez