Hi there.

I was reading that severel of you use artificial lightning, for your orchids, and it seems to be mostly 400watt bulbs...

I dont have that much space and money, so I was thinking of getting a smaller hps, 70w, or maybe 100w, if the 100watter is way better...

But I was wondering if you could tell me how big and area the two lamps can cover???

thanks and take care,
newgrower

Why don't do check out hydroponic shops to see if they have a used HPS 400Watt for sale.

Paphman910

I recommend at least a 250 watt metal halide lamp to cover a 3'x3' or 4'x2' area.

The additional cost is negligible compared to the immense benefit your plants will experience growing under a 250 or 400 watt lamp. Honestly, even with a 150HPS the results would be so much better.

A very inexpensive option worth considering is using two four-foot/two-tube fluorescent shoplight fixtures. (4 tubes). a shoplight fixture is less than $10. However, the downside is you have to keep the tubes no more than 8" above the plants, which leaves very little overhead space for growing.

I recommend at least a 250 watt metal halide lamp to cover a 3'x3' or 4'x2' area.

The additional cost is negligible compared to the immense benefit your plants will experience growing under a 250 or 400 watt lamp. Honestly, even with a 150HPS the results would be so much better.

A very inexpensive option worth considering is using two four-foot/two-tube fluorescent shoplight fixtures. (4 tubes). a shoplight fixture is less than $10. However, the downside is you have to keep the tubes no more than 8" above the plants, which leaves very little overhead space for growing.

The cost of the 250 Watt bulb and 400 Watt bulb will be the same! And you can insert a lower wattage bulb into the 400 Watt ballast. Anything over 400 Watt inserted into a 400 Watt ballast will cause the ballast to catch on fire.

Paphman910

What are you growing and how large of area do you have? HPS and MH cost more than Fluorescents because of the ballast and hood. If you are growing low light plants, paphs, phals, in small area (2' x 4'), I think you are better off with fluorescents.

70w or 100w would really only be effective over a single plant. They do not cover that much area. 250w would be the smallest you could really work with, but I would recommend 400w.

I would look for at least a 250 watt one.

I also recommend anything 400W or higher.

I also agree 70 to 100w is really very small. You might want to go with a bigger size that way you can get more plants. :D

thanks alot.. Quick to answer.. :hyper:

I only have ca 2x1,6 feet of space (50x60cm) so thats why I'm asking about the small hps's, as 400w to that small an area would be overkill.. Or so I would say at least.. Right..???

Would the small ones not be better than nothing??

thanks...
ng

(no post without pictures)
phal. wolterianum..
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj179/newgrower/IMG_0218.jpg

so pretty:heart::heart::heart:

Thats a nice paph!if your space is small then you have no choice but to go with a small one.

Beautiful! Is there any other place you could grow the plants? I imagine it would be a waste to get such a small one if you plan on expanding your collection in the future.

thanks, i like that flower too... :)

How big a bulb would fit my space? 70 or 100w???

I plan on using that space for at least 3 years to come, so i think it would be a good investment...

That is a lovely flower! I think you have received some very good responses.

Very nice flower.

That is a lovely flower! I think you have received some very good responses.

thank you, and yes, I think i have gotten some good responses.
Next step is deciding on 70 or 100w...

take care..

Lovely paph...:cool:

thanks, i like that flower too... :)

How big a bulb would fit my space? 70 or 100w???

I plan on using that space for at least 3 years to come, so i think it would be a good investment...

Hallo,
another nice solution,(i grow also this way with good results) are envirolite or floramax lamps(the 2 are fluocompact lamps).Works very well,lasts more time and you can find 125w and 200 w.
I grow many different species with this lamps.Obviously are not powerfull as HPS or MH so you cannot grow tall orchids or some that grow ig and need a lot of light like big cattleyas,but for Paphs and other medium small species are perfect(will be same with neon).

The more watts, the better. I would go with even a 150w if you can get one.

for that space, a 150 watt would be good.

hmm, alright.. :thumbsup:

I have a 125w cfl 6400k, could I use that with good results??

hmm, alright.. :thumbsup:

I have a 125w cfl 6400k, could I use that with good results??

That would be fine, and this way you wouldn't have to spend the money to buy an HPS light.

Try keeping this kind of cfl lamp very close to the plants.

okay, thank you.
then I will start with the cfl, and maybe later switch to the hps...