Light Requirements for Indoor Orchids: 4 Solutions for Artificial Light

[@ginakapuscinski9698]

Thank you, very clear …. So glad I found you channel!

[@ivetm2523]

I believe that I’ve seen all your videos so far and I love the amount of information in it. I’m waiting for more. I would like to get some more knowledge about pests. Thank you ☺️

[@Orchideria]

Hi Iveta, Thank you so much for your comment! I appreciate it! I have several articles on the website about pests but haven't made any videos about them yet. It's in my notebook to work on. :)

[@joegiroux5690]

Being new to growing orchids, I've found it difficult to reconcile the ft-candle lighting requirements with many "professionals" recommending using a couple of fluorescent bulbs. Thank you for your discussion on lighting and lighting options! Your video is much more informative than any other video or resource that I have come across.

[@anacondaeunectes1854]

Mine seem to like the north windows.

[@joselitolobetania9079]

When I used to live in the Philippines they categorise the light requirements based on the common types of orchids grown locally. Usually, high light intensity orchids would include Vanda Terete and semi-Terete with their stiff pencil-like leaves (they can handle full outdoor sun the whole day with very high humidity). The medium light intensity( or partial sun) are the strap-leaf orchids like cattleyas, dendrobiums, oncidiums, vanda Sanderiana-crosses, ascocendas, mokaras, arandas, rhynchostylis, aerides etc. The low light (partial morning sun to bright indirect) strap-leafs are phalaenopsis, paphiopedilums etc they can pretty much grow in light intensities where african violets could grow. But it is also very interesting to learn from your video that light in kelvins can have the opposite principle which can be quite confusing like you mentioned. I’m in the process of swapping and experimenting with kelvins at the moment. My cattleyas seem to prefer 2700 kelvins on 1300+ lumens while my phals prefer 5000 kelvins with 1000 lumens or less. It’s a trial & error with the local sub-tropical climate here in Australia.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Joselito, Wow! Thank you for that comment. That's interesting to read and learn how different places use different categories. As for getting the right light, it is mostly trial and error until you find the light that each orchid likes. The categories serve mostly as a base line. Again, I appreciate your comment! 🙏

[@vanessabroderick505]

I just saw your video on lights and I loved it, I like you have a home that I have lived in for 22 years, and I never regretted that is not as light as my orchids needs after I started buying them and loving them, I will be going to your web site to see where you bought your led lights, I think they will help because I know they don’t get too ho, thank you for the info, I watch you and I think you are very knowledgeable, thank you for all your work.

[@JoAnneMOwens]

Excellent information, I have been stumped with lighting for a few weeks now and thanks to this video, I have a path forward! New subbie! looking forward to watching more from you.

[@norateaman3606]

Thanks so much! Your explanation of how lights work concerning orchids was very helpful. Now I feel more confident to pick out lighting for my orchids.😊

[@Orchideria]

Hi Nora, Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment. I appreciate it and I'm glad the video helped.

[@ryilmazz]

Thank you very much for this wonderful video. This was exactly what I was searching for many days. 💯

[@Orchideria]

You're welcome. I'm glad the video helped.

[@frabal68]

Great Video! lots of good information that i can't find on any other channels.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Jesus, Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.

[@13371340]

Thanks so much for your complete information about lights, just a simple question, you did not mention the distance between the LED full spectrum and the plant. Best wishes

[@steveduffield3740]

Thanks for the great advice Mandy.

[@navin7633]

Wow.... Great teaching 😊

[@dominicweston8837]

Great video. I am doing some research to set up a basement "grow" room for cool growing orchids and highland nepenthes. It throws me a little when I hear people say lead light. Sooo, like CFL and HID, the meaning of LED is Light Emitting Diode. One thing to look at when growing under any LEDs is how much heat they give off from the fixture itself. The larger ones will have fans or heat sinks (aluminum fins etc.) to radiate the heat away from the fixture itself. So if you or your viewers are growing in a small room or tent then the heat the fixture gives off can raise the temperature of the air and contact with the fixture can burn you or your plant. Test your lights heat output 'cause It's no fun finding a burnt spike.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Dominic, I have to laugh at myself sometimes because I can say the most weird things on video... I still have no idea why I called them "lead" lights, and in my sorry defense, I have to blame it on the newness of being a KZbin newbie. This was one of my first videos. I (still) get nervous in front of camera and say all kinds of weird things. In one video, I got the formula of water wrong... I mean, what?? How hard is it to remember h20? So yeah, I am kind of embarrassed about that video, but once it's live, I can't go back and edit it. So, it's out there for everyone to see my fumbles and real life bloopers. LOL. I appreciate your comment because other people can get clarity. That's really the only way I have to explain what's what. As for heat, I've found that my GROW LED lights don't heat up. But if they are regular LED, then yes. I haven't checked out too many companies that work with GROW lights, but that's from they few what I've ordered so far. I'd be interested in knowing more about your thoughts on this.

[@dominicweston8837]

@@OrchideriaThanks for the reply, you are much braver than I am. I have never uploaded a video to KZbin. I tried orchids under lights forty-five years ago and gave up several years later. So now I am retired and I am going to give it another try. I did try a grow-tent a couple years ago but found it did not hold the humidity at all. I am doing my research to hopefully get it right this time. Wish me luck.

[@estherpedersen9882]

I love all of your videos. You're the best!

[@Orchideria]

Hi Esther, Thank you!!

[@miketauer4538]

Thank you Amanda! Just starting the orchid hobby. A friend gave us his orchidarium, we just went to the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Orchid Exbibit. And we are raring to get started. We will check out your web site. Thanks again for this info about lighting. 😊

[@kathy8590]

Best lighting information yet. Thank you!!!

[@cecilialee5009]

❤

[@lindaannb]

Very helpful information! I have been looking for information on grow lights and many videos are geared towards plants that require full sun to thrive. I was excited to see content geared to orchids.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Linda Bontrager, I’m sorry it took so long for me to write you back about your comment. I was on vacation and didn’t log onto my KZbin. Thanks for commenting on my video. I appreciate it and was glad it helped.

[@ronaldrogers937]

Absolutely LOVED your video about solutions for artificial lights! I learned a lot. I will be watching your other videos and will be using your website as my "Go To" source of info.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Ron, Thank you. I appreciate it. 😊

[@judithbourne7232]

Thanks very much for this info! A great help. 🎁

[@mesandz2623]

So informative _ just brought a grow light- loving it but needed to understand how it works for the orchids.it has red- yellow- white lighting.

[@Orchideria]

Hi MeSandz, Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.

[@ivanacoelho3261]

Hi from Rio, Brazil! Thank you so much for this vídeo!

[@juliabarnard3065]

Hi,learning alot. A new orchard learner.

[@MK-yu3tc]

Great information! Too much of technical stuff😃Need to watch this video a few more times to grasp and understand fully. I ordered for a Mars Hydro 600 w grow light today👍🏻

[@Orchideria]

Wow! You'll love them. My cattleyas absolutely love them

[@MK-yu3tc]

@@Orchideria Amanda, what should be the ideal minimum /maximum distance between Mars 600W growlights and plants?

[@Orchideria]

Hi MK, This will depend on your orchid. If it's a Cattleya, you can keep it pretty close. Phals will need to be further away (if you have a plant stand, either 2nd or 3rd shelf) In the video "how much does an indoor orchid setup cost", (coincidentally it came out today LOL) I go over the 1000 W, 500 W, and 250 W. There I go over the measurements of each one. I think that would have more answers than I can type here. :)

[@emmrodriguez7657]

I really appreciate the research and preparation.

[@Orchideria]

Thank you! :)

[@familhagaudir8561]

I use a 50W ( real consumption) LED panel to grow mostly mini-cattleyas. It's rather large so the light is diffuse. The tip of the leaves almost touch the plastic cover. If buds grow and ''hit their head'' on the pannel, the touching part dies. The two Phals I do keep the leaves like 8 or 10 inches away. It supplements a window that gets a few hours of Sun, and the improvement over the Winter months was massive. Upside : It works well enough for medium plant needs, it's affordable, produces very little heat and little electricity bill. Downside : Since its output is not that bright, mini-Cattleyas need to be almost touching the light, and flower spikes have not much room to grow before the buds are in danger. And large Cattleyas don't fit ( only the upper half of the tallest leaf would get enough light ). Phalaenopsis with long spikes are also a problem. It's such a bother to try to keep the spikes out of the light, and then every time you have to move the plants for watering one of them, manoeuvring the spikes is annoying. ''Novelty Phalaenopsis'' which have shorter spikes do fantastic. Pick one with natural-looking light. The pinkish light ones might be sliiightly more energy efficient, but are disgusting to look at. You can find similar LED panels with real 50W consumption for relatively cheap, or LED light bands that you can daisy-chain, putting 1, 2 or 3 wide depending on the light intensity your plants need. However I would advise you pick something just a tiny bit stronger so you can have the plants farther away from it so flower spikes have room. If you grow mini-phals, compact/multifloral or ''novelty'' hybrid Phals that won't send long spikes, that won't be a problem with a 50W LED panel. If someone has experience with a 80W, 100W or 150W LED pannel and growing Phals, mini-Cattleyas or standart Cattleyas, I would love to know your results and the distance away from panel your plants grow.

[@LindaBunck-pg3to]

Hello! I enjoy your videos! I was not able to find the video you made that shared where I can buy the lighting set up?

[@bchannel8847]

Super thanks! Love you’re channel god bless you always lovelots 🥰

[@Orchideria]

So nice of you! I really appreciate your support! It means so much to me.

[@sumonabedin257]

Thanks you very much for this helpful video

[@Orchideria]

Hi Sumon, Thank you. I'm glad the video helped.

[@susanzomaya7400]

Great information. Thank you for all your research

[@Orchideria]

Hi Susan, Thank you for watching and for leaving a comment. I appreciate it.

[@clementinagarrido6719]

Thank you for your help in understanding all this.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Clementina. It was my pleasure. If you have any questions that the video didn't answer, please ask.

[@robertdouglas5433]

thank you . you have answered a lot of my questions.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Robert, Thank you for commenting

[@kellyburks7713]

At what temperature do you keep your house? I know that's not the only consideration, but a starting point and where to go from there with Phalaenopsis orchid.

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

Great presentation . Too much information , better just come over to my house . Trying to get the name of the light you use . . thank you your doing great !!!!

[@Orchideria]

Thank you!

[@patriciagutierrez3950]

If you lived in desert climate, what would you use for orchid potting medium..? Love your Christmas cactus, any videos on how you care for it..? Thanks for Helpful videos 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Orchideria]

Hi Patricia, I'm so sorry! I was just reading through the comments and realized that I had never answered yours. I thought I had, but guess not. I know it's 3 weeks late, so please forgive me. As for the desert climate, I would focus on media that retains a lot more water, like sphagnum moss. There is an article on my website specifically about planting Cymbidium orchids, and how to chose a potting medium that best adapts to each climate. You can read it here -> orchideria.com/the-best-potting-medium-for-cymbidium-orchids/ I know that Cymbidiums aren't everyone's favorite orchids, but the same guide lines apply. Since Cymbidiums are semi-terrestrial, they will like it more moist. If you are mainly growing Phals, the moisture might be too much. It's mostly trial and error (unfortunately) until you get the right potting medium adapted to each climate. You can check out that article and just follow the guidelines for a drier climate.

[@leerobinson2697]

I always enjoy your videos. Keep them going.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Lee, Thank you. I appreciate your words of encouragement.

[@anacondaeunectes1854]

My orchids seem to be quite happy in a north hallway window--especially my paphs. They rebloom there, so i assume they're happy there

[@Orchideria]

Hi anaconda eunectes, My theory is that they rebloom, then they're happy. Leave them as they are. ;)

[@franciscoecleonel9206]

Hi….can I question if you don’t mind,so cattleya orchid need a light all day? And all night? I need the answers pls.

[@johnmickel2330]

How measure how from the bulbs from measure ?? 6 inchy, or 3 inches?

[@christiemccarthy5294]

My highly sensitive husband (it would be a whole thing if I didn't use them) bought me a LED grow light that fits perfectly with the location of my orchids. I'm concerned because it appears to only produce red, blue and purple. My plants are dark green and really need light. What setting should I use? I have Phalaenopsis. Thank you

[@Orchideria]

Hi Christie, I'd use the purple setting. That way during the entire life cycle of the orchid you don't have to be changing back from red to blue. It can stay on one setting only.

[@koreanarab]

How much watts should be enough for one orchids using Led full spectrum light? And how far should I place it from the light

[@Lunala97]

Do you have a link to what light you suggest buying that wont break the bank?

[@Orchideria]

Hi Anna, Unfortunately these lights are all expensive. I use 2 lights. The one in this video is shown as the Mars Lights which you can check out here: amzn.to/3lyKewK (Affiliate Link). I also have another light from EK Ennoking that I really like, and you can see that one here: amzn.to/3xU8QEV (also an Affiliate Link).

[@rachaelbrown7771]

Do you have a humidifier going in this video?

[@egg8636]

Hey :) I wonder why only full spectrum LEDs are good for orchids. I have a growing light thats blue/red and I thought of using it for my orchids since I moved and they need more light. Is it bad if I use red light on orchids? because red light is said to boost the flowering and growth

[@Orchideria]

Hi Egg, Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I was on vacation and haven't gotten online in a while. To answer your question, you need both the red and the blue for healthy growth. Depending on the season that the orchid is in, it will absorb more of one or the other. Then it flip-flops back. The red and blue spectrum lights still don't cover all the plants needs though, and some colors just don't get to the plant, like a full spectrum would. It won't technically hurt the orchid, but it will be best if your orchid had all the options available. I guess what I'm trying to say is that your orchid won't die, but it would prefer a full spectrum light.

[@marcosanchez4596]

Hi, good infoemation!!

[@arieffirmansyah3107]

very interesting video. I have a new acclimatized dendrobium streptiotes orchid. I put in indoor. i plan to install grow light (LED). what type of grow light is suitable for this phase?

[@Orchideria]

Hi Arief, Wow, what a beautiful orchid!! I was just reading an article about acclimatized dendrobiums, but it was in relation to the DenPhal, and not streptiotes. I'd think the same results would apply, but I can't tell you for sure. In that article, they tested three lights, (1) a pure white fluorescent, (2) a mix of white and red fluorescent, and (3) just red grow lights. In their experiment, they had better results with the red grow lights. The Dendrobiums had longer roots and more numbers of pseudobulb growth. they also were bigger and more resistant. They kept the red lights on for the transition from the acclimatized space to the greenhouse, so it was a shorter period of time. Judging on their results, I'd get a led light that you can adjust the quantity and potency of the red lights in contrast to the other colors in the spectrum, and slowly balance it out over time. Since I don't have a light like that, I can't personally recommend one. I hope this answer helped.

[@nitawal]

Thank you but there is one thing I don’t understand. What is most important? The kelvins, the lumens, the distance we keep the lights from the orchids?

[@Orchideria]

Hi Nitawal, The distance from the leaf and also the foot candles is what you should be more focused on. Some might disagree, saying it's the PAR, so I guess it's up to each grower.

[@dovedarby]

Answered my questions. Thanks!

[@Orchideria]

Hi Dovedarby, Thank you for leaving a comment. I appreciate it. 🙏

[@josettemoore654]

THAT’S A LOT TO REMEMBER!

[@VesaMakrievski]

YOU A AMAZING EXPLAINING IM INTERESTED HOW YOU HAVE SOOMUCH STEAM FOR MEE IT IS VERY CONFUZING THANKYOU FOR SHERING YOU NOLICH

[@AQKILVLOG]

Hi.. I having denbro orchid at my home... And living at apartment in malaysia.. Where the sun light is really low... My orchid is not bloom but its die.. Can u help me..

[@Orchideria]

Hi Aqkil Vlog, There are many things that go into keeping a healthy dendrobium, but if it's dying, I think water would be the main cause. Either too much or not enough. From there, you could check the roots, to see if they are dead or alive. Do you know when this orchid was last repotted?

[@user-p5rk2zs9p]

good work, thank you.

[@Orchideria]

Hi Van Vin, Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. I appreciate it.

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

Is that that led full spectrum white or purple ?

[@Orchideria]

I have to check, but I think it's white.

[@judithhaas3771]

so how far away do I keep the full spectrum lights away from the orchid?

[@Orchideria]

Hi Judith, This depends on your orchid. If it is a low-light orchid, like a Phal, you can keep the light a good arm's length away. If it's a Cattleya, then closer to the light is better. If you install it on a shelf, you could easily keep your Phalaenopsis orchids on the second shelf and the Cattleya on the first. Also, all full spectrum grow lights will be a little different from each other, depending on the manufacturer of the lights. So you have to test your environment and adjust the lights to the height that keeps the leaves a nice healthy color.

[@andrea-wk3gu]

Wish i could give ten likes for this.

[@Orchideria]

Thank you! :)

[@justjessica85]

Inaccurate FC need per orchid

[@doradorakoo8646]

so thats why i used 2 bulb at once 3500 and 6500 lolz ^_^

[@mythos1975153]

is that realy blue orchid ?

[@AQKILVLOG]

Hi

[@Orchideria]

Hi Aqkil. Thanks for watching the video.

[@AQKILVLOG]

I always water my denbro 2 days once.. Because i stay at apartment where the sunshine is poor.. I report it onve 3 month.. If no bloosm only..

[@johnathondavis5208]

We're all used to Kelvin??? I don't even know 5 people who understand what Kelvin is.

[@ulisesiturvides7355]

Hola amnda

[@steviegee2011]

You said “lead” lights. 😂 I was like huh? After I learnt u meant L E D 😅 now I’m not sure 🤔 about u 🪴

[@Orchideria]

Hi Steve... LOL. Yeah, I say some weird stuff sometimes. In one video I said water was made up of one hydrogen and 2 oxygen... and I have no idea how that stuff gets by even the editing phase. I accredit all those mishaps that to being nervous on camera. 🤣😂