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Question about different types of "shade"

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by rollinkansas, Apr 2, 2010.

  1. Apr 2, 2010 #1
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    So a lot of times when I look at the culturing requirements for orchids, I see things such as "bright shade" "light shade" "bright sun", etc.

    My question is what do these things actually mean.

    For example, I grow my stuff in 10 gallon tanks right under T8 bulbs. In a setup like this can I even replicate these requirements? It seems since all the orchids are so relatively close to the bulb they would all be in "bright sun" or something similar.

    Here is a photo of one of the tanks to show you, I just want to be able to replicate these conditions for the benefit of the orchids.

    ai41.tinypic.com_zn7k1w.jpg
     
  2. Apr 2, 2010 #2
    frogparty

    frogparty New Member

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    just remember a t8 is NOTHING like full sun. That should be just fine for all your pleuros and bulbos. You don't have any of the crazy high light bulbos
     
  3. Apr 2, 2010 #3
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    So stuff on the bottom of that tank would be considered low light?
     
  4. Apr 2, 2010 #4
    frogparty

    frogparty New Member

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    looks like it to me. I have used the same set up before (pleuros only) and got nice growth and blooming from everythig.

    thats a cute little biophytum you've got in there. Won't stay that little for long though!!
     
  5. Apr 2, 2010 #5
    harrywitmore

    harrywitmore Member

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    Location:
    Wingate, NC
    You can look on Andy's site and see what he has. He list something like this for each plant

    Shade; 500-1500 Footcandles (indirect low light,slight shadowing)
     
  6. Apr 2, 2010 #6
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    I know he lists footcandles but without spending a lot of money on a footcandle reader isn't that hard to do?

    And Jason, that was a full grown biophytum...gave me seeds and then died so I chopped off the base and now its growing again.
     
  7. Apr 9, 2010 #7
    xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    That is a sweet setup - love that moss. I grow almost completely under T5s and T8s...the T5s are bright and I'd consider them full sun. Also, the fc recommendations are based upon daylight highs, I think. Natural daylight fluctuates and there is no way you're getting 1500-2000fc for 12 hours a day for a cattleya in the natural environment. In other words, less over a longer period is usually sufficient. I have a crappy $30 light meter and it reads ~900fc where blooming dends/catts are
     
  8. May 29, 2010 #8
    Uluwehi

    Uluwehi angraecoids, dendrobiums and more Supporting Member

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    I agree with Calvin's advice.

    I am currently growing my warm and intermediate growers under HID lamps and also have non-orchids under fluorescents. It is painful to spend $30-$40 on a light meter but I have found it to be indispensable. So often I am surprised by just how very low or very high the light intensity can be in certain places. They are also useful when growing orchids outdoors.

    It seems that aside from Andy's website, most vendors and online culture guides leave out foot candle readings. I think this is because experienced growers know their growing space so well that having a meter out to record the fc's isn't that important. However for those of us, whether beginners or advanced, really benefit from fc readings when we have to start over in a new space.