Orchid plants have been grown under high pressure
sodium lamps for many years. The development of the
P.L Light System, which provides a 30% increase in
the blue spectrum and produces 52,000 lumens of
light, has made orchid culture under these lights
even more rewarding, producing better growth and
more frequent flowering.
It is important to remember that footcandles as
stated in books for growing orchids in greenhouses
is generally measured at peak sun hours usually
during noontime. This does not take into account low
light levels received in the early morning or
afternoon. Under sodium fixtures, light is constant
throughout the day and the additional hours of this
constant light add up and provide adequate light to
grow the plants properly. Much of the light that is
critical to the plant, i.e., far red light, is not
measurable in terms of footcandles. Footcandles are
a measurement of light based on the equivalent of
one candle at one foot distance from the measuring
device. This is based on visible light. Orchids
growing under sodium light will actually grow under
fewer footcandles than orchids grown in daylight
measurements.
The P.L. Light best suited for orchid growing is the
PL2000 400 Watt Super(Please note: this
replaces the previously offered 430 Watt model.
The 400 Watt Super offers the same output as the 430
Watt but is much more energy efficient to operate).
There are four different styles of reflectors: a superwide
reflector for very low mounting heights (3-4 feet),
a wide reflector for low mounting situations
(4-5 feet), a medium reflector for midrange
mounting (5-7 feet), and a deep reflector for
higher mounting (8-9 feet). The typical growing area
one of these lights will cover is about 8' x 8' if
lower light plants are placed on the perimeter.
A key factor in determining the area that will be
covered by these lights is the amount of reflective
surfaces at the perimeter. If these lights are
mounted in a basement area at the 7-8 foot mounting
height, and if none of the walls are reflective, the
areas receiving adequate light will be reduced to 6'
x 6'. Placing white plastic on the ceiling and all
sides of the room, or painting the walls and
ceilings white, will increase the light level by as
much as 30%. The plastic will keep the humidity at a
higher level.
We recommend that if you are going to grow under
lights in the basement, you place your growing area
in a corner of the room or along one of the concrete
walls. This will act as a heat sink and keep the
temperatures from going too far into the extreme.
The walls should be painted with a vapor seal type
paint to keep humidity from working its way out of
the concrete block. (Humidity can cause chips of the
block to freeze and pop out.) It is recommended that
either the outside of the block be covered with
Styrofoam to a level about 1 foot below ground, or
the inside layer of the block be treated with vapor
seal paint or covered in plastic.
Because humidity rises, another area of concern is
where the wooden plate meets the concrete block
around the ceiling area of the basement. This area
typically is colder and the warm humid air will rise
and condense against the plate and cause eventual
rotting. We recommend that this area be insulated
and sealed off with plastic. 2" closed cell
foam glued against the plate will protect it from
moisture and keep the cold temperatures out.
Constructing a Growing Area
An important thing to consider is the utility of the
area. When you water your plants, where will the
water go? Will humidity damage anything? How can I
reflect the light back into the plants where it is
most needed? Again we recommend you cover the
ceiling with white plastic, and either paint the
walls white, or simply drop a white plastic curtain
from the ceiling to floor level.
When it comes to water and drainage, there are many
ways of getting around that problem. You can either
grow your plants on humidity trays with water
collecting underneath as you water the plants, or on
benches with custom drip guards that drain into a
large bucket or barrel that could be pumped out as
needed. Of course, the easiest solution is to build
this area over a floor drain.
Temperature fluctuations will be regulated by:
- the average temperature in your basement
- the heat given off by the high pressure sodium
light
- any heat or cooling vents in the room
These lights will give off 1200 BTU's an hour, and
should raise an 8' x 8' room up to the high 70's to
mid 80's for a daytime temperature. Night
temperatures should fall to whatever the normal
basement temperatures are. In the hot summer months,
the basement is an excellent area, as it is cooler
than the outside and the humidity is higher as well.
Depending on the kind of plants you are growing, the
ideal temperatures generally range from 60-64 degree
nights and 73-83 degree days.
We recommend an oscillating fan be mounted in the
room to keep the air moving. This will help prevent
fungi, mold, and bacteria from developing on the
plants. It will bring more oxygen and carbon dioxide
past the leaves for better growth.
If your temperatures run too warm in this area, we
recommend that you simply open the door to the rest
of the basement, or install a reversing exhaust fan
through a window to the outside that will exhaust
the heat out from the basement during warm spells or
bring in cool air from the outside at night.
Fixed ballast lights come with a hanging kit
and can be mounted into your floor joists utilizing
two 'J' bolts that slide into a T-track on the top
of your light fixture. These bolts are secured by
metric nuts tightened onto the track. Two lag hooks
and two chains are supplied with the kit. Simply
screw the lags into the floor joist and hang the
light with the chains.
Remote fixtures have a reflector that comes
with two V-shaped hangers. Simply hook the hangers
into the two holes at each end of the reflector and
attach to two lag hooks. (Lag hooks can be purchased
at a hardware store.)
We recommend you consider the size of the room that
you wish to build, and remember that usually orchid
collections tend to grow both in plant size and
number of plants. Plan a size 1-1/3 to 2 times the
size you think you need. Allow yourself the ability
to expand from the beginning. One light will cover
an 8' x 8' area, and two lights will cover
approximately 10' x 12' area. Spaces larger than
that we run through the computer to determine
mounting height and distance between lights and
walls in order to calculate adequate illumination.
Most light setups with P.L. lights operate at
400-500 foot-candles. This is adequate for most
plants to grow properly. Plants requiring higher
light can be placed in the center of the growing
area or up on tiers closer to the lights from 3' to
5' away. Low to medium light plants can be placed at
the perimeters.
Benching
Tiered, wire mesh benches can be purchased through
different suppliers. You can also make your own out
of redwood, cedar, or treated wood. Use a 2 x 4
frame with a plywood bottom lined with plastic and
filled with lava rock as an extra humidifier. When
constructing this bench we recommend you install a
valve to allow drainage of excess water and to allow
cleaning and flushing out every so often. Above this
frame you should install either 2' x 4' plastic
lighting grids as used for fluorescent lighting, or
a wire bench mesh. You can also simply use 1" x
2" slats spaced 1" apart to allow adequate
drainage and support for your plants.
Remember that when building your bench, the human
reach is about 3', so don't build your benches any
wider. 2-3' is an excellent size. A 6' wide bench in
the center can be reached from both sides. Consider
the movement you will be making in this area and lay
it out accordingly. Custom rolling benches are
available for larger growing setups.
Utilizing High Pressure Sodium
Fixtures in the Hobby Greenhouse
P.L. Lights High Pressure Sodium Fixtures are an
excellent source of light to extend winter daylight
hours and provide light during periods of heavy
cloud cover. Growth continues uninterrupted and
flowering is faster with higher bud count.
The fixture draws 450 watts total or 4.2 amps at 120
volts, 2.2 amps at 240 volts. They produce 52,000
lumens of light. They are available in four
reflector styles: medium, deep, wide and superwide.
All can be wired with cord for 120 volts or 240
volts.
PL2000
400 Watt Super HPS Fixture (Fixed
Ballast)---$295.00
120 Volts, wired with cord, 400W Super bulb,
with Medium, Wide, Superwide or Deep Reflector
Metal
Halide Fixture (Fixed
Ballast)--------------------------$285.00
120 Volts, wired with cord, 400W Metal Halide bulb
with Medium Reflector only
Remote
Fixture, 400W
Super-----------------------------$335.00
with Medium, Wide, Superwide or Deep Reflector
400W
Super Replacement Bulb-----------------------$80.00
430W
Son Agro Replacement Bulb------------------$56.00
Metal
Halide Replacement Bulb-------------------------------$76.00
Shipping charges, anywhere in the
continental U.S.*:
for one light-----------------$40.00
for two lights----------------$70.00
picked up at our nursery---------$25.00
replacement bulb---------------$8.00
*For Alaska and Hawaii, we will provide shipping
quotes.
Reflector Specifications
Medium reflector: Designed for a more
rectangular illumination field. Suitable for
mounting heights over 6 feet.
Wide Reflector: Designed for a more
rectangular illumination field. Suitable for
mounting heights between 4 and 5 feet.
Superwide Reflector: Suitable for very low
mounting heights between 3 and 4 feet.
Deep Reflector: Designed for a square
illumination field. Suitable for a height of 5 feet
depending on the light level required.
For Alaska and Hawaii, we will provide shipping
quotes.
These lights, available in all voltages and phases,
can be shipped to any destination in the world.
Foreign customers will be responsible for customs
fees. If you have any questions on these systems, be
sure to call or write.
Our services will save you money and trouble in the
long run. We have customers who have wonderful
success under these lights, blooming plants that
previously would not bloom, and sometimes (in the
case of vandas), flowering plants 2-3 times a year.
To order your P. L. Light, go to our catalog
under "Equipment".