How To Start Growing Orchids Under Lights

When you are growing orchids you will notice that there are some orchids that need a little more light than others. If you have low levels of natural light in your home or have decided to grow your orchids outdoors in a place that does not get sufficient light then you will need to start growing orchids under lights. When choosing lights you want to be careful to choose the right type of lights. Different lights have different colors and intensities; this will affect the growth of your plants.

Controlling Light

You might want to consider growing orchids under lights if your plants are experiencing poor health due to poor lighting conditions. Plants can suffer from both too little light and too much light. You can tell if the orchid flower is suffering from a lack or excess of light from the color of its leaves.

Leaves should be a bright green. If the leaves are a dark, dull green then your plant is suffering from a lack of light. This can be remedied by growing orchids under lights. If the leaves have a reddish tinge to its green then your plants are getting too much light.

Orchid Varieties

Some orchids are better when it comes to growing orchids under lights. If you are choosing orchids specifically for the purpose of growing orchids under lights then choose moth orchids and lady slippers. These are the best type of orchids for artificial lighting scenarios.

Choosing Lights

You can buy specific fluorescent plant lights when you want to start growing orchids under lights. However this can be very expensive, on the upside these lights provide a wide spectrum of light. If you have budget concerns then it is possible to use ordinary fluorescent lights to start growing orchids under lights.

If you would like to use regular fluorescent lights in your nursery at home then you can use one cool white fluorescent bulb and one warm white florescent. Using both these types of lights will provide both the blue and red end of the light spectrum. This will help your plants grow well.

If you want to enhance the red spectrum of light you can also add an incandescent bulb to your lights’ fixture. However if you choose to do this you need to be careful that you don’t burn your plants, keep the incandescent light further away from the orchids. Fluorescent lights have the advantage of not giving off heat.