Orchid Lighting: How To Organize Windowsill Lighting For Orchids At Home? What Kind Of Lamp Do You Need?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 13:15

To enjoy the beauty of your home orchid, it is important to choose the right lighting for the plant. Sometimes special illumination is required to improve the growth of a flower. Let's take a closer look at the types of lamps suitable for orchids, and also get acquainted with the rules for their selection.

Organization of lighting

Achieving good natural light on a windowsill or other place where a house plant is located can sometimes be quite difficult. For example, plants are not always placed in a room that faces south. Often there are situations when natural lighting is significantly reduced, since the rays of light block tall buildings located nearby, or trees. In this case, additional illumination is indispensable.

Good lighting is essential for orchids throughout the year . If plants receive enough light, then they grow better and delight their owners with beautiful flowers. When organizing the lighting, it is necessary to evaluate not only the intensity of natural lighting (light coming from the window), but also the level of illumination of the room. If the room where the plants are located is darkened, there are few lighting elements in it, then this can adversely affect the growth of orchids.

Another factor to consider when organizing backlighting is the season. In order for the plant to develop well and bloom more often, it is recommended to highlight it from October to March. If the flower is in a room facing north, then in such a situation additional lighting may be required throughout the year. Plants placed in rooms facing east and west need moderate lighting, mainly at dusk. Experts note that additional lighting may also be required for weakened flowers.

The light indicator is an important condition for good growth of orchids . At home, of course, it is impossible to completely imitate the natural conditions that are optimal for these plants. But it is still recommended to try to bring the indicators of the home microclimate closer to the natural environment. So, according to some information, the total length of daylight hours suitable for these plants is at least ten hours. Moreover, this indicator should not exceed 13-14 hours.

Some experts recommend that when organizing additional lighting for orchids, focus on their appearance, in particular, on the features of the leaves. So, if the leaves are narrow or cylindrical, then the orchid is quite light-requiring. At home, it is better to place it in a room with a window facing south. If this is not possible, then in this case the flower needs additional lighting.

Plants with dense, harsh and wide leaves require slightly less light. Experts note that such orchids adapt well to different lighting conditions and can bloom almost all year round. However, if the condition of a flower with wide leaves deteriorates, then in this case it is also necessary to think about organizing additional lighting.

Light spectrum

The light spectrum is an important factor in orchid farming. In order for the plant to grow better, it is recommended to use devices that generate shortwave blue and longwave red rays. To create such a light spectrum, a special device operating in a combined mode is required. You can also purchase two devices, respectively, working in red and blue modes.

It is worth remembering about the change in the light spectrum during the day . To improve the synthesis of chlorophyll in green leaves, which is required for active growth and development, it is necessary that the red rays fall on the plant only in the dark. At other times, the flower needs blue rays.

What kind of lamp do you need?

In order to further illuminate the orchids, you can use various lighting devices. Each of them has its own technical features. So, for additional lighting, suitable metal halide lamps … In this case, you should choose products designed specifically for growing plants at home.

Fluorescent Lamp - another option suitable for organizing additional lighting. For its work, special gases are used that contribute to the formation of UV. You can see it due to the fact that such lamps are covered with a special substance - a phosphor. For the organization of lighting for the cultivation of orchids, it is recommended to choose devices with shades of 840 and 33.

Special energy-saving lamps can also be used to highlight these exotic plants. It is very important to place these devices correctly. Lamps should be chosen that work in the red and blue spectrum.

For additional lighting of colors, you can use and mercury discharge lamps … According to the principle of operation, such devices are similar to luminescent ones, however, they have some technical features (for example, they are marked in a different way). To improve the growth of orchids, it is better to choose devices with a glow temperature of 200-3200 K.

LED bulbs - Another great option for organizing additional lighting for orchids. Such devices are universal. Houseplant lovers use them not only for orchids, but also to highlight other flowers. Currently, you can even purchase phytolamps that work in a combined mode with the synthesis of red and blue light in certain ratios.

Lamp installation options

In order for the plant to have enough light, the selected lighting device must be correctly positioned. It should either be placed next to the plant or hung (depending on the situation). So, if the flower is placed on a small windowsill, then it is enough to use an ordinary office lamp with a special light bulb. The fastening of such a device can be screwed.

If several orchids are placed on the windowsill at once, then it is better to use compact fluorescent lamps . You need to place them at the optimal height so that they are above the leaves. This is necessary in order to enhance the formation of chlorophyll. Some people place such lighting devices directly above the flowers. However, experts note that such placement is not correct, since photosynthesis processes do not occur in these parts of the plant.

Pendant lamps are often used for additional illumination of orchids . This option is suitable if you need to organize lighting for several plants at the same time. In addition to pendant lamps, you can also use a vertical stand.

A conservatory with orchids requires special care, including the use of additional lighting. A good idea in this case would be a high-quality ceiling light. It is better to take gas-discharge lamps to create full-fledged lighting. The power of such devices should not be less than 250 watts.

Another important condition for organizing the correct illumination is the proximity of the lighting device to the plant . The selected lamp should not be placed too close to the leaves of the flower. The minimum distance from the light device to the plant is 3-4 cm. If more intense lighting is required, special devices are used - reflectors. With their help, you can also effectively highlight several flowers at once.

Recommendations

The huge variety of lamps suitable for organizing additional illumination of orchids can lead to difficulties when choosing a device. LED and fluorescent lamps are quite popular among those who like to grow these tropical plants. It should be noted that such devices are suitable for those who have been growing orchids for a long time, and for those who have recently become the owner of these plants.

For those who have only 1-2 orchids and do not plan to purchase such plants in the future, experts recommend limiting themselves to purchasing an energy-saving light bulb. Such a purchase will cost a florist very inexpensive.