Yes! Good job!

I had mine on a timer to turn on around 6pm and shut off at 11pm. More light, more growth.

Jane

Thanks Jane! I was just worried since I didn't buy the same bulbs that you have.

Dakota, I bought the largest CFL's I could fit in the fixture. I thought they were 100W equivalent. If you bought CFL's they should be the same. I'm know there are better (and more expensive) alternatives, but the CFL;s worked for me.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Jane

The light from CFLs make my skin feel kind of sore (I can begin to feel it after about 15 minutes). I have this problem with regular fluorescent tubes too, but CFLs seem to be even worse. Many people say it's hard on their eyes too.

Sometimes this makes it hard for me to go over to other people's houses, and I have to go through the awkward explanation of "Can you please turn off that light over there..."

The octopus lamps can be pointed down toward the plants so your eyes do not see the bulbs. As far as making your skin feel sore, I have no idea how to help with that.

Maybe try LED bulbs if they fit the fixture. My advice is for a inexpensive way to carry plants through the winter or to bloom them indoors.

Jane

Of course that great big orb in the sky is dangerous too. Here is supposed to be the sun cancer capital of the world so there is almost nil knowledge of growing with lights because most orchid are grown outside all year.

Just replaced a CFL in the kitchen and it is giving out a whiter light than the other ceiling lamp. So I wonder if the warm light would be better for plants. Under light mysteries.

So true, Arthur. I have no idea about the proper light. I used inexpensive CFL's and the plants grew with the light. I could continue spikes on Dens and Phals. Never made my skin feel strange, but I'm not crazy about the light.

In the US, they are fazing CFL's out and promoting LED's. I do not light LED light as it bothers my eyes. Seems too bright. Have no idea how it affects the plants.

The best light is that big, glowing orb. But in the Northern areas, you can manage with artificial light if you don't have the windows.

Jane

In the good old days there were some real light experts here, but back then lights were expensive and not as efficient. !00 watts CFL would give out oodles of light.

The ceiling light in this room is a LED and i agree with you it is very bright.

About 10 more days to the equinox and then the 7 Phals in this room will get nil sunlight through the window but will be fine with just bright shade (facing north and the sun is blocked by the house eaves).

So many people have disappeared. I wonder what happened to them. Arthur, your world is backward from mine. Of course, my world is backward from yours!

In Florida the sun just shines with such intensity I can barely stand it. It rains and rains every day, downpours and then the sun comes out again sending such heat that you can hardly breathe. No cool down at all. It feels like you are living in a steam bath.

At this time in NY, I would feel winter in the warm breezes and the shut down of my plants. I could see a transition as the plants and trees began to close up shop. Even through the days were still warm you were aware of the shortening daylight and I would notice my Phals beginning to make their spikes and my winter Catts finishing their summer growths and beginning to make sheaths.

In Florida, you lose a sense of the seasons. It is heat, rain and humidity. Many orchids delay spiking. Those which are affected by the shorter days still delay their spikes and continue to grow during this month.

It will be the night temperatures which get them going. Seems the shorter days have less affect on triggering flowering.

I miss September in New York. I miss the climate and the seasons. But the orchids I grow seem to love the heat and rain in Florida.

Oh, well.

Jane