Hi everyone,

I recently lost two orchids to root rot. However, I also discovered that I did several things wrong when I was taking care of those orchids. The first was a watering issue. I'm pretty sure that's what caused the root rot.

I want to focus on the second issue, and that was light conditions. My orchids leaves were always a dark green color. After doing research, I realized that this was as sign that they were not getting enough light. I had them in the brightest room in the house. Even then, it was not enough light. I was told and I also read that they cannot tolerate direct sunlight. I don't know if this is true or not.

Anyway, I don't have the light conditions in my house for an orchid. However, I still want to grow orchids. So here's my question, is it possible to use grow lights for an orchid?

Just curious.

Jared

I don't think you lost your other Phals from root rot. The roots were dried up so either over or under watering (I would guess overwatering as that's the most common Phal watering problem) but hard to tell without being there. Your other plant with the dead roots actually looked really good and I think, except for watering issues, you were doing well.

Phalaenopsis need bright but indirect light - a bright window works perfectly. Their leaves are bright green when happy. (But leaf color also has to do with flower color - lighter flowers, lighter leaves. Darker flowers, darker leaves) I grow Phals under lights but also in a north facing window sill without lights. Lights are an investment because they aren't all created equally. My lights are LEDs and give off 8000 to 9000 lux (you can put an app on your phone to measure light). Mine bloom every year at that light level but the American Orchid Society recommends 10,000 to 15,000 lux.

But, as I've stated before, it might be water quality that is killing your plants. Try some distilled or RO water and see if there are improvements in plant health. Bad water will kill them faster than incorrect light and light does not affect roots.

Yes, you can grow all kinds of orchids under lights. I currently have plant carts and a rather large fixture that has 8 tubes rated at 6,500k. They are sold as high intensity, T-5 tubes. At the moment I am running a total of 22 tubes illuminating about 45 square feet of growing space.
I grow a mixed collection of Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilums, Zygopetalums, assorted Cattleyas and Phragmipediums numbering around 150 plants.
I would have to know what type of orchid do you have to recommend what amount of light to recommend to you. You can lessen the intensity of the lights by moving the plants further away from the tubes. You can increase intensity by placing the plants closer to the tubes.
Every thing runs on timers for either, 9, 10 or up to 12 hour days.
80% of my collection summers outside from mid May until early October.

My total electric bill amounts to less then $20 per month, maybe closer to $15. LED's are not terribly expensive.

Just scroll up in the Orchid Forums, find one authored by BigBill called "Growing Orchids Under Lights". I'll bet this will clear things up for you Jared.

Jared has a new Phalaenopsis.

I would have recommended the "growing orchids under lights" but it's hundreds of posts long and difficult to sort out the relevant information.

It is especially hard if one never starts.

Or we could have a conversation about growing Phalaenopsis under lights...

Jared, for comparison... 10,000 to 15,000 lux may sound like a lot until you know the sun is 100,000 lux. 10,000 to 15,000 lux suddenly becomes a very small number. Before I switched to LEDs (when T-5 sunblasters became hard to find), I was using tubes rated at 6500k. Lights often come with descriptions rather than a usable light measure. What you want to look for are the words "Day Light" or 6500k or a 'lux' reading. Lights are also directional. You can move the plant (or the light) further apart or closer together to decrease/increase the amount of light. When I said my plants were growing under about 8000 to 9000 lux, that was at leaf level. You can also use the edges of the light - the most light is directly under the bulb but there is a fringe area just outside the direct beam of light where you can put even lower light plants. But this also means, whatever you are attempting to keep happy under lights much be directly under the lights, not off to the side.

One of the orchid growers in California gives this comparison: shade = no shadowing when you put your hand under the lights. Full sun = a distinctive sharp edged shadow. You want light that makes a soft shadow with no distinctive edges.

Have a nice evening.