While trying to talk myself into the idea of a new toy (LED grow lights),
I stumbled across the following.
http://stone.web.brevard.k12.fl.us/s...ona/graph.html
Which shows chlorophyll absorbtion spectrums of
Brassavola, Cattleya, and Encyclia.

I'm still digging on my own, but considering the backgrounds
of some folks here, I ask the following.
Is anyone aware of similar studies on the Oncidium alliance?
Phaleonopsis? Paphs and Phrags?
Is anyone aware of studies that correlate light absorbtion of chlorophyll
and the other photosynthetic pigment to growth and blooming?


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

? wrote:
While trying to talk myself into the idea of a new toy (LED grow lights),.....


Make that an -expensive- new toy. OTOH, they should far outlast other
kinds of grow lights and will be cheaper to operate.


J. Del Col

? wrote:
While trying to talk myself into the idea of a new toy (LED grow lights),
I stumbled across the following.
http://stone.web.brevard.k12.fl.us/s...ona/graph.html
Which shows chlorophyll absorbtion spectrums of
Brassavola, Cattleya, and Encyclia.

I'm still digging on my own, but considering the backgrounds
of some folks here, I ask the following.
Is anyone aware of similar studies on the Oncidium alliance?
Phaleonopsis? Paphs and Phrags?
Is anyone aware of studies that correlate light absorbtion of chlorophyll
and the other photosynthetic pigment to growth and blooming?


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

Vendors make a lot of claims, Orchid experts seem to say that Grow
lights are not worth the price. Who knows, I can't decide so am also
digging for more information.
Joe T

On 19 Jun 2006 08:40:48 -0700 in . com jtill wrote:


Vendors make a lot of claims, Orchid experts seem to say that Grow
lights are not worth the price. Who knows, I can't decide so am also
digging for more information.

Hence the asking for academic studies.
I already know enough that even if the chlorophylls and the caretenoids
can absorb that part of the spectrum, that may not relate to a growth
or blooming response.

The other fun thing I've discovered is that queries concerning devices
using blue LEDs have an awful tendency to get folks saying "I can get you
discrete blue LEDs."


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

? wrote:
On 19 Jun 2006 08:40:48 -0700 in . com jtill wrote:


Vendors make a lot of claims, Orchid experts seem to say that Grow
lights are not worth the price. Who knows, I can't decide so am also
digging for more information.

Hence the asking for academic studies.
I already know enough that even if the chlorophylls and the caretenoids
can absorb that part of the spectrum, that may not relate to a growth
or blooming response.

The other fun thing I've discovered is that queries concerning devices
using blue LEDs have an awful tendency to get folks saying "I can get you
discrete blue LEDs."


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

If/when you get some hard information please post it or email me.
Joe T

? wrote:
On 19 Jun 2006 08:40:48 -0700 in . com jtill wrote:


Vendors make a lot of claims, Orchid experts seem to say that Grow
lights are not worth the price. Who knows, I can't decide so am also
digging for more information.

Hence the asking for academic studies.
I already know enough that even if the chlorophylls and the caretenoids
can absorb that part of the spectrum, that may not relate to a growth
or blooming response.

The other fun thing I've discovered is that queries concerning devices
using blue LEDs have an awful tendency to get folks saying "I can get you
discrete blue LEDs."


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

Here is a nice link
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/...BioBookPS.html
For a start.
Joe T

jtill wrote:
? wrote:
On 19 Jun 2006 08:40:48 -0700 in . com jtill wrote:


Vendors make a lot of claims, Orchid experts seem to say that Grow
lights are not worth the price. Who knows, I can't decide so am also
digging for more information.

Hence the asking for academic studies.
I already know enough that even if the chlorophylls and the caretenoids
can absorb that part of the spectrum, that may not relate to a growth
or blooming response.

The other fun thing I've discovered is that queries concerning devices
using blue LEDs have an awful tendency to get folks saying "I can get you
discrete blue LEDs."


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

Here is a nice link
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/...BioBookPS.html
For a start.
Joe T

Philips makes a plant light they named "Agro-Lite", which is a minor
variant of the wide spectrum Gro-Lux. They commissioned a study at a
major American university comparing their Agro-Lite to wide spectrum
plant lights. The Philips tube resulted in 2 - 10% greater growth in a
variety of terrestrial food crops when compared to other wide spectrum
plant lights.

This from a retirees web site ;-)), I have not found the study.
Joe T

You'll note that - within limits - they all absorb in the same to spectral
zones.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"jtill" wrote in message
oups.com...

? wrote:
On 19 Jun 2006 08:40:48 -0700 in
. com jtill
wrote:


Vendors make a lot of claims, Orchid experts seem to say that Grow
lights are not worth the price. Who knows, I can't decide so am also
digging for more information.

Hence the asking for academic studies.
I already know enough that even if the chlorophylls and the caretenoids
can absorb that part of the spectrum, that may not relate to a growth
or blooming response.

The other fun thing I've discovered is that queries concerning devices
using blue LEDs have an awful tendency to get folks saying "I can get you
discrete blue LEDs."


--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."

If/when you get some hard information please post it or email me.
Joe T

Does not this only apply to basement growing and indoor growing?

Seriously, one of these growing lights accompanied my greenhouse, and
we, thus, had to remove it as life in the desert has its own sunshine.
No, I am not bragging as we also have extremes -- snow (and temps to 16
degrees) as well as heat (100's and up and up).

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://home.earthlink.net/~profpam/page3.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ray wrote:
You'll note that - within limits - they all absorb in the same to spectral
zones.

On Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:14:21 GMT in . net profpam wrote:
Does not this only apply to basement growing and indoor growing?

Seriously, one of these growing lights accompanied my greenhouse, and
we, thus, had to remove it as life in the desert has its own sunshine.
No, I am not bragging as we also have extremes -- snow (and temps to 16
degrees) as well as heat (100's and up and up).

Yeah, basement and indoor growing would be the use.
And what Ray says is pretty much on target.
I don't have my notes, and I lost the good URL that shows
carotenoid vs chlorophyll absorbtion spectrums, but
it peaks around the same color of blue, and the same color of red
for nearly everything I've looked at.
I've seen a few absorbtion spectra that also have a peak in the UV
range, but I'm not even going to go there.

I currently lack data on adjusting blue vs red to change growth rates,
but that should be painless enough to accumulate.

I've had one manufacturer of lighting fixtures want to build a prototype
for me. I discovered that my fiance's brother in law works for
another LED lighting company, and they're also interested
in doing a prototype and looking at which of their products can work,
on the cheap, with off the shelf track lighting designs.

In the amusing category. The devices sold by the LED grow lights folks
are standard, but now largely discontinued, traffic lights.

I'm currently in the midst of getting moved, so this will take a
back burner for a bit.

. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://home.earthlink.net/~profpam/page3.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ray wrote:
You'll note that - within limits - they all absorb in the same to spectral
zones.



--
Chris Dukes
"The key to effective management is properly timed hovering."