Orchids have various needs for healthy growth. One of the most important requirements is adequate orchid light. The light requirement of orchids usually differ so you must know the specific amount of light that your orchid needs. Normally, most orchids require about 12 hours of light in winter season and 16 hours of light in summer. However, if you are using artificial light in growing your orchid, you must try to provide a similar amount of light. Artificial light can be used as an alternative if you cannot provide enough sunlight for your plant, especially during winter season. You can use artificial light and natural light alternately, depending on the weather condition.

There are two types of orchids which can thrive under artificial lights. The first one is Phalaenopsis or also known as Moth Orchid and the second one is Paphiopedilums or Lady Slippers. There are other types of orchids which can grow healthily under artificial light conditions but require a more intensive amount of orchid light. Here are two methods of growing your orchid under artificial light conditions.

Fluorescent Light - Regular incandescent light bulbs are not suitable for orchids since they emit high amounts of heat. Furthermore, they have to be close to the orchid for good use but they can burn the plant. A better alternative would be the use of fluorescent tubes since these have a wider coverage, hence they can provide better illumination. They don't give off huge amounts of heat relative to the amount of light produced so they are much better and safer to use than incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent tubes are efficient and most suitable for low-light orchids such as Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilums. A good combination of artificial light for orchids would include cool white and warm white bulbs which can provide adequate wavelengths for your plant. Power-twist fluorescents are recommended since they give off 15% more light than the regular ones. Arrange a minimum of four 40 watt tubes with a spacing distance of six inches from each other. Put the plants close to the tubes at a distance of eight inches. The replacement of fluorescent tubes must be done periodically, about once a year.

HID Lamps - High-intensity-discharge (HID) lamps are excellent artificial lights to grow orchids although they are more expensive compared to the fluorescent tubes. HID lamps are quite efficient and provide high-quality spectral light but the extra fixtures are very costly. However, maintenance is cheaper so your initial investment will be offset over long-term use. Generally, any kind of orchid can grow and bloom under HID artificial light so you must consider buying this type of lamp if you're ready to spend some money for the optimum growth of your orchid. Take note though that you must avoid using water near HID lamps because it could lead to damages or breakage. Use a reflector to protect your eyes from the intense HID light. Moreover, a rotator can help in moving the lamp over your orchid continuously to ensure that the lighting is enough.

Don't leave the lights at all times of the day since orchids also need to rest from continuous lighting. You can use a humidifier to make sure that your plant is kept moist enough.