Hot water faucet

[Orchidbyte]

A few months ago I installed a hot water line with a shut off valve fed into my cold water pipe/faucet outdoors. I wanted to water greenhouse in morning like always do, I always felt bad because greenhouse is warm and cold filtered water is very cold, almost freezing.

Now I can mix cold and hot to get a good temperature, I have noticed the plants and orchids respond to the warm water showers, i.e. More root growth, better winter growth and flower.

Has anyone else done the same?

Am i the only plant/orchid nut crazy enough to run hot water outside?

Thank for any replies

[WhiteRabbit]

I'm sure you're not alone - I always try to water with room temp/ tepid water so as to not shock the plants. Outside plants get water from the hose, but after letting it run a minute, it's about the same temp as the air.
I'm sure your plants appreciate your thoughtfulness at providing warm water for them!

[camille1585]

I don't think you're crazy at all. I used to water with cold water in the winter, but discovered that there was better root growth with luke warm/ room temperature water.
Is the pipe going out to the GH insulated? That way the warm water doesn't lose too much heat getting out there.

[Orchidbyte]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I don't think you're crazy at all. I used to water with cold water in the winter, but discovered that there was better root growth with luke warm/ room temperature water.
Is the pipe going out to the GH insulated? That way the warm water doesn't lose too much heat getting out there.

The hot water pipe is on exterior of house, but it is a short run so there is very little heat loss.

[Connie Star]

When I water outside in the summer it is from a garden hose that frequently has been in the sun. I have to be careful that the initial spray is not too hot.
I'm in a totally different climate zone (western New England) so when the plants are inside in the winter I warm up the tap water. It's hard to say if the plants like it because of course they don't grow as much in the winter while they are inside.

[Bud]

I water my vandas at room temperature in the summers and in winters a bit warm tepid water from the sink...some orchids have roots that dont like cold water...and leaving cold water droplets on leaves gives it black spots...

[SteveKotarski]

I did It by accident. When putting in the outdoor faucet, we tapped into the wrong pipe! I'm sure its nice to have tepid water for your plants, but what I had coming out the hose was HOT! *Problem has since been corrected!

[msaar]

When I built my current greenhouse, I installed a tankless water heater and mixing valve to provide tempered water for watering. The secondary benefit is as a backup heating system if I suffer an electric or heater failure in winter. I can crank the mixing valve to hot and spray hot water through several Fog-it misting nozzles (in the aisles, not on the plants). In general, orchids are not happy with 40 degree water(unless the alternative is freezing).

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[Ray]

I have a large aquarium heater in my RO tank, keeping it at about 75°.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by SteveKotarski

I did It by accident. When putting in the outdoor faucet, we tapped into the wrong pipe! I'm sure its nice to have tepid water for your plants, but what I had coming out the hose was HOT! *Problem has since been corrected!

My father had an engineer friend who liked carbonated water so much that he installed a CO2 tank and connected it to a pipe.
Unfortunately, he connected it to the pipe to the toilet!