How to survive Winter season

[DebsC]

I also have vents in the roof with the solar powered openers and they work flawlessly. They aren't horribly expensive.

Before I got a greenhouse built I grew in my sun room in winter. No humidifiers, no vents, no nothing and they did fine and bloomed beautifully. I do grow mostly cattleya's though.

I agree with you Kristin, if growing orchids weren't a challenge and just anybody could do it....who'd want to!

[mi xiao]

Originally Posted by kmcalpin

.... Anyway, The temp inside got to 120 degrees....

i plan on surviving winter in a snow suit, unless i can stay at your greenhouse.

[thakshila smith]

ty guys for the most valued information http://www.orchidboard.com/community...w/biggrin2.gif
.
Why your green house get heated since there is not enough sun. Do you heat it?
I thought green houses are heated things.
Exhaust fans idea is fine .
All the outside area is cool and cool air can come inside too .
I am thinking that you guys take so much efforts to grow orchids. Thank you so much.
We got green houses in our gardens too but they are covered ones from glass and not heated ,no fans inside , open roof.

[kmcalpin]

wish I could have open roof, no fans, etc! We get TONS of sun in the winter in Colorado, but it stays cold outside. So I think an exhaust fan is my best bet, that would be hooked to a thermostat.

I wish I could do the solar powered vent openers, but this greenhouse just has regular sliding open type windows, like the kind you have in your regular house. I've looked into that, but there's nothing that I can find that would work with regular windows.

SO on to another project in the name of orchids . . . it is a bit of a folly to try to grow them in southern CO with 0% humidity and bright sun, cold outside!! My husband points out this folly at least once a month, but he is luckily very indulgent!

[Ray]

Thakshila, it's all a matter of the balance between the heat loss to the cold outside and the solar heat gain.

I have power ventilation and heating in my greenhouse. The thermostat for the heater keeps the thing about 60°F at the thermometer near the phals. There are colder zones, as well, that can get as low as 50°.

If, on the other hand, the solar gain is significantly greater than the heat loss, my thermostatically-controlled vents will open to allow a bit of fresh air in.

[Ray]

kmcalpin, it's not folly at all! It's merely engineering.

First of all, you must add humidification. A fogger is probably an excellent investment.

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by kmcalpin

SO on to another project in the name of orchids . . . it is a bit of a folly to try to grow them in southern CO with 0% humidity and bright sun, cold outside!! My husband points out this folly at least once a month, but he is luckily very indulgent!

When kmcalpin says 0% humidity, that is no exaggeration! I, personally, measured the humidity in our Denver office just this week. . .and it was so low that it didn't register on the hygrometer!

The coolio thing, is that armed with this information I was able to get our manager to buy our office a froggie humidifier. lol So now, in our office/room only, the humidity is up to around 42%. We're happy & our orchids are happy!

You've got to add humidity if you want to grow orchids in Colorado!! Do what you've gotta do!

[kmcalpin]

I do have a misting system that goes on 4 times a day, they seem to have weathered the summer fine with that. I don't work every day so when I'm home I tend to go in and spray down the floor or do a bit more misting. I am thinking of getting a humidistat with solenoid valve and hooking that all up together, at the same time I do the exhaust fan. Has anyone tried one of those Walmart type cool humidifiers as a cheapie shortcut??

Am wondering three things, that don't have much to do with winter, although they might. First, what are the chances of any of my orchids dying after being exposed to 120 degrees for a few hours? I am a bit stressed about this, cause I know they won't show signs of dying for a long time.Second, I have an orchid that I got for free with oval shaped leaves that are now, in the fall, turning a bit reddish. Anyone know what it could be? Third, is it normal for some of my leaves esp hardcane dendrobium and a cymbidium, to be turning yellow?? The night temps are about 60 with the heater on now.

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[kmcalpin]

Ok NEW PROBLEM!! My greenhouse has a propane heater. I am not sure if it's vented -- do you have any idea how I can tell?? I think I have a clue in that since the heater has been on at nights for the past week, all of the flowers have died, a lot of the dendrobium leaves have turned yellowish green, and all of my my buds have died in spike. So. I thought it was because it got up to 120 for a few hours, but it just keeps getting worse. My conclusion is that I don't think it's vented. Anyway.

I called the air people from our area, and they are backed up a week so can't send anyone out. Can I use an electrical space heater in the interim? My greenhouse is 10x24. Should I combine a space heater with a cheap humdifier, like the kind you get at walmart? Do I have to buy a whole new vented propane heater or can someone just put a vent in the one I already have? This has been a horrible week for my orchids and me and I would appreciate any insight anyone has!!!

So far I need an exhaust fan, mechanized louvered vents, a thermostat, a humidistat with solenoid valve and a humdifier, and now a new propane heater!! What else???? I'm pulling my hair out!!!

[Phantasm]

You probably need a vented heater.....you can survive quite well with an electric heater until your help arrives.