Best winter heat for orchids?

[Orchidreamer]

During winter, the temps drops down to 65 degrees. I don't want to turn on the heat and heat up the whole house due to high utility bills. This year, I have several warm-growing phal species seedlings that require warm temps, so I'm considering buying a heating mat or any kind of heating apparatus for heating about 10 seedlings in 3" pots.

I want a good quality, reliable heating mat/apparatus that's safe to use for long periods of time. I'll be using it nonstop for a couple of months. Any recommendations?

Note: I do have a portable heater that can heat up the whole room, but it's too "extreme" -- it's basically baking the air!

[naoki]

I've been using two Hydrofarm Seedling Heat mats for a couple months. It seems to be pretty decent. It raise the temp only a couple degree.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MT10...ofarm+heat+mat

[Ray]

I use and sell those, too. No controller needed, and they boost the root zone temperature between 10° & 15°.

However, depending upon the types of seedlings, your potting media and the humidity, 65° might be fine.

[Masdyman]

Originally Posted by Zootrophion

During winter, the temps drops down to 65 degrees. I don't want to turn on the heat and heat up the whole house due to high utility bills. This year, I have several warm-growing phal species seedlings that require warm temps, so I'm considering buying a heating mat or any kind of heating apparatus for heating about 10 seedlings in 3" pots.

I want a good quality, reliable heating mat/apparatus that's safe to use for long periods of time. I'll be using it nonstop for a couple of months. Any recommendations?

Note: I do have a portable heater that can heat up the whole room, but it's too "extreme" -- it's basically baking the air!

My heart bleeds for you I wouldn't bother supplementing heat if that was my Min, that is about perfect for Phalaenoposis!

[Orchidreamer]

Ok thanks for the input everyone! Actually, in the past couple of years, I had my phal seedlings (equestris, bastianii, amboinensis, schilleriana, stuartiana,etc.) in 65 deg temps with no issues, other than the fact that they grew more slowly.

The humidity is around 50%. Maybe it goes down to 40% during the drier seasons but never any lower. I have most of them in fir bark, a few in sphag.

But this year, I have some "weaker," more picky growers such as Phal tetraspis 'C1' and Phal violacea var. Indigo. I heard they get stunted and suffer for months if they get too cold.

Whoops I should've said "turn up the heat" not "turn on the heat." Of course, I do keep the heat turned on, just not very high.