How to Control Temperature?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by georgejohn12

An option is to use an infrared heater with a thermostat to maintain a consistent temperature, as infrared heaters distribute heat more evenly without drying out the air. Additionally, you might want to use a humidity tray or a humidifier to counteract the dryness caused by the heater, as maintaining proper humidity is crucial for orchids.

First - welcome to the board GJ.

I’m sorry if this seems like “picking on a new forum member”, but there are a few fallacies that should be dispelled.

Heaters do not dry out the air. That can only happen when the humidity is removed, as happens when air conditioners are in the cooling mode. All heaters, by heating the air, cause it to expand, which decreases the relative humidity without changing the true moisture content.

Humidity trays are of very little value unless used in a closed environment, as 1) they are of inconsequential surface area for sufficient evaporation to make a significant difference, and 2) “Mother Nature” (physics) wants to spread those few water molecules evenly throughout the room, the house, and the entire atmosphere.

I wouldn’t say that maintaining proper humidity is “crucial”. Certainly it’s a good idea to maintain it within a decent range, but deviations are not the end of the world. Your humidifier suggestion is a good one.

[Diane56Victor]

I have a heat mat for a few orchids set up in a room with no other heat source.
Overall temps in the room during winter (Australia) are about 14C overnight (57.2F) with about 18C (64.4F) as a daytime.

The heat mat is on a picnic style table the orchids are in a tray with a layer of pebbles to allow for drainage.
I've set up a temp gauge placed on the pebbles and the temps are consistently between 22C to 24C (71.6 to 75.2)
I also have a terracotta plant pot with some Hoya cuttings doing quite well. The terracotta does take a lot longer to register the temp but it does feel warmer.

I realise that my winter temps arn't anything like those you might experience I just thought I could show the difference a heat mat can make. Its definitely worth trying again.