Too cold for phals?

[greenpassion]

I really have to thank you guys for your support. I feel better. That said, I have gotten an indoor/outdoor thermostat that also shows the humidity levels. It seems to be at around 50% , sometimes higher, and sometimes at around 48%. I have my orchids on a 4ft 'boot tray' that I've made into a humidity tray, with a rack over it that the orchids sit on. I have 2" of water in that, and several other containers of water as well in an attempt to add to the humidity. I look at how much suceeding with these babies mean to me, and even though it's bordering on obcessive, I still can't stop myself.

[RosieC]

I would agree. My stat is kept at 60 at night and most of the day, and only goes up to 68 in the evening and possibly an hour in the morning. So most of the day my plants are at 60 over the winter.

The only problem I've had is with Phals in S/H where the root zone cools down even further due to evaporation. The phals in bark and everything else have done fine. The phals go pretty dormant but the ones in bark don't seem to suffer. The Oncs I had in S/H last year were even OK with being in the 60s even with the evaporation taking them even colder.

[silken]

Rosie, would a heat mat under your S/H Phals be an option for you?

[RosieC]

Yes I do do that (as mentioned on another post just now ) I should have mentioned it here.

It did seem to save all but one of my S/H phals at the second half of last winter and I will be using it again this year. I lost the one before I realised there was a problem. When I looked at the others their roots were going the same way (black splotches) but the heat mat halted that and the others all made it through.

Really above I was saying that if phals are in S/H they will not like the lower temps while those in bark should be fine, but you are right in pointing out that there are simple ways of correcting it for the S/H ones.

[Eyebabe]

I had very poor luck with my phals indoors over winter.
My home was about 60F and my humidity would drop to about 35%. My husband and three boys are very hot-blooded and my home is always on "freeze".
No matter what I potted the phals up in...they would whimper along and many would die.
I have a greenhouse but that will go down to 55F over winter.
My solution was to get an orchidarium indoors which keeps a temp between 67F and 80F and a humidity of 65%-75%.
I'm sure any kind of fish tank set up would work.

Personally, I would see how it goes over the winter for you; as everyone is different and many variables can effect culture.
If your winter goes less than successfully, try a tank next year

[Bud]

Theres a NorEaster (snowstorm) currently in Manhattan...I am lucky that my building has centralized heating...but the heat is supposed to be turned on mid November according to law...its good I have a portable electric heater...all my orchids are indoor and near a window...all three windows have heaters now...and so far my room temp is still 80F...heh

[Orchidreamer]

Currently 62.5 deg indoors. Usually my winter temps are between 60-65, and my phals have never showed any temperature-related issues. Same with oncs.

[Pilot]

Your grow lights will definitely help keep the plants warm enough, now worries. And if you have the cash for heating mats, and not the kind for your back when you over do it, but the kind that you use to germinate seeds, then you'll definitely be set. Heating mats, in my opinion, are pricey, but they cost next to nothing to run.

I keep my solarium at 60 at night and 70 during the day, though as a solarium, it always goes above that because of the sun and our altitude. I'm seriously considering moving some of my more fragile plants into the basement under lights.

Good luck and consider heating mats! Especially if you grow in s/h.

[pedidiva]

During the winter, my sunroom goes down to 50 before the heater comes on. So the coldest that the 'chids get is 50 degrees. During the day, it heats up according to sunlight.

The phals have done fine.

[greenpassion]

In the responses I've received I see the initials S/H a lot. What is that? Spaghnum moss & ?