Phalaenopsis location, is it ok near the heater?

[RosieC]

Traditional wisdom has always said that near heaters is bad.

However I have radiators under my window-ledges (about 1' below, with the window-ledge set into the wall about 9" deep).

I grow phals, paphs & oncs on these window-ledges around the house and have had no problem at all. At night my living room curtains drop below the radiator and very likely chanel the heat into that window area, still no probems.

I find that watering rate does not change much, but probably the natural decrease in water required in the winter is counteracted by the increase due to the heaters.

It might depend on the type of heaters, these are just convection radiators linked to a central boiler, no fan or other air flow.

Oh and I almost forgot (how could I as I'm looking right at it as I type) one of the radiators has plants standing right next to it on a lower table, no more than 2"-3" away. The phals on that have not had a problem in previous years or so far this year.

[RosieC]

Camille, that's what I was trying to describe by this bit, I think you are right that the type of radiators could make a big difference.

Originally Posted by RosieC

It might depend on the type of heaters, these are just convection radiators linked to a central boiler, no fan or other air flow.

I couldn't quite work out to describe them and didn't make that point clear enough. But yes, mine are water filled with the water cycling to a central boiler to be re-heated as it cools.

Ones which blow hot air are more likely to be a problem in my view, as are things like the gas fire in my living room (which I always move the plants away from on the few times a year I light it).

I think that's where the advise that it's bad comes from, and I think it really can depend on what the heating you have is like.