So, I'm shamelessly searching for mentor advice on this one - I have reached the point in my collection where I have a fair number of intermediate/warmish orchids and they grow in the same space and in the same temperatures as the rest of my orchids. I am concerned that I am stunting the growth of the warmer growing orchids because of my nighttime lows here in the frozen northeast.
In the winter, that means 70f days and 58f nights (give or take a few degrees in either direction). It hasn't been an issue in prior winters, but now the collection is larger and more diverse and I'm wondering whether a heat mat (seedling mat) might help keep the nighttime lows from getting too low.
I have read general notes here and there that people use heat mats for their warm growing phals in the winter with great success. But what does this entail exactly? Do you simply plug the mat in, place the phal pot on the mat and walk away? Is the mat on a timer and it kicks on at night? Is the mat on a thermostat and kicks on when temps drop? A setup like this could only affect the root temps of a potted orchid, what do you do for the foliage?
Aside from the set-up questions noted above, my real concerns are fungal / bacterial. If you're artificially raising the temp of the pot, roots, potting material, etc., and you're watering with the same frequency (or perhaps greater frequency due to the temp increase), aren't you creating the perfect warm, dark, moist environment for a fungal / bacterial explosion? Do all heat mat users prophylactically treat with Physan or its equivalent?
Here's what I was thinking:
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden
Together with:
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MT10006 9-by-19-1/2-Inch Seedling Heat Mat: Patio, Lawn & Garden
If anyone has experience with this type of set-up, I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks, in advance.
- J
Heat Mat / Seedling Mat Questions
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