mmmmm, toasty! - Orchid Board

CodiMN · #1 10-22-2007, 12:17 AM

Now that it's getting cooler...my homemade orchidarium is going to go thru a major test!

I would like to know, how to YOU keep your 'chids warmer in the winter? How do you keep your orchidarium (homemade or otherwise) warmer?

Right now, my orchidarium has a temperature range of 65-76 degrees F. I kind of would like to see if I can get it a little warmer.

Ross · #2 10-22-2007, 10:56 AM

Carolyn, what type of lights do you use? My t5 florescent bank of 4 tubes raises the tank temp during day. Right now it is 77 under lights and room temp 74.

CodiMN · #3 10-22-2007, 07:04 PM

Right now I have 2 compact florescents (please excuse my poor spelling) and one incandencent 60 watt plant light. I used to have 3 compact fl, but it was all "blue" and I wanted to vary the color spectrum a little. I'm at the library right now, but will post pictures later tonight when I get home.

Ross · #4 10-22-2007, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodiMN

Right now I have 2 compact florescents (please excuse my poor spelling) and one incandencent 60 watt plant light. I used to have 3 compact fl, but it was all "blue" and I wanted to vary the color spectrum a little. I'm at the library right now, but will post pictures later tonight when I get home.

I'd go back to the 3 CF bulbs if it were me. The incandescent doesn't do much but it does provide heat. Can you get reflectors above the bulbs somehow to reflect the light and heat back to the tank?

quiltergal · #5 10-22-2007, 09:27 PM

This may be a really dumb idea as I know nada about orchidariums, but could you use one of those reptile stones that plug in and warm the little cold blooded critters? They look fairly natural.

TheCanfield · #6 10-22-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

This may be a really dumb idea as I know nada about orchidariums, but could you use one of those reptile stones that plug in and warm the little cold blooded critters? They look fairly natural.

I was thinking the same thing... regarding the stone AND the I know nada about orchidariums.

Lindafvb · #7 10-23-2007, 11:45 AM

I have one of those reptile heater pads stuck to the side of the tank. This is my first year using an exo-terra, so my experience is also limited.

Tindomul · #8 10-23-2007, 01:53 PM

Becareful with heaters and attaching them or putting them into contact with glass. Differences in temps can build up leading to a broken terrarium.
The main source of heat for my tanks are room temps and lights bring that temp up by 10 degrees. I use 125 watts of power compact flourescent tubes. I've never had to use a heater in my tanks. I also don't think its bad to give your orchids nights in the upper 50's to low 60's. Unless they are wet. Afterall, forests get cold too.

markr · #9 10-23-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodiMN

I would like to know, how to YOU keep your 'chids warmer in the winter? How do you keep your orchidarium (homemade or otherwise) warmer?

For me, warmth is not a problem - I have trouble keeping my orchidariums cool enough! I wish I could get them down to 15C / 60F during winter nights but it rarely happens - I've only used passive methods so far like turning off room heating and opening windows at night (which isn't possible all winter as it gets VERY cold outside where I live) but nothing works reliably. To me, it's the biggest disadvantage to growing indoors and sharing your growing space with your living space.

Ross · #10 10-23-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

Becareful with heaters and attaching them or putting them into contact with glass. Differences in temps can build up leading to a broken terrarium.
The main source of heat for my tanks are room temps and lights bring that temp up by 10 degrees. I use 125 watts of power compact flourescent tubes. I've never had to use a heater in my tanks. I also don't think its bad to give your orchids nights in the upper 50's to low 60's. Unless they are wet. Afterall, forests get cold too.

My thoughts exactly! Infrared heaters mostly work based on direct radiation from the source to the subject. So the plants MAY get warmer (no guarantee) but the air space does not. I still say increasing heat output based on higher lumen light sources such as t5 or Compact Florescents is best choice for the money spent. You need lots of light and these guys provide that. You need heat and the waste heat from these guys helps here. Win-win!