Orchids and Ethylene

[Highland Fashionista]

Hi everyone,
Apologies if there has been an answer to this in the past. My previous search didn't really turn up anything definitive.

Looking forward to spring, I usually start planning what I want to grow. Being in Scotland, I container garden, usually mostly in my conservatory to prevent rot from all the rain. I know that fruits like tomatoes emit ethylene which is orchid flower death. I was wondering of anyone has successfully had an orchid and tomato plant sharing a large(ish) space with any success. How close to an ethylene-producing plant is too close? Will ventilation make a difference?

Likely, I'll just forgo the tomatoes this year in favour of the chids....better safe then sorry.

Anyone have any experience ?

[WhiteRabbit]

[Leafmite]

I really haven't had a problem with this. My kids left banana peels everywhere when they were little. I remember finding a stack near my blooming phal collection one year. I also have container fruiting plants and trees.

[yousillygirl]

I think adequate ventilation is the key.

Currently I have a tomato plant with ripening tomatoes (this is Singapore-- ripe fresh tomatoes in Feb, hooray!) about 2-3 feet away from several blooming orchids and there hasn't been an issue.

[Highland Fashionista]

Thanks everyone. The conservatory is quite big, and I'm hoping that if I keep them on opposite sides with the vents open the topsoil species will never need to share air...

[OCRC_Dir_China]

My family sent me a box of vegetable seeds; and my student grew the cherry tomatoes on the inside of the windowsill in my office; we never had a problem with our orchids.

[lepetitmartien]

To add on top: air movement AND new fresh air…