Bottom heat/seedling heat mat for potted Phals ?

[bethmarie]

My grow room is dropping down to around 64 degrees over night, and some of the Phals don't like it. My young Bellina alba dropped a couple of leaves that it couldn't afford to lose, and temperature is the only variable I can come up with.

I read through an older thread about seedling heat mats for plants in S/H.

Is is safe to use a heat mat for orchids potted in sphag or bark, or might that overheat the roots?

[Orchids4ever]

Originally Posted by bethmarie

My grow room is dropping down to around 64 degrees over night, and some of the Phals don't like it. My young Bellina alba dropped a couple of leaves that it couldn't afford to lose, and temperature is the only variable I can come up with.

I read through an older thread about seedling heat mats for plants in S/H.

Is is safe to use a heat mat for orchids potted in sphag or bark, or might that overheat the roots?

Hi Beth
I would think they be fine-mine-in spag- are sitting on a glass shelf right above the T5 lights and they get a lot of Bottom heat-they like it-only draw-back-they dry out faster-so i have to water them more often .

[LovePhals]

My phal hybrids all do well in lower temps into high 50s. But my Samera does not like it at all either, I recently had a spike dry up and a leaf start to yellow I think from the same thing.

[AnonYMouse]

I grow my Phals conventionally in LECA on saucers on plastic trays on heat mats. The saucers and tray are there to catch water but function as insulation as well.

[Leafmite]

I tried twice to grow a seedling Phal bellina and the cooler temperatures in the winter did both in. I finally went with a mature one as they aren't as delicate. A seedling mat is designed to be safe with plants so it will be perfect.

[silken]

Any of my orchids that are a bit sensitive to cooler temps are sitting on my two heat mats over winter. They do fine.

[bethmarie]

Thanks for the fast, helpful feedback. My Bellina especially thanks you.