No central heat; how to keep my orchids alive?

[Purple_phal_gal13]

Hey y'all ill be on dire straights here for long. Ok here's the problem, I have orchids but this house has no central heat. We have electric oil heaters that you plug in and set thr heat on. But these things consume a lot of electricity and I'd have to leave it on all the time. Or at least cycle on every 15 minutes and off for 15 to keep my room warm enough.

So, is there some good ideas out there to help keep my plants warm this winter? I've worked hard to get my plants and I'd really hate to see all my work die in winter. Not to mention losing some birthday and Xmas presents from the boyfriend and family.

Also some ideas to go along to keep my humidity from crashing would be helpful.

Please help. I really don't want to lose my beautiful plants.

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[Bud]

seal your windows and doors in winter ....make sure no heat escapes....try to trap the heat in....then invest on a two gallon warm steam humidifier and plug it near your plants these don't consume a lot of electricity. As long as your indoor temp do not drop below 60F you're set.

[Purple_phal_gal13]

You have a good idea for sealing the windows and stuff. Problem is, I live in a house built in the 1930s and the walls have no insulation, the attic isn't properly insulated, and this house breathes and has a lot of cracks n crevices from settling all these years it's not feasible to seal them all.

I do have thermal insulated curtains on the windows and the room they are in has probably the best heat retention of the entire house. Against me is also the fact we live in a holler between two ridges with a creek running through. So it's fairly humid and we have wet winters in this part of TN. Oh and it gets cold here.

Could I make a little green house of sorts with that heavy clear vinyl and put heat lamps in with the orchids and humidifier? Do you think that would help?

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[Bud]

vinyl, orchid lights, warm steam humidifier and a portable heater will work and a timer is advisable if in the day you already reach constant 60 to 70 F....I have no idea what heat lamps are....but if it works to maintain 60F at night then by all means....

[AnonYMouse]

Do you use lights for your plants? CFL and LEDs do generate some heat, raising the ambient temps in a small enclosed area by a few degrees.

ETA: be careful of heat lamps. Unless monitored and controlled, you can cook plants with them (or worse).

---------- Post added at 06:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

Get a thermometer/hygrometer combo and start getting conditions.

[eant]

The best thing u can do is buy mr. Slim heat pump,with a high hspf. It will save u money in the long run. The hyper heat version of the mr. Slim will produce 150 deg. At 5 degrees Fahrenheit. They are very Reliable and if u rent the home when u move u can take it with u.

[Jayfar]

I'm sure you'll find a way to address the heating problem for your Phals, but I'd like to suggest that you consider adding Neofinetia falcata (recently reclassified as Vanda) to your collection. These very compact plants love a nice cold winter rest and can tolerate temps down to at least the low 30s F (although recommended to go no lower than 40s in culture).

There's an entire section of OB dedicated to Neofinetia:

Vanda Alliance - Neofinetia - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !

and a sticky thread on wintering them:

Growing Neofinetia falcata in winter months

[Purple_phal_gal13]

The heat pump I'm assuming is part of a central heat unit. We don't have one and the money to install one is pointless when this housing is temporary. Great idea and I'll remember that brand for down the road.

When I say heat lamp I mean like a bulb in one of those aluminum housings you see in chicken coops to help keep chickens or chicks warm. Also called a brooder lamp.

I think I'll use a combination of incandescent grow bulbs for heat, indoor greenhouse things you see at like lowes, and warm mist humidifiers.

I'm currently using 100w cfls in a 3 tree lamp setup to light my orchids. I know cfls produce a lil heat especially the bigger wattages.

The choice of the neo vandas you mentioned I've been looking at since I'm wanting to grow vandas. I'll definately give those guys a shot.

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[dounoharm]

you could also check into a heat mat, like is used for seedlings in winter....some even come with thermostats....check ebay and farmtek.....gl

[eant]

The house being temporary,I got it. It's not part of the homes heating system. U can google mr.silm the info is there. The reason I suggest this,it's the best way to keep ur plants a live. Orchids like a constant temps.