Bottom Heat + New Roots + Heat Mats Alternative.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I have no idea what the temperature in the pot is usually like when a heat mat is used. Once you know what the temperature is, then someone is bound to tell you if they are ok or not.

Camille,

I purchased 2 thermometers, and placed one on the floor while used the second one in an experiment pot with some hydroton and water to mimic the plant pots.

The water was at room temperature at the beginning of the experiment 13c (55.4F), outside temp 6c (42.8F), temperature on the floor above the main hot water pipe was constant at 35c (95F). After 2 hours of placing the experimental pot on the floor, the temperature of the water rose to a max of 28c (82.4F).

so there was a rise in the temp of the water inside the pot of 15c (59F).

what do you think? is this rise beneficial for the orchids that are newly transplanted into S/H?

Thank you.

[Ray]

I think that if your air temperature is 13°C, your plants will be more-or-less dormant anyway. Their metabolic rates are controlled to a large extent by temperature, and at 13°, most tropical plants are "going nowhere", so transplanting them, then keeping them at that temperature is likely to be unsuccessful.

Certainly boosting the pot temperature to 28° will help, and no-doubt, will boost root growth.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Ray

I think that if your air temperature is 13°C, your plants will be more-or-less dormant anyway. Their metabolic rates are controlled to a large extent by temperature, and at 13°, most tropical plants are "going nowhere", so transplanting them, then keeping them at that temperature is likely to be unsuccessful.

Certainly boosting the pot temperature to 28° will help, and no-doubt, will boost root growth.

Thank you Ray, The temperature is low at 13c because we have a snow storm. I have moved the Orchids into the living room where the temperature during the day varies between 23c and 28c because of the heating. I'll keep them there for a couple of weeks until the storm is over.