Water temperature

[2Barefeet]

Should I be worried about using cold faucet water during the winter months for Vandas? I'm not sure how cold my water gets during the winter, but I know it is significantly colder than in the summer. This will be the first winter I've used water out of the faucet. In the past I've had few enough plants that I could just use a 2 gallon sprayer and fill it in the house with room temp water, but I have enough plants now that it takes a lot longer to water them with it. I'd like to keep using the hose if possible.

[charlesf6]

Must be pretty lucky to be able to use a hose in winter.

[MrHappyRotter]

The root tips of Phalaenopsis and many other Vandaceous plants can die or go dormant if the water is significantly colder than room temperature. Though I've never measured, I'd guesstimate anything lower than 60F (~15C) would be risky, and honestly, I'd try to keep the temperature noticeably warmer than that. There are some factors to consider, though.

My experience was with warm to hot growing Phal species and hybrids. Not all Vanda (and related genera ) species and hybrids are warm growers, in fact, some species like V. coerulea can handle cool temperatures, and they'll impart that into their hybrids. I guess what I'm getting at is, it's impossible to give you a concise and accurate answer because we don't know the IDs or background of your plants.

As far as the faucet water temperatures go, do you know how cold it actually gets? I'd recommend measuring the temperature before using it (in the colder months). You might find that it stays warm enough most of the time, and that it only drops to risky levels for a few weeks in late winter. In which case, even if it takes a very long time, maybe if you plan ahead, you can switch to the sprayer for that brief duration.

Would it be helpful to purchase a few buckets and fill those up the night before you water and then use that water for the plants? That'd at least give it time to warm up a bit before hand.

[2Barefeet]

Though I have V coerulea, I have more of the warm to hot growers (tricolor, tessellata) and their hybrids. I like your suggestion of using the hose as long as I can and then switch to using the sprayer when I have to.

I want to eventually set up an automatic watering system, but how do I work around too cold water during the winter?

[Ray]

I found that by warming the water to 70°-75°F, the plants are much happier.

I used to think that growth slowing, or stopping altogether in winter was just a seasonal thing, but when I started warming the water, that never happened again.

[2Barefeet]

Originally Posted by Ray

I found that by warming the water to 70°-75°F, the plants are much happier.

I used to think that growth slowing, or stopping altogether in winter was just a seasonal thing, but when I started warming the water, that never happened again.

How did you warm the water? Install a water heater in the greenhouse? I've also noticed my Vandas going "dormant" in the winter. I'm been thinking of raising my min temperature from 50 to 60, but it looks like I have to address the water temp too.

[rbarata]

I always warm the water, more for the warm growers.
I don't use nothing fancy, just my hand inside while mixing really hot water to the cold water.
When I feel it's slightly cooler than my hand, that's ok.
For cool growers I do the same but use it not so warm.

[Ray]

I had an RO tank in the GH, so immersed a 1000w aquarium heater in it.