Southern Heat Wave

[DebsC]

It's hot enough to fry eggs on the side walk here in Arkansas. I know it's hot in other states, too.

Texas has been having 100+ temps for a good while now.

We're suppose to get to 105 here today,

What are you greenhouse growers doing to combat the effects of this horrible hot air?

How hot is your greenhouse getting and how are your orchids reacting?

[Chubidubi]

For all you guys in those states were the heat wave is going on, PLEASE KEEP SAVE!!!!

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by DebsC

What are you greenhouse growers doing to combat the effects of this horrible hot air?

How hot is your greenhouse getting and how are your orchids reacting?

Unfortunately, in answer to your 2nd question, my greenhouse is hot. How I have combated the effects has been successful, thus far. I have a sprinkler system that is on a timer. I have it set to go off twice a day (4am and 4pm) and to run for a total of 7 minutes each time. I do have to watch any of the orchids that are sitting in saucers (essentially take them out, for the time being) and I will have to repot more often, using coarser less water retentive media. I have used shade cloth, in the past, to good effect, but my new greenhouse has these panels that slide in under the roof. They offer a little insulation and some diffusion of the strongest overhead sunlight. The fan stays on continuously. Also, all of my heat sensitive plants (a few....I am mad for pleurothallids despite myself and where I live ) are inside occupying the bathroom windowsill. It's a south facing bay window behind that frosted bathroom glass. So far, so good. I have asked for an evaporative cooler for my birthday....we'll have see! What are you doing, Deb? (well, besides trying to keep the eggs out of the heat! )

[DebsC]

Originally Posted by vmax3000

Unfortunately, in answer to your 2nd question, my greenhouse is hot. How I have combated the effects has been successful, thus far. I have a sprinkler system that is on a timer. I have it set to go off twice a day (4am and 4pm) and to run for a total of 7 minutes each time. I do have to watch any of the orchids that are sitting in saucers (essentially take them out, for the time being) and I will have to repot more often, using coarser less water retentive media. I have used shade cloth, in the past, to good effect, but my new greenhouse has these panels that slide in under the roof. They offer a little insulation and some diffusion of the strongest overhead sunlight. The fan stays on continuously. Also, all of my heat sensitive plants (a few....I am mad for pleurothallids despite myself and where I live ) are inside occupying the bathroom windowsill. It's a south facing bay window behind that frosted bathroom glass. So far, so good. I have asked for an evaporative cooler for my birthday....we'll have see! What are you doing, Deb? (well, besides trying to keep the eggs out of the heat! )

I don't have a swamp cooler, either. I sure wish I did! Although up til this summer I've done fine without it.

I've brought my paphs in the house. I have a paph Kovachii cross that I was scaredy to leave in the GH. I don't think they take the heat very good.

I also have some catts out on my old orchid table under a big tree. They seem to be doing okay with the heat...so far.

Saturday, my husband installed an older model A/C unit we had stored, in the GH window. It's not a big unit and it's won't actually 'cool' the house but it keeps the temps down around 90 degrees. I only run it from about 1 pm til right before dark. The hottest part of the day.

I have shade cloth up and have a Jay Bird humidifier. My exhaust fan is running 24/7. I hope it can hold up to that!! I also have 2 box fans sitting in the floor running on high 24/7.

I don't have a clue what this will do to our electric bill. It had already lurched out of sight! I may have to pass the hat.

If the power goes off during this heat....

[DebsC]

Thanks Wanda. It's sweet of you to worry about us. It truly is a dangerous situation for man, beast and orchids.

[Gin]

Pushing 100 here I turn on the under bench misters at 86 at 88 the rain bird wets the green house roof so far not too hot if it goes higher will turn on the high pressure pump that turns on the over head misters . Plus have shade cloth on the roof . Gin in Missouri aka Misery

[Ross]

Remeber the older posts with the snow? Now we have a heat wave here of high 70s low 80s. I'm dieing Humidity is like in the 50s or 60s and temps are peaking like 80. Man it's hot here! OK, so sue me! I'll be moaning and groaning in November when it gets down below 40.

[quiltingwacko]

Hey Ross you could have stayed in southern Oregon where we are breathing smoke from nearby forest fires and having temps in the nineties. The nights have been cool though. At one house we lived at, there was a swamp cooler. It really was quite pleasant. Humidified the house too.

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by Ross

Remeber the older posts with the snow? Now we have a heat wave here of high 70s low 80s. I'm dieing Humidity is like in the 50s or 60s and temps are peaking like 80. Man it's hot here! OK, so sue me! I'll be moaning and groaning in November when it gets down below 40.

So, last night, at 11:17 pm, I noted the temp and humidity for you....I am sure Debs can relate! It was 90 degrees F and 66 % humidity....I was thinking "how pleasant, finally"...
I am so looking forward to a swamp cooler. An orchid friend from Austin, Tx keeps encouraging me to get one. He's been keeping his temps in the high 80's when the blast furnace is blowing outside! Currently, my fan, which is the fan and motor stripped out of a rugged box fan, runs 24/7 and has for quite some time. My "sprinkler" is just that, a lawn sprinkler. High tech, I am not..yet! Debs, do you like your Jaybird? I was eyeing one of those just to add humidity without so much water and repotting (that was my hope/thought, at least).

[DebsC]

Originally Posted by vmax3000

So, last night, at 11:17 pm, I noted the temp and humidity for you....I am sure Debs can relate! It was 90 degrees F and 66 % humidity....I was thinking "how pleasant, finally"...
I am so looking forward to a swamp cooler. An orchid friend from Austin, Tx keeps encouraging me to get one. He's been keeping his temps in the high 80's when the blast furnace is blowing outside! Currently, my fan, which is the fan and motor stripped out of a rugged box fan, runs 24/7 and has for quite some time. My "sprinkler" is just that, a lawn sprinkler. High tech, I am not..yet! Debs, do you like your Jaybird? I was eyeing one of those just to add humidity without so much water and repotting (that was my hope/thought, at least).

It's funny how fast we become conditioned to think 90 or even 95 is a cold front!!!

Yes, I have a friend in Austin, TX that keeps encouraging me to get a swamp cooler, too. ( Of course I won't mention Geoff's name )

But I'm wondering how good a job it would do. I read what Gin had to say about using one in Mo.

I know that's what the chicken industry around here uses...so maybe it would work. It would have to be cheaper to run than A/C!!!!

Yes, I do love my Jay Bird!! It does exactly what it says it will do and you can't say that about many things.

So you have a sprinkler inside your greenhouse? Doesn't it get your plants too wet?