Heat mats & orchids???

[plumeriastix]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie here this is only my second post. I just purchased a Den Red Emperor Prince this evening and I just love it. I have killed all my other orchids and want this one to survive so badly. I grow plumeria and have a greenhouse but it gets very hot in the afternoons, up to 104 degrees so far this last week and down in the low 40's at night.

I have two light carts in the house as well. They are pretty large, each has two shelves and each shelf has 2 four foot grow lights. On each shelf I have heat mats for rooting my plumeria and starting seeds. I would like to keep my orchid in the house but because I have a covered porch in the front and a covered patio in the back my house is not plant friendly...it is to dark! Would it be okay to keep my orchid in one of my lite carts or will the heat mats be to hot? The temp stays about 80 degrees 24/7 but the mats themselves are probably 85-90 degrees (just guessing on that part).

I could put it on a tray of pebbles or marbles with water if that would help. I had it in there but decided to take it out until I got more information. It is quite beautiful, purple flowers with yellow centers and purple in the center of that. It is a big healthy plant and I would love for it to stay that way!

Thank you for any help you can be.

Best wishes,
Jerri

Well duh, I just figured out that "den" = dendrobium...I thought it was just part of the name, LOL!!!

[FinnBar]

Hi Jerri
sounds alright to me.

I could put it on a tray of pebbles or marbles with water if that would help.

that's a great idea, with the heat mat below you'll create a nice microclimate with higher humidity!

Good luck!

[Ross]

I have several of mine on a 20x20 heat mat just to keep them warm. You should be fine.

[plumeriastix]

Thank you for your help I guess I am addicted already...I have purchased three in 24 hours, a pretty good sized cymbidium - Little Losenze Pink and another dendrobium - Spring Dream 'Kumiko'. I really like the orchids that the blooms come directly from the canes , if that makes sense.

[Ross]

By the way, mine sit directly on the mat. The very bottoms of the pots get slightly warm, but barely discernable.

[plumeriastix]

Thank you for that info Ross I went ahead and put mine on trays filled with marbles and water (roots aren't in the water though) to try and create a little more humidity. It's difficult to get enough humidity going here in the desert. I think they will like my swamp cooler in the summer though