effect of air conditioners on plants - Orchid Board

ladyslipper · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:15 PM

Hi guys, I am not sure if this is the correct thread but since I grow under lights, I thought I would ask.

My grow stand is in my living room and I am planning on putting air conditioning in, in about a month. The air from the AC will not be blowing directly on the plants, but they may feel the effects directly by means of a cooler breeze. If they do feel the effects, it will not be very much at all since the AC is pointed in another direction.

Does anyone know if the air from AC is detrimental to orchids? Any secondary issues like a chemical or something that I should be aware of? If there is a problem then I will cancel the AC

Thanks for any opinions. regards, m

susiep · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:26 PM

Hello! The main problem with air conditioning is it brings down the humidity. I grow outside in South Florida which is high humidity all the time. However, I like to bring my blooming plants inside for everyone to enjoy. We always have the airconditioning on here. 11 and 1/2 months out of the year. My orchids will start to drop buds and actually wilt if I keep them in the house too long. Of course my orchids are used to high humidity. Maybe it won't be the same for you. Plus, you northern growers are used to dealing with drier air and know how to correct it. I can just say, my plants don't like it very much.

snow · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 12:08 AM

the main thing is that we DON,T use our airconditioners 11.5 moths of the year maybe days
so i don,t think it would be detrimental as long as the temp is not too low. at least thats my 2 canadian cents worth

ladyslipper · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snow

the main thing is that we DON,T use our airconditioners 11.5 moths of the year maybe days
so i don,t think it would be detrimental as long as the temp is not too low. at least thats my 2 canadian cents worth

Thanks for the info folks; I was a little concerned about things like freon or something like that. I personally don't like air conditioners but in the 2 summers that I have been in this apartment, there have been alot of times when its like an ez bake oven in here so I think I am admitting defeat. I don't really think I will have the apartment too cold for the plants.

Regards, m

shakkai · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 03:48 AM

I think any troubles with air conditioning would be the same ones you're probably already dealt with for central heating... don't have the plants directly in a draft, compensate for humidity loss, and try to avoid wide changes in temperature that happen quickly.

SheilaJ · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 08:02 AM

I'm not aware of any chemicals that should be a problem. Maybe you could set up a folding screen when the A/C is on to shield the orchids from drafts if that's a problem. And do watch the humidity.

Ocelaris · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 09:24 PM

That's one reason I love NYC, against many reasons I don't... pretty much all homes in the city/brooklyn are radiator heated... meaning no forced air heating/cooling which both remove moisture from the air. It's 40% humidity outside and it's the dead of winter. In the summer it's like 50% max... D.C. is like 100% humidity in the summer and 10% in the winter.

There is something to be said about living near the water (which surrounds NYC on all fronts), mild winters, mild summers, and plenty of wonderful humidity when you need it (winter) and not much when you don't in the summer!

I am a little suburban kid at heart, so I have to have my 2 window a/c units to keep the temps down in the summer, but a lot of people do without here in the city. They say NYC residents use like 1/3 the energy of the rest of the US... cookie for me!

Sorry some of this isn't particularly relavent, but thought it would be interesting to others fighting the humidity wars during the winter. We used to go through 4-5 gallons of water a day in our apartment in DC, we thought it would be the same here, but low and behold I don't need a humidifier at all!

whygreenberg · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 09:51 PM

Hi, Ocelaris! I've been following this thread (raised the issue in another thread too) because I'm about to have my first NYC summer with orchids. My partner insists on window A/C units during the summer, and I'm weary about how my chids are going to fare. How do yours do with the A/C running thru the summer?

Also, we've got radiators too, but I find the apartment be be quite dry myself during the winter. So, I've been running the humidifier all the time.

yvan (in bklyn)