Propane ? Danger to cats
 

I have a rack of cats outside & my propane gas grill is BOUT 2 ft away. I read bout ethylene being very toxic at very plow ppm. Is propane also damaging to orchids.

Propane isn't ethylene. Propane is not toxic to orchids in small amounts.

I apologize for being picky, but people here write "catts" for Cattleyas and "cats" for cats. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how many felines fit in a rack.

In a greenhouse with a propane heater, if the heater is not properly vented to the outside, it can seriously damage the orchids (the leaves on Catts turn yellow and fall off).

That's from carbon monoxide, not from propane. Carbon monoxide, usually produced by burning with inadequate oxygen supply, is toxic to all living organisms.

I too was very worried about some felines.

What is the ventilation around the grill? If it is safe for combustion and human presence then I think the gases will not be harmful, the heat, might.

How large of a grill? If I were you and I was going to do a lot of grilling I might move the grill a few feet away if you can.



I have a huge (amazing, thank you, dear wife) grill and it can put out more heat than it can handle ( not joking, the frame and cover are rated to 1000 but it can reach 1200????). Typically, super hot is fast, for charring or adding a crust etc, long cooks are very low heat, but still, I’d watch the heat on the plant. One time of “cooking” the plant will kill all the affected tissue.

From an Ohio State publication:

Because it is a gas, ethylene can easily move throughout the greenhouse. The most common source of ethylene contamination in the greenhouse is malfunctioning heating units. Incomplete combustion of organic fuels can result in the production of carbon monoxide, ethylene and other byproducts.

I thought this was about cats but since it is unlikely for lots of them to hanging on a rack we are talking about catts then.

I'd have to ask how often is the grill used? Could a person stand 2 feet away from it without getting heat stress?

When I barbecue I am standing inches away.

In an outdoor space I would not worry about gasses as much as I would about heat or cooking oils jumping.

A sizzling chicken drumstick can send oils flying for about 2 feet. Simple solution would be to hang a cooking apron across the Catt rack. Will stop gasses and cooking oils going into that direction and I am assuming it's all outdoors

Moderator Comment: No cats were harmed during this thread discussion.

I think that the gas itself is not a problem if there are no leaks. If there are leaks, then maybe a safety problem - for humans as well as orchids.

Shade brought up a good point - about possibility of oils or fats etc splattering onto the orchid leaves.

One test is ------ if you use the grill many times, and if there is no observed negative impact on the orchids, then it should be fine ----- no problem.

As long as what this group says about leaves doesn't occur with our orchids ----- then that is good!

The Mamas & The Papas: California Dreamin' - YouTube

Good Lord SouthPark! Flashback!! I used to have white go-go boots... I was a stylin' fool. Memories.