Problem with temperature in my apartment.

[loreley]

As I said in another post, I recently moved and the conditions in my new apartment are less than ideal for my plants, especially the orchids. There is no thermostat, just A/C units that cannot really be regulated. There is a constant flow of warm air provided by the building that brings the temp in the room to about 70-72 degrees day and night (a bit less when it's really cold outside). If I move the knob to the right where it says "low", in a matter of minutes the temperature shoots up to 84 or 85 degrees. I don't dare think what would happen if I chose the "high" setting. So, 70 degrees it is. I bought a humidifier and try to maintain the level of moisture at 50%. Any suggestions?

[kmarch]

70-85 degrees F are perfectly find for most orchids commonly grown in the home. 50% humidity should be adequate for all but the more humidity-loving orchids.

My suggestion is that you write down these details when you go orchid shopping and ask growers what orchids do they have which will do well in your conditions.

How is your light? What directions do your windows face? Are you using lights?

[katrina]

Kevin's right...70 is perfectly fine for orchids. In the Winter my average day time temps run between 70 and 72...night time drops to 58-60.

Matching the light needed is more important than humidity. Most orchids are very adaptable to less than perfect humidity.

[loreley]

Originally Posted by kmarch

70-85 degrees F are perfectly find for most orchids commonly grown in the home. 50% humidity should be adequate for all but the more humidity-loving orchids.

My suggestion is that you write down these details when you go orchid shopping and ask growers what orchids do they have which will do well in your conditions.

How is your light? What directions do your windows face? Are you using lights?

The light is pretty good, I think. My windows face east-southeast. No, I'm not using lights. Thanks for the suggestion that I ask the growers which orchids would do well in my apt. I"ll do just that next time

[loreley]

My problem, among others, is that the temperature stays the same day and night, there's nothing I can do about that. I understand the drop in temperature is necessary to trigger blooming?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by loreley

I understand the drop in temperature is necessary to trigger blooming?

Not for all orchids. This is an over generalization. Only for some.

[orchids4me]

Lorley,
What types of orchids are you currently growing ? If you have any that need a temp drop maybe put them in the rest room and crack the window to drop temp a bit. If there's a central heat and air type vent you can close that and just shut door and check the temp at night without cracking a window first to see what the low is. that is if you have ones that require a temp difference. At home depot and walmart they sell the max/min thermometers that measure highs and lows for you at home depot they cost $9.99 and at walmart for $8.99.
Good luck
Emmaye

[Bolero]

Some do need the drop, my understanding is that Dendrobiums, Phals, Paphs and Cymbidiums all need a drop in temperatures to flower but things like Cattleya's do not. So it depends on what you are growing.

[Brooke]

If you grow the orchid in a sunny window, the temp goes up when the sun is shining but at night without the sun the temp is naturally lower.

Brooke