Heater failure

[Alex]

Can anybody provide reassurance (or not)...

I got back from work today to find that one of my fan heaters, now 13 years old, had failed and tripped the electrical supply to the g/h. the result was a temperature drop to 5C (=41F), for anywhere from just an hour to about 7 hours....My collection is mainly multi floral (Coryopedilum) species and a few Barbata species, some of the latter in bud. All look fine, but will these warm growers have suffered from brief drop of this sort? How likely is bud blast?

Thanks,

Alex

 

[tomkalina]

Don't think you'll lose any plants, but some buds may blast, especially if you bring the temperature back up too quickly . I'd bring the temp up as gradually as possible, maybe over a six hour period?

 

[gonewild]

I'm guessing they will be OK.

 

[Justin]

i think they will be OK. you might have some buds blast but the plants should be fine.

 

[Alex]

Thank you very much guys, reassuring. So roots and leaves probably won't be damaged?

The buds I have are quite advanced, one even just about to open, so we'll see...not sure whether being advanced makes them more or less likely to blast, I guess I'll find out in the next few days.

 

[ehanes7612]

they're fine...I've had it happen to me a couple times..as long as the temp doesnt go into the single digits for that amount of time..but what Tom says is probably a good idea

 

[gonewild]

Curious what the normal temperature is with the heater working?
The greater the "drop" is the greater the chance of damage.

Bigger buds are safer than smaller ones.

 

[John M]

Last winter, my greenhouse went down to the low 40's F at night a number of times with no ill effects on the Paphs or Phrags. Some Phals defoliated; but, they came back in the spring with a basal keiki. I don't remember losing any buds on any of the slippers. I'd guess that you are fine.

 

[Alex]

Thanks, guys. Normal minimum is 18C (= 64F), although it has gone down to 14C (= 57F) on several nights this Winter with no problems.

 

[Erythrone]

Alex, I am with the other ST members. Don't worry, they will all survive. Many plants can stand low temperatures even if they are supposed to be warm grower. That doesn't mean of course they would like to be grown in cold temperature all year long. Night temperatures can be pretty low here in summer and many of my orchids are outdoors at that time. 5 C in June and August are common! Even the warm growers like Tolumnias liked it! But it was tool low for Phalaenopsis.

 

[gonewild]

Thanks, guys. Normal minimum is 18C (= 64F), although it has gone down to 14C (= 57F) on several nights this Winter with no problems.

20F degree drop is not really that extreme so there should be no rapid shock effect. Probably the result will be a flush of extra nice spikes in the future! Think positive.

 

[NYEric]

Should not be a problem, post photos if possible.

 

[abax]

I'm so sorry to hear anything about heater failure. I think your plants
will be fine, but it's dismaying to come home to such an event. I've installed double and triple back-ups because it's happened to me as well.

 

[Alex]

Thanks, everyone. Plants still look good this morning, and all buds still healthy, though maybe need a day or two more to confirm that. I was/am just in the process of upgrading my back up propane heater, but I have only ever put that on at night. This has taught me it probably needs to be on all the time...

 

[gonewild]

but I have only ever put that on at night. This has taught me it probably needs to be on all the time...

The heater is for temperature back up not night or day! oke:

 

[troy]

OH ****!!! THAT HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE, YOU SHOULD JUST DOUSE YUR GREENHOUSE IN LIGHTER FLUID AND AND THROW A MATCH YOUR ONLY OPTION!! J.K. lol... all you did was stress yur plants. Get some inocucor from ray that stuff works!!! And feed that to yur plants with yur regular fertilizer it helps with stress!!! Good luck, post some pictures!!!

 

[Ozpaph]

Mine are all grown outside and in winter it occassionally gets into the 5-8C range, without effect. I would grow them a little dryer for a few days. There just might be some damage (sudden temp drop) so keep an extra eye out for fungal troubles.

 

[gonewild]

There just might be some damage (sudden temp drop)

(Serious question) Is a 20F (13C) degree temperature drop over a 7 hour period sudden?