I use AC.

this is a loaded question.... I have HPS systems and at this time of year I water evry other day, some every day until they all go outside... it is draining

Christian

Yep, my grow room has been running over 90 degrees daily too. I have central air running, but I have to keep the door shut, and the A/C can't keep up with all the grow lights. I figure the plants can just deal with it; I have mostly warm-loving plants in there anyway. It does make for a lot of watering, though! Soon, most of them will head outdoors and most lights will go off until fall.

You can try opening the window unless it's really hot outside. I used to have a Holmes double window fan that I kept going 24/7, until it rained really hard a few times when I wasn't home and I got worried about the water and electricity together. It did keep the room cooler, but it also reduced the humidity a lot in the winter.

Ah, these type of temps are why you can't make blanket statements about who can grow what based on climate alone, without considering micro-climates. I keep my cool growing orchids (presently), on the north side of my sun porch, even though I'm in central Florida, due to shade and a constant breeze, the temps are staying around 80 during the day. Less at night with high humidity. Yup, it's Florida, but they are some happy plants.

In zone 5, you need to keep in mind your inside temps, not outside temps, as they are irrelevant.

That is my inside temp. I am only concerned with the growing area. problem is the rest of the room is normal temp. If I turn on the air I will be digging out the winter coat. Not sure the a/c would keep up. Ah the sun, love it and not.,,,,
Don't they sell mini a/c units? A point and shoot?

Clara

Clara,

Have you tried pointing an oscillating fan at the growing area(s)? If the rest of the room is 76-78, it should help to dissipate the heat from around the plants. I keep a floor standing model running at all times the lights are on in my grow room.

The heat is great in the winter, tough in the summer.

Bob

YOu could buy a window a/c unit and keep the door closed or could you run your lights at night when the temps normally go down.

Barb

Yes, I'm using an oscillating floor fan a couple of feet away, and aimed right at the plants. This is in an unobstructed west window where I have a number of phals, both big and smaller. The fan goes on about 1:30pm when the sun first hits the window and goes off about 4pm when the sun is less hot.

Leaves stay cool, even tho the sun is shining right on them for several hours. The thermostat shows the temperature can get up to 90, but it doesn't seem to bother them. They are thriving, growing like crazy. Remember, the *leaves* are cool.

I may have to do something else in midsummer, don't know yet.

The same thing worked the same way in a south window where the sun came in til about 2pm. This is in my office, and the sun raised the temperature of the entire room. I had to have a fan on at my desk to be able to stand the room at all, despite air conditioning. But the phal leaves stayed cool.

As others have mentioned, the fan means you have to water a lot more. I finally repotted everything from clay to plastic, as I was tired of the daily watering.

Don't know what would happen to cool growers.

I moved most of my plants into a screened sun-room. It was over 90 degrees yesterday in there. I moved most of the intergenerics back into the house (except the heat lovers) but I don't worry about the Phals, Catts and Dens. Humidity in that room hit 80% last night.

My poor plants go from a desert (in the house) to a swamp (on the porch). Today I set up a few fans to keep the air moving. They've been through this before, over the years, and they love it. No A/C in that porch. But much hotter than outdoors. Once I trust the night temps. they will all go outside (except the Phals).

Love the idea of 'point & shoot a/c.' Hey Clara, you might be on to something. It could look like a blow-dryer. I could use it.

Too funny...

Jane

Got fans but that dries the orchids out. Can't say it brings temps down much. Can't water that many plants daily. (stopped counting more than 100- less than 200?). I though moving to z-5 I would have some break from climate control. This is worse than z-9!

At least I am not alone. CFL's are hotter than tubes! Great for winter but summer... Yikes!

Jane, lets do it. Reverse blow dryer! Think of how many applications it would have! :-)

Clara

Clara,

I've been having the same conditions - 90+ in the "first row" that gets E/SE light. It even went above 100 one day. Mehitabel, I wasn't around to check the temp of the leaves, but nothing seems to be suffering.

Other places in the room, it ranges from mid-70s to mid-80s. The wooden deck right outside the 5'x5' window reflects a ton of heat; otherwise, the temps would be lower.

One thing I'm going to look for are a couple of 6" or so clip-on fans to aim at the window. That way, they can keep going when the window's closed for rain. A ceiling fan w/ reversible blades might be ideal.

While you & Jane are working on the reverse blow dryer, could you add a bag that will collect dog hair? You'd make a million off dog owners whose darlin's shed like crazy.

Let us know what you come up with.

Whitecat8

Put me on the waiting list for the dog hair sucker!

Yes, you can get a little widow "point and shoot" AC unit for like $50. A few years back I had the same problem as you and I bought one for the grow room. Works like a charm. I didn't mean to sound so crass earlier by saying I use AC, I should have extended my answer a bit. I agree that central air would freeze you out, so I would say yes get a little window one and keep the rest of your house warmer.
Shani

Hey Whitecat, I lived with Rotties for over 20 yrs and when they shed, you can't find your furniture and family. It was beyond belief. I used to brush them out on my deck with wire rakes and the wind would blow the fur all over the place. One summer, our pool konked out and we called a pool company to fix the pump. They pulled enough black fur from the skimmer and filter to make 10 coats. The fur burned out the pump.

Feel your pain...
Jane

Could A/C be optional on the Delux Model Fur Blower? Maybe a side business to support the 'chids?

Clara

Shani, is this a window unit or a free standing unit? I have jalousy antique windows.

I had gotten a window one, but we had debated getting a free standing one. They were not that much more. I think I ended up getting mine at Target and it worked really well and quickly if you are just doing one room.

If you make a swamp cooler it will lower the temp and increase the humidity. Now, this is easier said than done, but it can be done. A poor one could be made by *carefully* positioning a fan above a shallow dish of water.

I got a small 10 gallon tub. It is supposed to fit into a whiskey barrel, I think. Anyway, I also got a $10 pond pump and some appropriate tubing. Finally I procured some metal lathe. These were thin sheets of metal grating to go on top of gutters. I attached 5 of them into a pentagonal column with zip ties as well as zip tying the tube from the pump up to the top of my column. Water runs down the grate and there is a fan behind it blowing through it. I think In real swamp coolers the fan and water are reversed, but I don't want to start a fire. In the end it only lasted one day because it was too loud at night and had a tendency to splash on the carpet. It was pretty sweet though.
Bob

I liked the A/C idea - until I realized I'm already using nearly 1000 watts of assorted lights in there, plus there are two other bedrooms on the circuit, including the computer room! I'm sure I couldn't use the extra wattage an A/C needs without tripping the circuit breaker. I only have phals and minicatts in there, plus other assorted tropicals that are fine with the heat. And it's only really bad for a couple of months in the spring and fall.

I have to do some creative manipulation with the central A/C thermostat this time of year, since it's directly outside the grow room in the hallway, and a lot of heat escapes and confuses it.

As Homer Simpson would say, "DOH!" The other night I was lying in bed, pondering why the grow room was so much hotter this year, when it dawned on me - I HADN'T OPENED THE ROOM VENT! I shut it off in the winter because I don't need the extra heat in there, but I need to open it back up to get the A/C in there in the spring and summer. Boy, do I feel stupid.

My plants are happier already!