heat vent question

[dodohead]

Since its getting cold out, were about to turn the heat on soon. My plant is located in my room, next to the register(vent), and cant be moved to another location in the room. would this hurt my gal when it comes on? should i tape some cardboard over it? I think my plant should be bigger, and i think it is due to the cooler temps in my room, would this be true?

[Opie Yutts]

Well my heater puts out some pretty hot temps. I don't think I would want my plant sitting by the registers. If it survives, it'll probably get dried out. You gotta shut that register.

And yes warmer temps means faster/bigger growth. It also increases chances of mold/rot.

[Mississippi Steve]

Don't shut or cover the register, just re-direct the air coming out of it.

[Opie Yutts]

Yeah, I suppose as long as it is directed well away from the plant it should work fine.

[Opie Yutts]

Yeah, I suppose if the air flow is directed well away from the plant you could do that. Just watch the humidity, it may get much drier than before.

[Opie Yutts]

Oh great, I got told "server too busy, try again later." So I did, now I got 2. sorry.

[dodohead]

its one of the old kind, it either gets off or on, not diredtional. i just cardboarded it up. Thanks for the sugs. though.

[Comatose]

Also, what kind of heat is it? Gas/electricity? With electricity heat, you have to watch your humidity levels.

Yeah, I'd avoid direct contact with that heater :)

[dodohead]

its gas

[whatsthatsmell]

i think what he was getting to was is it forced air or baseboard heat. A baseboard heater will not dry your plant out, but will be a more constant heat that will add to humidity and a forced air heater will dry the air out and make your plant nice and crispy. So, if it is forced air, you will want to turn that heater off, but i think you are using cfl's, so if you have it open, your gonna want to keep a really close eye on that plant so it doesnt dry out.

[trynagethigh]

if its a forced air vent you can close it off completely or partially. Just try to close it partially and if its still an issue put a fan next to it blowing the heat away.

[dodohead]

yes, it is gas, so that means it is forced air. i have it closed off right now, im just waitin for it to warm up in here!

[dodohead]

what are adequate temps anyway?

[Opie Yutts]

75 or so. But the point is not the temp in the room, but the hot/warm air circulation by the plant will tend to dry it out.

Also you can buy replacement registers at Fred Meyer and other places that have these dials you turn to direct the air flow. Also you could make a cardboard thing to direct it away from the plant instead of shutting it off completely.