I have a paph maudie & purpuratum currently located on a large , north facing window . The potential problem is that there is a hot air duct in the floor infront of the window . Now that the weather has cooled , the heater has kicked in . I've only had the plants for a few weeks & was wondering if I should move them ?

I would make sure the plants don't get direct blasts of hot air. Can you move the plant to a south facing window?

And welcome to the forum!

I tend to try to keep my vent near my plants closed as much as possible.

I see a bigger problem with the lack of light and humidity.

About 10 years ago when I *really* did not know anything, I put a huge pot of Catts (or were they Cymbidiums? It was so long ago) in a very similar location. (North Window with floor heat duct right below it that would blast hot air straight up into the plant and the leaves would wave around. Now, this Catt was a supermarket Catt that I had for over 5 years and it never bloomed for me after I bought it. Lo & behold, in late February/early March, I had two spikes on it and it bloomed beautifully for the first time in years.

Not that I would recommend this sort of growing, but who knew??? (sometimes these guys can surprise you!) :shock:

I have a masdevallia which seems to have enjoyed being in front of the a/c, but I think I'll need to move it when the heat comes on...Thistle

The make vent flow hoods, that redirect air into another direction instead of up. Have you thought about one of those? They are ususally clear and snap onto your cover. I usually keep mine closed also, but that is because my lights heat up the room enough and let it cool down at night.

Oh, Tadd, that's a great idea!

I have a few once in awhile. You should here me when I have a few rum & diets in me.... Wooo watch out... I think have solved world hunger a few times...

Heat good :D

Dry bad :cry:

Dry heat very bad :evil:

Heat good :D

Dry bad :cry:

Dry heat very bad :evil:

I'll agree with my Rock Star buddy on this one :poke: 8)

Actually, you can use this situation to your advantage!

Back when I had forced-air heat in the house, I made some short-legged "topless" tables to go over the vents, and placed aluminum baking trays on top of them, which I filled with water. The 3" space allowed the heated air out, but dispersed it nicely (I did put sides on some of the legs to channel the air into the middle of the room on some), and it heated the water, increasing the evaporation rate and humidity.

It wasn't quite as good as the 10-gallon Pyrex crucible I put in front of a radiant gas heater when I was in school, but it served the purpose.