Kerosene Heater in Orchid House

[WEA]

I have a 12’ x 25’ enclosed orchid house with a Hot-Shot propane heater vented through roof. I have 2 electric space heaters as back-up in case of gas heater failure. But if the commercial electric fails during a cold snap (hasn’t happened … yet) the plants would suffer until either the power came back on or I got the propane tank refilled.

Question: Can a kerosene heater, rated for indoor home use, be used for short term heating in an orchid house? If so under what conditions?

[IdahoOrchid]

I would NOT use kerosene heaters for a greenhouse, especially if it is one of the small ones. There are LOTS of gases that those things put off. If you had one that isolated the gases like with a propane heater you would be OK.

[JUDIUK]

My friend Al in the UK said he would NEVER use a gas heater in the greenhouse, as the fumes would kill off the plants. he has a calor gas heater but it is ducted outside. (electriciry is too expensive over here) Judi

[nabakov5]

I"m going to go against the grain here and say.......maybe. I heat my apartment with a kerosene heater every winter as it is cheaper than electric heat. This is the third year I have done this. My plants are kept in my living room window, and my kerosene heater is in the same room. Thus far I have not had any problems with the kerosene damaging the plants. Mind you, I do keep the heater on the other side of the room. I do have some ventilation, however. I typically keep my kitchen and bathroom windows cracked to lessen any fumes from the heater, but this is minor ventilation. I wonder if a greenhouse setting, with no ventilation, would be a good idea, but in my apartment, it seems to work fine.
-kitty

[IdahoOrchid]

Kitty, I am not clear if it is a wall mounted one or one of those little portable ones????

[nabakov5]

it's a little portable unit. it heats my living room (12x12) but that's all.
-kitty

[nabakov5]

but i would stress that i'm talking about a living room in a crappy, poorly insolated, hundred-year-old apartment in the mountains - NOT a greenhouse. It seems to work for me. I don't know how well it would work elsewhere...
-kitty

[magooba]

I think that propane would be the better of two. the gos released by burning is CO2, while ail burners release co for the most part but the others are anyones guess. I would probably lower the cieling for the winter carefully, carefully with bubble wrap to confine the heat. the less gas you burn the less CO2 (less $$too ). CO2 is a greenhouse gas so it should have an insulating effect. dont forget that night is when plants need O2, so ventilation is a must !

Oh yeagh, I lived with an oilheater in my room for a while... never again,

John