Humidity HELP! - Orchid Board

InspirChid1712 · #1 12-03-2007, 10:28 AM

I have all of my orchids over pebble trays, but without misting I can only keep the humidity around 45%. The Phal leaves aren't as perky as I'd like, and I'm worried that my plants will not grow well till next spring/summer. I work during the day so I can't be around to mist them constantly (as I do during my days off!). Any other tips to keep the humidity at an acceptable localized level (60% and up) without making my entire bedroom damp???

smweaver · #2 12-03-2007, 11:15 AM

Elliot, If you keep the trays wet, the humidity level directly beneath and around the Phals is probably going to be somewhat higher than the surrounding room (if you want to experiment, place your hygrometer next to or beneath one of the Phal's leaves and then come back in a half hour to see if the local humidity level's risen). Some of the nice things about the leaves on Phalaenopsis is that they're both flat and held in, more or less, a horizontal plane, and the plants themselves are fairly short. All of these characteristics allow them to gain maximum benefit from being over your trays--just as long as there isn't a really strong air current blowing over them (and blowing the humidity away from them). Set a small oscillating fan on its lowest setting, and place it as far away from the plants as possible in the same room. Even though you may not be able to feel much of a breeze when you're standing beside the plants, the air will still be getting circulated (besides, the only time gale force winds in a growing area probably helps is when you have super high--say, around 90% or more--humidity). Don't worry about them too much. Most orchids that can be grown in the home (and Phals, of coure, are ideal examples) are usually fairly adaptable and durable plants. Just be glad you don't have tall and sprawling Aerides (like I do) that don't benefit one bit from humidity trays that are far away from their leaves. Best of luck!

Steve

InspirChid1712 · #3 12-03-2007, 11:22 AM

Thanks steve! I do have my hygrometer hanging off of one of the pots in the middle of the tray, and the reading is still low I suppose they will be ok... I just like to try and maintain ideal conditions all year round. Will their emerging spikes be stunted by the low humidity?

Tindomul · #4 12-03-2007, 11:31 AM

Have you looked into an automatic misting system? I've toyed with this idea a few times. Set one up to a timer and a frame to get it to where you want to mist, and boom you got your self a plant sitter.
Also, I agree that most plants will accustom themselves to their new drier environment.

Undergrounder · #5 12-03-2007, 11:32 AM

Well falling short of a humidifier or getting a tank i don't think there's much that will help significantly... i have a similar problem but i have a 'survival of the fittest' approach to orchids and i'm pretty brutal. If it were me i wouldn't worry about that 10 - 15% humidity range.

humidity is increased by increasing the amount of water available for evaporation, by increasing the surface area of the water so it evaporates quicker, and by minimising the humid air itself escaping. Ways i've done this in the past have been by adding wet 'washers' (is that an australian term?... a towelette i guess) around the base of plants, in between pots etc. and keeping them wet. The washers add much more humidity instantly than a tray. You can test it out yourself by wetting a washer with the same amount of water you put in a tray and seeing which dries out first.

To maximise the surface area of available water i've also added a bunch (like 15) hen and chicken ferns to my collection, they're cheap and they reach around with lots of foliage and create a little microclimate. When you spray them with water the leaves themselves also become little humidity trays at leaf-level and their broad foliage forms a mini canopy over each orchid, holding in more moisture.

I've also used vermiculite (or perlite) in trays in the past instead of pebbles since they have a much larger surface area and water-holding capacity (i sit the pots on chickenwire). I would use it everywhere but its too expensive for the number of orchids i have. Perlite is popular for home-mushroom growers because its the best for creating humidity.

smweaver · #6 12-03-2007, 11:49 AM

The spikes probably won't be stunted, but they may grow more slowly than they would if the plants were back in Indonesia. I have a number of Cycnoches species and hybrids that are in spike right now, and since my humidity level climbs no higher (if I'm lucky!) than 50% in the winter, the buds are opening very slowly--but they are openings and not falling off.

You might consider hanging a large piece of vinyl (a cheap and clear shower curtain should work well for this) behind the plants that are sitting on window sills (that is, hanging it so that the plants are between the window and the vinyl). The resulting humidity level in this semi-enclosed, poor man's Wardian Case (for lack of a better name for it), should be higher than the level in the rest of the room. With this set-up, however, you'll want to increase the air circulation a bit more (installing a little muffin fan inside the enclosure should do the trick) since your plants will effectively be cut off from the rest of the room--and because, unfortunately, a near-perfect environment for orchids is also ideal real estate where fungi and mold will happily take up residence.

If all else fails, swing by Lowe's and pick up a cheap room humidifier. It should be able to keep a room's humidity level up around 55% or so, and it won't take up a lot of space.

Tsuchibuta · #7 12-03-2007, 01:17 PM

I say go with room humidifier and go with an ultrasonic type, the ones with filters that work off evaporation don't work worth a darn. If you keep your eyes out you can find one at walmart or target for under 25 bucks, and it'll look better than a shower curtain or paper towels shoved around them. Just place the humidifier near your plants and you'll be fine.

Ray · #8 12-03-2007, 01:49 PM

Read this: Evaporation
and this (if you really want to be nerdy): Humidity

Dorothy · #9 12-03-2007, 03:21 PM

Elliot - have you seen this thread ?
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-humidity.html

markr · #10 12-18-2007, 02:04 PM

I used to find that hand misting indoor (windowsill) plants several times a day will improve the health of exposed roots but doesn't otherwise increase humidity around the plant much for longer than a minute or so.

Unless you are willing/able to increase the humidity of the room the orchids are in (works in a greenhouse, not so healthy in a living room), the only reliable way for indoor growers to increase humidity significantly above ambient levels is to grow in an enclosed space, such as a terrarium.