Are computer fans enough for air movement in a non-enclosed area?

[Paul]

Size and number of fans as well as speed will be factors.

In my 90gal (340L) tank I have 3 fans ... two at one end one at the other. 2 fans are 6cm and one is 8cm (measuring the black square frame as opposed to the actual blade span). All three run 24/7 and are on a very low speed. (I have them hooked to a variable AC/DC adapter so I can manipulate their speed quite easily.) This has proven adequate overall. I hooked them up mainly to minimize algae growth on the glass where condensation would form.

12cm is a good sized fan. One fan would be inadequate, should the hope be for more than one shelf to benefit. (Unless all the plants of concern are on the same shelf?) Were you to put one on each shelf, I think it could very well work. I would suggest utilizing a variable adapter or some other method of controlling the voltage as that would grant you "fan speed" options.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I've wondered about air circulation in a room. For example if you have plants under lights in a small corner of the basement - say 5% of floor space - is there sufficient air circulation in that grow space? Plus with hot air rising and cold air settling. People and pets moving. Laundry going. I've never used fans, and haven't had the necessity too, indoors.

I've always wondered that as well, and think that air movement wasn't such a problem in my old apartment, which was old and a bit drafty, especially around the windows, which is where the orchids were. My current appartment is new and well insulated, there are no radiators on the side of the room the orchids are at, no ventilation slit above their window, we're in that room only a couple hours a day. I do think that whatever air movement is generally enough for the orchids, just not enough for a few specific plants.

Originally Posted by Paul

Size and number of fans as well as speed will be factors.

In my 90gal (340L) tank I have 3 fans ... two at one end one at the other. 2 fans are 6cm and one is 8cm (measuring the black square frame as opposed to the actual blade span). All three run 24/7 and are on a very low speed. (I have them hooked to a variable AC/DC adapter so I can manipulate their speed quite easily.) This has proven adequate overall. I hooked them up mainly to minimize algae growth on the glass where condensation would form.

12cm is a good sized fan. One fan would be inadequate, should the hope be for more than one shelf to benefit. (Unless all the plants of concern are on the same shelf?) Were you to put one on each shelf, I think it could very well work. I would suggest utilizing a variable adapter or some other method of controlling the voltage as that would grant you "fan speed" options.

I meant that I happen to have one fan already, that I could test my mounting it to one shelf. If it works well enough them I'd get more (one per shelf). My plan was also to hook them up to a variable adapter.

I didn't realize that so many were needed in a terrarium!

[estación seca]

I'm going back to environmental conditions. I don't believe your problem is a fan deficit. Most homes have plenty of air circulation for orchids, and I would be surprised if yours doesn't. Light shining through a window heats air differently and sets up air circulation in the room.

Which Dens are you talking about? The Latouria group, including Micro Chip, quickly gets spotted leaves and dies when not watered enough, especially during heat. They also don't like heat plus low humidity. I have read people here saying this kind of Den should get dry between waterings, but every one I've let go dry has died quickly.

[camille1585]

I try to water them when they're still a bit damp, and I think I was already doing that back when I had the Den Micro Chip, but I guess I'm still not doing it right. I'll just place Dens in the category of 'orchids I just can't grow', stop buying more and skip the fans.

[estación seca]

The reason I keep at it is because many should not be hard to grow under your conditions. You probably don't get cold enough in winter for the nobiles to flower, but you should be able to grow Den phal hybrids. Consider finding a smaller one of these without Latouria ancestry.

Also the Spathulatae / antennatum types are very easy to grow, but many are quite large - as in tall and narrow, not wide. Den. Samerai flowers in a 4" / 10cm pot.

[Roberta]

Den Micro Chip might be worth another attempt.. I have found it to grow pretty easily in the greenhouse, so house should be fine too. (Doesn't like cold, doesn't have a dormant period) I have it in small bark, in a clay pot (mostly for the weight) and it gets watered with everything else in the greenhouse, which is quite damp (I water about every 2 days in winter, every day in summer because it gets so dry by afternoon) So staying on the damp side doesn't seem to do it any harm. And it would be a good one for indoors because it stays small, but is quite floriforous. GH is pretty shady, so it doesn't need a lot of light either- a little more than a Phal, but mine doesn't get much more than that.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I didn't realize that so many were needed in a terrarium!

Keep in mind, m'dear, that said tank is 120cm L x 43cm W x 45cm T. So not a such a small space. In addition, I was concerned that on a high speed, orchids directly in the path of the fan might dry out too rapidly. (I have some minis and micro minis in close proximity to the fans.) So I opted for more fans but on a very low gentle breeze "setting".

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I was concerned that PC fans wouldn't be enough to do even that.

It probably depends on how many fans there are - and how they are distributed. If there are enough of these things, then there will definitely be some air movement.

Low gentle breeze ... or just a little air-movement should be just fine.

A bunch of 120 mm computer fans could work. But it would probably be a good idea to install a protective mesh cover over the computer fans ..... because spinning computer fans can easily slice into a finger or hand --- very nasty.