Rhonda the easiest cheapest thing you can do is build a see through tent - I have seen some great ones made out of pvc pipes. All you would need is some pvc drain pipes from a plumbnig store, 32mm is a good size, you will need some end connector pieces to connect them together and build a square frame. Then you cover it in some clear plastic.
You only really need a frame for humidity sensitive plants - generally smaller orchids. The bigger ones can tolerate just sitting on a heat mat.
What I try and do as much as possible is minimise heat loss so always place a thick insulation board underneath the heatmat otherwise half your heat will get lost to the wrong side.
It's a bit of an experimenting game. Temp and humidity are always linked, it's hard to influence one without affecting the other but it just takes a bit of playing around.
If humidity is low around the orchids I find having a fan blowing directly onto a humidity tray disperses humidity around the area well to raise it
aquariums are great but they can have more disadvantages than people realize, first of all watering is awkward - I actually placed one aquarium on its side so I can water from the front instead of from above but you need a door on magnets and hinges for that to work.
Then space is always an issue. Once you start adding a fan and a thermostat and plants and a light it all starts to get cramped very fast.
And aquariums have no holes for fan or heater cables so that is a bit awkward too. My best grow area's are my home-made ones.
Last edited by Orchidtinkerer; 01-07-2021 at 08:58 AM..
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