Humidity and heat question

[sewagner86]

Right now it is super dry here (Southwestern Virginia) because it is sooo cold. I added a little heat mat under my new little orchids today because they sit on a table right in front of my window and its more chilly right there than any other place. I have a frame the grow light for my plants is hanging from. I am having a difficult time keeping up humidity around my plants amd keeping them on the warmer side of things.

My question is, would you consider tenting in the plants, almost like a greenhouse type set up, to help hold in moisture and warmth? Would you add a small humidifier to help?

For reference, its 3 oncidiums, one of which is a miltonopsis, and a cattleya. I have 2 phaleanopsis which have been happy for years just sitting on my window sill.

[TZ-Someplace]

I use a small fan to keep the frigid air from the window off of my plants (55F-65F is OK) and don't worry about the humidity. Leaf pleating in Oncidiums can be reduced by wetting the leaf crotch holding the developing leaf every few days (i.e. when you water) to unstick it/ lubricate it so the tender young leaf can slide up through. The low humidity and airflow (and maybe dabbing with paper towel) will dry the water before pathogens can grow.
The only tenting I would do would be with reflective material under and around to boost light.

For beginners who worry too much

[estación seca]

A humidifier blowing on the plants would probably work better than an enclosure. The Aloe, African violet and Christmas cactus don't need extra humidity. Light for more than 8 hours in fall and winter prevents Christmas cacti from flowering, so most people grow them away from any extra light.

[sewagner86]

Originally Posted by estación seca

A humidifier blowing on the plants would probably work better than an enclosure. The Aloe, African violet and Christmas cactus don't need extra humidity. Light for more than 8 hours in fall and winter prevents Christmas cacti from flowering, so most people grow them away from any extra light.

That silly Christmas cactus has bloomed already this year, i think back at the end of October. It gave me 1 flower to look at.....well, maybe 3....but nonetheless it's done it's thing. Is the extra light going to prevent it from flowering next winter? If I put a small portable humidifier next to the orchids, is it going harm the violet, aloe, and Christmas cactus? I mean, it gets stinking humid here in the summer, but just making sure having a tiny humidifier is going to harm them.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by sewagner86

My question is, would you consider tenting in the plants, almost like a greenhouse type set up, to help hold in moisture and warmth? Would you add a small humidifier to help?

Originally Posted by estación seca

A humidifier blowing on the plants would probably work better than an enclosure.

I disagree with e.s., and think your idea of creating some sort of enclosure is a better idea, with or without an added humidifier.

If you look at the physics, humidity coming from a device will rapidly disperse throughout the entire room and ultimately, the rest of your home. So in order to have a reasonable humidity level with a humidifier, it’s going to have to be big enough to humidify the entire area.

An enclosure might trap enough of the evaporating irrigation water to do the trick.

Before I relocated from PA to southeast NC, and after selling off most of my plants and the greenhouse, my “special” plants were kept on a lighted shelving unit in an unheated basement where a dehumidifier maintained about 15% RH. I put a humidity tend over the shelving unit, and the RH stayed above 65%, even a week after watering.

[estación seca]

The humidifier probably won't hurt those three plants but they don't need it.

Light now won't prevent the cactus from flowering next year. It looks strong and healthy, and should have been covered with flowers last fall. If it wasn't it likely got some artificial light. They need to be in a place where you never turn on lights at night in fall and winter. Even one night with artificial light in the fall is enough for poor flowering. Perhaps glance through these threads:
Orchid...cactus! Blooming the things...
Mealybug advice needed!!