Correct misting method - Orchid Board

jimbo662 · #1 03-06-2009, 08:22 PM

What's the proper way to mist plants? Should you mist above and let it fall onto the entire plant or should you focus the mist around the bottom so you wet the aerial roots?

CoolPhrog · #2 03-06-2009, 08:28 PM

That's an interesting question, Jimbo!

For me, this would depend on what was being misted. I don't mist my phals from the top as I don't want water sitting in the crown and potentially developing crown rot. Anything else is fair game. The only thing I'm more careful with is to make sure I'm not leaving water dropplets on anything that may get a direct beam of sun and burn the leaves....

jimbo662 · #3 03-06-2009, 08:35 PM

I'm currently misting from the top but don't spray enough for any water to gather in the crown. The only thing I try to avoid is misting the flowers.

jkhom · #4 03-06-2009, 09:03 PM

In my opinion, where on the plant you mist would depend on the enviroment.
I don't have a greenhoue so the humidity is not as high as I would like. To increase moisture, I lightly mist the entire plant and a little more at the roots.

RosieC · #5 03-07-2009, 05:47 AM

I don't know what the right answer is, but I always mist down low at the roots, avoiding water on the leaves as much as possible.

Donald · #6 03-07-2009, 09:44 AM

I give them all a good misting top to bottom including
the top layer.

quiltergal · #7 03-07-2009, 12:55 PM

IMO misting to raise humidity is a waste of time. The benefits are fleeting at best. You're better off buying a humidifier to do the job. I have found that large numbers of plants grouped together create their own little micro climate, and that the RH in that one area is significantly higher than a single plant sitting on a humidity tray by itself. Just my

nhman · #8 03-07-2009, 05:40 PM

To keep up with humidity, alot depends on the size of the space and the moisture content of the air.
1) Group plants together - works if the ambient humidity is not that low. The cost is right and you get to pack in more plants in your growing area too!
2) A Humidity Tray: Works in a little lower moisture containing environment.
3) A Humidifier - if your space isn't too large and the gap in air ambient humidity and target growing space humidity isn't too large, this should work.
4) Combine 1,2 and 3
5) Use a large humidifying device such as a Hydrofogger, Mist King, etc. These will pretty much keep the air as moist as you want it to be, even when the ambient humidity is running 20%!!!
While I have found that misting plants with a hand held mister, does temporarily raise the local humidity, and cools the air somewhat too, it doesn't last too long and unless you have the time to continue doing this frequently throughout the day, this method is not going to serve you or your plants too well.

camille1585 · #9 03-07-2009, 06:39 PM

Me neither, I don't think misting is a good way to keep up humidity. I only mist the aerial roots of my phals so that they get some moisture between waterings. My mounted orchids also get their roots misted heavily twice a day to water them.

Bob2741 · #10 03-07-2009, 08:44 PM

I mist from the peak of the greenhouse and it is run by a humidastat which is at plant level and is on a timer to work from 10Am until 4 Pm in the summer and 10 To 2 Winter I keep humidity at 45% or try too.