Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity?
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity?
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
Register Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Members Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Today's PostsHumidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity?
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
Go Back   Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! > >
Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-08-2009, 08:28 PM
TheEndPhase TheEndPhase is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2009
Zone: 5b
Location: North East Ohio
Age: 39
Posts: 27
Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Male
Default Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity?

For mounted orchids requiring a higher humidity, is more frequent watering an acceptable remedy for a somewhat lower humidity than what's recommended? I've been doing that so far, but it hasn't been long enough to tell if they appreciate it or not. I do make sure the cork they're mounted on is dry, and the roots turn from green to off-white when they're dry (Aerangis punctata), so I know I'm not watering already-wet orchids - I don't want to rot them. Also, I avoid the leaves, but douse the plaque and roots. I want to know if this is ok before I run myself into trouble!

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-08-2009, 09:30 PM
Amanda L Amanda L is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Oct 2008
Zone: 6b
Location: Nashville
Age: 44
Posts: 1,034
Default

Doesn't seem to me that what you are doing is harmful. I don't have any mounts, though. You could try a humidifier to boost humidity. Hopefully someone with more experience and with mounts will chime in.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-08-2009, 09:55 PM
whygreenberg whygreenberg is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2008
Member of:AOS
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 46
Posts: 1,671
Default

I agree with Amanda. I am growing a number of mounted 'chids, none of them in a tank of any kind. An increase in watering—so long as the roots are not drowning due to lack of air—as you are doing sounds good to me. However, I do use a humidifier and am very happy/thankful I do. Not only are my 'chids happier, but my skin, nose, lungs etc. are also happier!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-08-2009, 10:42 PM
MuscleGirl'sHobby MuscleGirl'sHobby is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 4b
Location: Idaho
Posts: 911
Default

I use a humidify also. In addition to that, I do water more often. It gets really dry and hot here during the Summer, so that's what saves me. On really hot, dry days, I'll mist the air around the 'chids, but not spray them directly
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-08-2009, 11:56 PM
lambelkip lambelkip is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2008
Zone: 9b
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 850
Default

I have to agree, extra watering is no substitute for higher humidity. but if the roots are dry, it's probably time to water. keep up the watering, but try to get a humidifier too.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-09-2009, 05:19 AM
TheEndPhase TheEndPhase is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2009
Zone: 5b
Location: North East Ohio
Age: 39
Posts: 27
Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Male
Default

Thanks all for the info! That clears that issue up for me then. Still, that means I'm watering 4-6 times a day. It's not even below freezing any more outside, I have a humidity tray below the plaques with a couple other orchids around it, and it's even rained for two days now, but it still seems to dry very quickly - is that a characteristic of cork?

... It's good to know I'm not over-watering regardless, though. Thanks again!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-09-2009, 05:41 AM
ronaldhanko ronaldhanko is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,386
Default

Four to six times a day? That sounds like overwatering to me! Even where the humidity is low, I can't imagine they need to be watered that often.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-09-2009, 06:31 AM
TheEndPhase TheEndPhase is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2009
Zone: 5b
Location: North East Ohio
Age: 39
Posts: 27
Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity? Male
Default

Well, in between classes and studio work, when I'm in my room, if they're dry, I water them because I know I don't have the humidity it needs... though I think when I said "4-6 times" I was thinking of 6 as being the very highest possible end of a range since I did not actually count how many times I watered. It's really probably closer to 4, which still does sound high I guess. That's why I asked, though!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-09-2009, 06:39 AM
camille1585's Avatar
camille1585 camille1585 is offline
Administrator
 

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: middle of the Netherlands
Posts: 13,777
Default

4-6 times a day does sound like a lot. My mounts are hanging in a windowsill, with no extra humidifier and twice a day misting is more than enough.(natural humidity is around 50-60% at this time of year) They get pretty dry between mistings, but that ok, the roots need to dry out sometimes. Even with only 2 mistings a day, the plants are happy and the roots are growing well. Two of the orchids are growing directly on the cork, with no moss to keep moisture.
__________________
Camille

Completely orchid obsessed and loving every minute of it....

My Orchid Photos
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-09-2009, 06:42 AM
Bolero Bolero is offline
Senior Member
Australian Orchid Council Judge
 

Join Date: Sep 2006
Zone: 10a
Location: Geelong, Victoria
Age: 56
Posts: 2,479
Default

If the orchids were potted I would suggest you be careful but being mounted it would be hard to overwater, especially if you have good air movement. I wouldn't water more than once a day, if you are watering 4 to 6 times a day to make up for humidity shortfalls it won't work.

But humidity will still be a problem, the only way to fix it is to make the environment more humid. I guess we ideally would want the same type of environment as they come from but you would be surprised how well the plants will grow outside their natural conditions. But it varies a lot. I know this isn't specific advice but you just need to play around with things and do the best you can with the conditions you have.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Question on Watering Neo's During the Winter Month's Becca Vanda Alliance - Neofinetia 16 12-12-2008 12:40 AM
Question on Humidity Kona's Gold Beginner Discussion 5 10-08-2008 12:51 AM
Project 7 (Mystery Project) - Final Plant List cb977 Member Projects 0 08-14-2008 04:26 PM
Project 7 (Mystery Project) - Tentative Plant List cb977 Member Projects 2 08-11-2008 02:32 PM
Watering S/H question Tindomul Semi-Hydroponic Culture 12 01-07-2007 11:35 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:46 AM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.