HUMIDIFIERS ..... Do you use one ?

[Vanda lover]

I don't have a sunroom, but I do use humidity trays in some areas of the house.

[Paul Mc]

I have all of my orchids over humidity trays as well. That being said, after having done some reading I found that humidity trays are fairly useless especially in rooms where the air can move the humidity about. I even tested with a hygrometer and the tried and try thermometer test for RH to find that this was true. However, online they did say that you might get some benefit from humidity trays in rooms if you have tons of orchids/humidity trays all grouped together. I have not tested that yet.

[Vanda lover]

It seems to me that it would be better than nothing. I believe it helps. I sometimes think that we can have too much humidity, because mold grows on a plant now and then. I should set up a fan, but I figure that with forced air heat, the air must get moved around a fair bit.

[Paul Mc]

I agree, at least something is better than nothing. I'm still in a dilemma of attempting to figure it all out in regards to humidity. Thus far, most of my orchids seem to be doing fine without the recommended humidity during the winter months.

[NeoNJ]

Well, I actually started using a Humidifier after reading a Blog from a grower in Sweden, who recommended using a Cool-Mist Humidifier. This morning, the area around my Orchids was registering at a 64% Humidity level, which sounds great to me ! So I plan on using the Humidifier thru the Winter, and probably well into the warmer Summer Months. I still am unsure as to whether any orchid will grow and bloom in an area with a 30% Humidity.

[Paul Mc]

Upstairs, the RH is about 40 to 50% for me, while downstairs and in the basement it is around 30-35%. All of my phal's are in bloom, and 4 oncidium alliances have bloomed. I also have had a dendrobium in bloom since August, and my phaius' have huge spikes. That being said, I purposely don't purchase orchids that need the high humidity such as Masdevelia's and such as I know I can't give them the proper humidity. Of course, this may be why my paph's haven't rebloomed too.

Again, my concern with a humidifier is that in a very old house with lots of wood, the humidity would probably do more damage to the house than it's worth for me.

[NeoNJ]

LOL, well I grow my Orchids only in One Room - not the whole Apartment. I grow them in my bedroom, and it's not a HUGE room, however the windows are a really good size and have nice wide and deep windowsills. I'm only concerned about the Humidity directly around the orchids, and One 1.25 Gallon Humidifier would never ever have any effect on the rest of the apartment (which is two-floors) --- and so far, this Humidifier is Raising the Humidity level directly around my Orchids. I grow predominantly Neofinetia falcata, and Neostylis, with a Darwinara thrown in as well. But I also have mounted orchids - Den. Kingianum, Sophronitis cernua, Brassavola nodosa, and Den. Jenkinsii. They are mounted on the inside wall of one of the windowsills.

I tried to grow Masdevallia .... Ugh. What a horror story. I tried and tried, and ended up killing every Masdie I ever owned!

[Vanda lover]

We live in a rain forest area, so our humidity during the winter is really good, but in the summer it's another story. As to the humidity in old wooden houses doing damage, I suppose it's possible, but most of the houses here are wood and it doesn't seem to be a problem. However, I have heard that pot growers houses are full of mold.
I plan to try masdevallias again, now that we live in good humidity.

[bullsie]

I don't use a humidifier in the house. I just keep better track of the medium so they get the needed moisture from their roots to aid them during winter. Summer isn't a problem as our humidity runs in the 90's.

[NeoNJ]

90% Humidity in the House ? Really ????
Wow.

I don't grow any orchids outdoors. All of my orchids are indoors on Windowsills. I'm thinking that many people here grow orchids outdoors in much more accomodating climates than we have here in the Northeastern USA.