HUMIDIFIERS ..... Do you use one ?

[Vanda lover]

I take most of mine outside for the summer. It helps them to get better light, breezes and the temperature changes they need to bloom. I protect the warm growers, though. We are in Canada, so you should be able to put some of yours outside.

[NeoNJ]

Hi -
Where do you live in Canada? What types of Orchids do you grow and take outdoors in the summer?

I grow mostly Neofinetia falcata --- I don't think they would do well outdoors at all. I do have the Brassavola nodosa which does summer outdoors, and I have (2) Dendrobiums, a few Encyclia, and a Potinara, Oncda. and Ondctm, and (1) Vanda... so these could all go outdoors I guess...

[bullsie]

Originally Posted by 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.

NeoNJ, sorry for misunderstanding, I summer outside.

[Tindomul]

Hi all, nice thread. If I had to guess, Vanda lover lives in the pacific northwest (rainforest area). Very nice place I can assume for growing Masdies.

I only use humidifiers in my masdie room. I grow about 20 masdies and one or two other Pleuro types along with some tropical Rhododendrons and relatives (all in pots) in this room. I have all my masdies and pleuros hanging on the inside top rim of aquariums that are filled with about 6 inches of water. In the water I have two ultrasonic foggers. These things create a thick fog. I use computer fans to blow the fog around to make sure all the masdies get some direct contact with the fog. The fog runs 10 or so times a day for about 8-15 mins each. Also have another large ultrasonic humidifier that is portable so it can throw the fog from above rather than below.
Then on top of all that I have a cool mist humidifier from Black and Decker (circa 1984). Still works like a charm and really moistens the room. I used to have on almost the entire night and the room was just too wet, so I cut it down to one or two hours a night (not consecutive) and 6 hours during the day, I keep the door open. The mist from the cool mist humidifier actually hits all the plants and I really think it helps them out, especially any new growths.

Humidifiers I believe help but they are not the only way to grow. As long as you can meet your plant's watering needs, you can grow them successfully. You just have to make sure that they have enough to water to replace the water they loose through evaporative transpiration. I believe orchids do most of this at night.
Also, like I said before, I use computer fans not just to get the fog moving all over the plants, but they also keep running 24/7 so as to prevent mold and other fungal diseases that may arise. Ventilation is important.

Also, one last thing. My Masdies didn't start blooming for me until I moved them into the room I have them in now. Either the size of the small room helps keep humidity up or, it could also be that they are blooming because its a south facing window which gets blasted by full sun during the winter months.