HUMIDIFIERS ..... Do you use one ?

[NeoNJ]

Hi all,

I just bought a Cool-Mist Humidifier for my growing area - which is basically my Windowsills - All of my orchids are grown on my 3-large bedroom windowsills - I've had a hygrometer for years, which of course has always reflected Low humidity. Now, with the Humidifier it seems I can only get the Humidity up to about 53-54%.
I don't see it going above that. Is this acceptable?
and does anyone else use a Humidifier near their Orchids?

[Paul Mc]

I would like to know this as well.

[WhiteRabbit]

I live in a frequently quite dry climate, and do not use a humidifier ... in the 50%s should be quite adequate.
If you are using forced warm air heat, it's sucking up the humidity, probably why your readings are lower than you expected

[Connie Star]

I have 3 humidifiers. One (ultrasonic) is trained on my masdevalias which are loosely enclosed in plastic on 3 sides but not the bottom. I also have small low power fans blowing it around.
Another is a cool mist type which is between two shelves of plants and seems to help some.
The third, also cool mist, is in a large bathroom where I keep about 15 'chids. That is the only area I can keep at 50-60% humidity, other than the masdies.
I live in Massachusetts, have hot water heat and it has been bitterly cold, which lowers the indoor humidity considerably, hence the humidifiers.

[Alyons]

I've always used a cool mist humidifier because of the air conditioning in the summer and the dry heat in the winter. The humidity is very low year round for me... I have it placed directly under my growing area and have a ceiling fan on low above it for more air circulation. I haven't checked what the humidity is lately though.

[BobInBonita]

Don't use one now (in Florida) but did when I lived in Minnesota.

You will probably continue to have trouble getting the RH above 50% unless you do like Connie and enclose it (and the orchids) in some sort of a plastic "tent". Anything you can do to contain the humidity. Once it distributes into the household air, it will get so "diluted" that it won't mean much. Fans (unless contained in the "tent" or enclosure) will just help circulate it into the household air. You may not want to get your household air too high anyway.

You potentially could have trouble with your home if you got the humidity above 60% (I did). My home was not the most energy efficient or best insulated (would have been about 30 years old now). I would get terrible condensate on windows when the temperature dropped. I'm sure there was also condensate between the walls, though I never opened one up to be sure. I was putting 15 gallons of water a day into the atmosphere and it was all going somewhere. I did find badly waterstained wood floors under carpeting when we replaced it (especially under the windows).

If you do make an indoor "tent" or enclosure, make sure you measure your humidity and adjust your watering. Your orchids will dry out much more slowly in the higher humidity. You will have to watch for mold much more carefully. It can be almost like living in Florida during the summer, and your growing habits will be quite different.

[Paul Mc]

This is very interesting. I have forced air in my home, and my new hygrometer is saying RH is around 38%. This is with a humidifier on the forced air heaters as this is a very old house. I have never had an issue getting any of my orchids to rebloom given these conditions. In fact, several oncidiums, all of my phal's, phaius', jewel orchids, & scaphosepalum's are blooming quite liberally at the moment.

I think the difference for me is though might be that St. Louis tends to be humid and I take most of my plants outdoors when the weather is warm enough.

I considered humidity for my orchids but remembered that the water must go somewhere and since everything is wood in this house it would be very damaging. I'm currently considering building terrariums to house them all, but it would have to be some huge terrariums, lol...

[Donald]

Here in Massachusetts I don't use one. All 48 orchids stay in a sunroom where the temps range from 60 at night to 74 during the day. The measured humidity is 32%. All my phals, two catts, a couple of psychopsis, two dens and a phrag are all in bloom. The answer: They are seasoned Massachusetts grown and like a human being will function after awhile in any reasonable conditions. Just harvested 12 oranges under the same growing conditions.

[Vanda lover]

I used to use a console type humidifier when we lived in Ontario and the outside temperatures were bitterly cold, bringing the humidity down. The plants really are pretty adaptable, though.
Where we live now, it is rainy a lot in the winter, and our humidity is ranging between 50 to 75%. We also have a large fish tank, which helps

[NeoNJ]

Hi -

Well I think your Orchids are blooming because of the HIGH LIGHT being in a Sunroom. All of my Orchids are grown on windowsills with SOUTH-EAST and SOUTH-WEST Exposures only. Everything I read says all orchids need Minimum 50% Humidity. Right now my Humidifier is only bringing the Humidity up to 46% - Earlier this morning, it was 62%. I think I need to buy more Humidifiers ! LOL