Should I put up a fan? - Orchid Board

prc11 · #1 03-31-2011, 12:03 AM

One year ago, exactly, growing orchids as a hobby began for me. Before than I had one Phal. and a small cattleya seedling I got at Lowe's. A year ago I visited a man's greenhouse and he showed me all of his orchids. He also gave me many to help me expand his collection. Since then I have obtained abut 40 more from evey where I can find them and they are living happily in my bathroom.
When I receive an orchid, I always do research on it to figure out its specific culture. However, the section I always seem to ignore is air movement. Since I grow in a small space, I didn't really plan on putting a fan up. However, I do not have a whole lot of humidity. I am planning on have the window open as much and as wide as I can this summer, which I hope will provide both humidity and air movement. When I first started growing I had problems with rotted roots, but now I seem to struggle less with that. Anyways, would it be a good idea to place a fan in my growing area this summer and at what strength and size. Finally what is your experiences, I know many of you have fans so how do they help your plants?

Call_Me_Bob · #2 03-31-2011, 12:23 AM

maybe a window fan that will blow air from inside

although if you have a fan it will reduce humidity, unless its bringing humid air from outside. but i would get a humidifier too, at least for next winter.

air movement is important, just go outside on a nice day and enjoy the breese, you can def tell the difference

Zoi2 · #3 03-31-2011, 01:34 AM

I have a fan running 24/7 in my orchid rooms throughout the year. The air circulation does dry the media a bit quicker but I don't get the bacterial or fungal problems.
Joann

Discus · #4 03-31-2011, 05:15 AM

Most experienced growers swear by air movement - and IME it seems to help too. Just a small regular box fan or oscillating fan will help things along. If you want to raise humidity, particularly in winter, a humidifier is an excellent idea - when partnered with a fan!

Depending on how close to the orchids it is will determine how big the fan needs to be and what speed it should run at; I have an oscillating fan on "low" that also has a "breeze" feature that then modulates this air flow further producing fairly gentle "gusts" of wind. Plants seem happy.

A lot of people, particularly in cramped conditions, also like "muffin fans" that are used for cooling electronics.

billc · #5 03-31-2011, 07:55 AM

Hi Phillip, Along with good clean water, air movement is very important to good orchid culture. Think about it, outside the air is always moving. Air movemment across the leaves helps with getting the plants to use water more efficiently. As they transpire, they draw water up from the media. And as Joann pointed out, your bacterial and fungal problems are also minimized. Radio Shack has 4" 120V muffin fans for about $25.00 that work great. You just need to wire a plug in.

Bill

Daethen · #6 03-31-2011, 09:25 AM

I went to a local hardware store and picked up a little oscillating fan for about $12 and I leave it on 24/7. I was having a lot of problems with rot. Problems are gone and new roots are everywhere. I will always have a fan from now on.

Eyebabe · #7 03-31-2011, 09:29 AM

My only recommendation is that if your growth area is small, make sure your fan is also "small".
Air movement is very important...but you don't want a wind tunnel.

Paul Mc · #8 03-31-2011, 09:30 AM

I honestly have never used a fan for air movement. The house I'm in though is relatively old and has it's original old windows. So they are always drafty. Plus, the central air/heat has a humidifier in it and has vents next to all the windows I have orchids in.

I will say that I don't doubt air flower is a tremendous help, but I personally have not ever done it. They all seem to be doing great without it my conditions. Heck, I even got a Brassia to bloom which is supposed to be really tough if it doesn't have just the right conditions.

camille1585 · #9 03-31-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

I honestly have never used a fan for air movement. The house I'm in though is relatively old and has it's original old windows. So they are always drafty. Plus, the central air/heat has a humidifier in it and has vents next to all the windows I have orchids in.

I will say that I don't doubt air flower is a tremendous help, but I personally have not ever done it. They all seem to be doing great without it my conditions. Heck, I even got a Brassia to bloom which is supposed to be really tough if it doesn't have just the right conditions.

Me neither, I don't use a fan. I have a single room apartment for now, so my living room = my bedroom = my growing area. A fan would make it too windy for me. I just make sure to keep the plants not to close to each other and never water in the late in the afternoon. I've never had a disease issues (knocking on wood) In late spring-summer I leave the vasistas open all day, so the plants get a light breeze from that.

Paul Mc · #10 03-31-2011, 09:50 AM

I should comment a bit further. I leave plenty of room between my plants (although as the collection grows this is getting more difficult). I also take the heat tolerant ones outside as soon as the weather allows. They don't come back in until they've experienced a good week or two of the colder fall air. And of course, each one has a different amount of cold they can take so the collection slowly comes inside as the temperatures drop.