Phals in vivarium question

[Easternone]

Hey guys

I'm new around here, and a relatively newbie orchid enthusiast. I started with the intention to build a dart frog vivarium and it sorta spiraled out with me havig an orchidarium and no frogs.

My question concerns one of my phal orchids, it was bought from a grocery store. It is currently in a mound of hydroleca and is semi hydroponically grown. Due to the scaping of my vivarium, I've got an overhanging piece of redmoor root which has several drop points to keep the live moss watered and obviously some of this drops down, landing on the leaves of the phal and down the crown where it drains down the roots. The viv is heavily vented with a large computer fan and is at 70 with the water that constantly drips and runs through maintained at 65. Humidity is at 75 and the temperature drops to 68 on the coldest nights with 70 being the the norm.

The problem I have is will this accumulation of water cause crown rot or will it be okay as it's constantly flowing through or allowe to dry when the pump is off (midnight to 9am. The reason I ask I'd that I have found orchids prefer moisture in the heat and considering my tank is warm constantly will this pose an issue

[Paul Mc]

A picture would be helpful and appreciated. However, I think I understand what you are saying. Phals grow horizontal in nature, not straight up like you find in stores. So if it's still straight up, then yes, you will probably get crown rot. One solution is to attach it upside down and let it grow in the future the direction it is prone to in nature.

Constantly hot is a problem. How hot are we talking? Phal's need a winter cool off period to produce flowers the next year, among other factors. If it's too hot, this could be an issue as well since phal's can't really take excessive heat.

[Easternone]

It fluctuates between 68-80 ish depending on the day, but is relatively stable without a cooling at night. I am building a peltier cooling device to control the temperature. I'll get a pic in a bit as I am
Out, but it is at a 45 degree angle. It is too large to mount upside down in that size tank however with the spike being 60cm



The reason I'm suspecting it will be fine is that the water is constantly dripping down the crown and not stagnating, but I'm not sure if this has a positive effect or not?

[Easternone]

Here are pics of the vivarium
(it won't let me post the link but it's imgur . com / gB8vH,C4D4v )



as you can see, the water drips from the entire underside of the tall branch, keeping the moss (where other orchids shall be mounted) moist but also wetting the flowering Phal
I decided to set the rain on a timer to turn of late evening and the fan to come on full to dry the orchids overnight which should keep them healthy right?

[Zoi2]

I could not find your pictures but by your description of the water running down to the crown on your phal, it will get crown rot.
This link should help upload pictures. http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html
Joann

[Easternone]

I tried to post to imgur and link the pictures but it won't allow me to, which is a pain.

Yeah that's correct, basically as the water drips down small splashes are hitting the phal which is running down the crown. Will leaving 12 hours between a rain period for the phal to dry not cause rot?