Humidity trays - Page 2 - Orchid Board

ScottMcC · #11 07-04-2006, 05:45 PM

if you search home depot for chicken wire, the first item that pops up is called Green Poultry Fence (Model 090786). I'ts PVC mesh that looks significantly smaller than standard chicken wire in caliber, so it looked like it would work pretty well.

justatypn · #12 07-04-2006, 06:02 PM

Click the item and you will see under the description store sku#, take that number down and call your local home depot's and see if its a stocked item. It will definitely work for you, you might need to add additional strength to hold the pots solid Galvanized Poultry Netting will support the weight. Galvanized will rust eventually, but will take some time.

littlefrog · #13 07-05-2006, 11:39 AM

You could use hardware cloth, comes in various mesh sizes but it is a bit stronger than chicken wire...

cb977 · #14 07-05-2006, 11:49 AM

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Oscarman · #15 07-05-2006, 03:12 PM

I used plastic seedling flats for mine. Appearance was not so important and they are not moved at all. They last for a very long time, we are talking 4+ years. Using 4 side by side under lights. They are each fitted with an overflow drain and filled with broken clay pcs. The water collects from watering and the excess drains into some plastic pails. On top of the whole set-up is some white plastic egg crate light diffuser for the plants to sit on.

I have most of the plants pulled out for pest spraying, so I'll snap a couple of pics and drop them in my Growing Areas album.

ScottMcC · #16 07-05-2006, 04:17 PM

Stirring the pot a little...

There are plenty of people that swear by humidity trays for raising the humidity around a plant. I personally don't think this is a big effect, based on my quick study with my hygrometer. Additionally, Ray has an article on his website about evaporation and humidity that explains that the way to raise humidity is to increase the surface area of the water as much as possible, which means dispersing the water into a very fine mist. A tray may have a surface area of a few square feet, but a cup of water dispersed into a mist has a surface area of thousands of square feet, greatly increasing the rate of evaporation and thus the humidity.

So...despite their lack of benefit as a humidity device, trays I still think are useful for several reasons. First, the biggest benefit, they let you water your plants properly without moving them to the sink. Second, the water may act as an insulator to stabilize the temperature around the plant, especially right at the base of the pot. This is probably most important if you have metal shelves that would otherwise result in big temp shifts since they conduct heat so well. Finally, they allow you to neatly stack and organize your collection.

Anyway, enough of me picking a fight. I'd love to hear everyone else's opinions.

cb977 · #17 07-05-2006, 06:33 PM

Thanks a lot Scott!

I think with my conditions, very sunny and very hot, the trays help in keeping the plants happy. Don't know if there's any science to back it up or not but...
that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Tank Attack · #18 08-09-2006, 08:26 AM

Why copper trays? Is it because heat dessipates better in copper than plastic trays?... which then cause the water to evaporate faster?

cb977 · #19 08-09-2006, 10:21 AM

Hi Tank! Welcome! Nice to see you here

I only mentioned the copper trays because they are so beautiful...but logic says that they will begin to change color and I don't like that idea.
I chose the cheap way out...white plastic drawer dividers from WalMart with lattice over the top!
There's no drainage system but since I grow mine on the lanai, evaporation takes care of most of the water build-up. When it doesn't, I just empty them by hand.

We'd love to meet you and talk more about what you grow and how you do it? Why not join us in the chat room some night? We usally start arriving around 8pm est.

Hope to see you there

Tank Attack · #20 08-09-2006, 06:04 PM

I did some net surfing, and I found that quite a few Orchid humidity trays that are made of copper. Was it made of copper only for aesthetics and not functionality? If it is, I will avoid copper tray for a plastic tray because plactic won't oxidize. Currently, I am using a 20" x 7" x 3" black aquarium light cover. I turned it upsidedown and used it as a tray with an eggcrate inside.