Humidification Trays

[jkofferdahl]

Really? You use them? Hmmm.

From a realistic standpoint, a humidification tray adds about as much humidity to the room as you will by standing there and exhaling. Maybe less, actually.

Let's say you buy one - at about the same price as a small, cool-air ultrasonic humidifier. You fill it with perhaps a half a gallon of water. That water sits in the tray for days, maybe oven days and days. Yes, there is enough evaporation from it that it eventually dries out, but at what rate? If you put that same half a gallon into an ultrasonic humidifier it may last 8 or 10 hours. Through the humidifier you may raise the humidity level of a small, closed room in a house running a furnace from a level of about 20% to perhaps 55-70%, which is excellent. If the door is open you may still hit 40%. Simply put, the evaporation rate from a tray is absurdly too low to accomplish anything.

They DO effectively collect water so you can water on them. But you can also buy much less expensive trays, put a layer of hardware cloth on top, and you're good to go.

[Ray]

And now for the rest of the story...

Evaporation

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Ray

And now for the rest of the story...

Evaporation

Exactly.

[rbarata]

The function of humidification trays is to provide a little peace of mind until one reaches the conclusion, by evidence, that it doesn't have any significative effect.

[Ray]

Actually, I have nursery trays under all of my plants these days, growing in windowsills. I put about an inch of water in them, and the sphagnum in the pots wicks it up nicely, making watering really easy.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Ray

Actually, I have nursery trays under all of my plants these days, growing in windowsills. I put about an inch of water in them, and the sphagnum in the pots wicks it up nicely, making watering really easy.

I presume the sphagnum is in contact with the water.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I presume the sphagnum is in contact with the water.

Yep. Air-cone pots.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I sure do like the sounds of easy. Are you growing everything in moss Ray?

[Orchid Whisperer]

During the indoor growing months, i have trays under my plants to prevent drips. For humidity, I keep plants somewhat close together, and have some leafy foliage plants growing in with them.

My inexpensive RH meter keeps track of RH over the last 24 hours, the range is usually 50-60%

[Leafmite]

I like the article, Ray!