Two hybrid Phal repotting questions

[j_orchids]

Yes, your suggestions have reminded me that I have some of those "small green house" things in storage from when I used to do vegetable gardening before my accident. I will dig those out and give them a try - on the rescue phal and also on my small B. Little Stars divisions. Thanks.

...still wracking my brain for a solution to increase humidity on a longer term basis for my healthy plants.

~ Jon

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

When I have a plant struggling, or it needs an extra boost , I will bag it and usually take that off, maybe every couple of days so it can breathe. If you don't want to do an aquarium or terrarium, what about a low narrow storage box? From what you are saying, not much is going to be asthetically pleasing. What about a small green house with a cover. You often see them in stores in the spring...

[Roberta]

How low is your humidity? Unless you're in a desert area, I doubt that's a big issue. If the plants dry out , water more often. (I water the outdoor orchids every day in the summer, indoors every 2 or 3 days)

[j_orchids]

I don't know how low my humidity is, but I highly expect it's lower than the orchids would like. Other factor is that I just can't water them every day or even every 2 or 3 days, at least not on a regular basis. My work and personal schedules (including travel) don't allow it, so I need to find ways to improve their overall environment and not rely on constant/frequent watering. Investing in a cheap digital hygrometer is a first step that will at least tell me what I'm working with.

All my orchids are in a climate-controlled office building or at home (climate zone indicated in signature).

~ Jon

Originally Posted by Roberta

How low is your humidity? Unless you're in a desert area, I doubt that's a big issue. If the plants dry out , water more often. (I water the outdoor orchids every day in the summer, indoors every 2 or 3 days)

[estación seca]

Most Phals in a pot do fine with weekly watering, if the pot size is appropriate and the medium is not completely broken down.

[Dollythehun]

Jon, you can go to Lowe's and buy a free standing temp/ humidty combo for ten bucks.

[greenpassion]

Jon, what about a cool mist humidifier? I too am concerned about humidity levels for my phals, and although they have always doe fine thru winter, I want to get as close to optimal as I can. And I 've picked up several temp/humidity gauges for just a few bucks, so I know what the humidity levels are.

[estación seca]

If you travel, humidifiers aren't always a good solution, because you need to refill the reservoirs often. There are old threads here on OB showing modifications people made, greatly enlarging the reservoirs with auxiliary barrels and pipes.

I set up a MistKing misting system in my skylit bathub to water orchids when I was gone for a week. I had a 32-gallon reservoir connected to the pump.

One humidity-raising solution that does work is to grow larger leafy house plants that need a lot of water. Pick ones that can survive for a week standing in deep dishes of water.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If you travel, humidifiers aren't always a good solution, because you need to refill the reservoirs often. There are old threads here on OB showing modifications people made, greatly enlarging the reservoirs with auxiliary barrels and pipes.

I set up a MistKing misting system in my skylit bathub to water orchids when I was gone for a week. I had a 32-gallon reservoir connected to the pump.

One humidity-raising solution that does work is to grow larger leafy house plants that need a lot of water. Pick ones that can survive for a week standing in deep dishes of water.

I am interested to know what plants are ones that can sit in a tray of water for length of time. I have 2 sarracininas , (probably misspelling that!) but they aren't all that large. They do sit in water all the time, but they wouldn't change the humidity level at all I don't think. The mist king system wouldn't work for me as I grow in my living room, and bedroom.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[estación seca]

I have not paid any attention to name changes in house plants.

These do fine standing in water if soil is well aerated:
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Brugmansia (high light plants, though)
Corn plant (Dracaena, many species)
Night-blooming jessamine (Cestrum, several species)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum)

[greenpassion]

Thank you E.S.