Humidity Question: more frequent watering to remedy low humidity?
 

For mounted orchids requiring a higher humidity, is more frequent watering an acceptable remedy for a somewhat lower humidity than what's recommended? I've been doing that so far, but it hasn't been long enough to tell if they appreciate it or not. I do make sure the cork they're mounted on is dry, and the roots turn from green to off-white when they're dry (Aerangis punctata), so I know I'm not watering already-wet orchids - I don't want to rot them. Also, I avoid the leaves, but douse the plaque and roots. I want to know if this is ok before I run myself into trouble!

Thanks!

Doesn't seem to me that what you are doing is harmful. I don't have any mounts, though. You could try a humidifier to boost humidity. Hopefully someone with more experience and with mounts will chime in.

I agree with Amanda. I am growing a number of mounted 'chids, none of them in a tank of any kind. An increase in watering—so long as the roots are not drowning due to lack of air—as you are doing sounds good to me. However, I do use a humidifier and am very happy/thankful I do. Not only are my 'chids happier, but my skin, nose, lungs etc. are also happier!

I use a humidify also. In addition to that, I do water more often. It gets really dry and hot here during the Summer, so that's what saves me. On really hot, dry days, I'll mist the air around the 'chids, but not spray them directly

I have to agree, extra watering is no substitute for higher humidity. but if the roots are dry, it's probably time to water. keep up the watering, but try to get a humidifier too.

Thanks all for the info! That clears that issue up for me then. Still, that means I'm watering 4-6 times a day. It's not even below freezing any more outside, I have a humidity tray below the plaques with a couple other orchids around it, and it's even rained for two days now, but it still seems to dry very quickly - is that a characteristic of cork?

... It's good to know I'm not over-watering regardless, though. Thanks again!

Four to six times a day? That sounds like overwatering to me! Even where the humidity is low, I can't imagine they need to be watered that often.

Well, in between classes and studio work, when I'm in my room, if they're dry, I water them because I know I don't have the humidity it needs... though I think when I said "4-6 times" I was thinking of 6 as being the very highest possible end of a range since I did not actually count how many times I watered. It's really probably closer to 4, which still does sound high I guess. That's why I asked, though!

4-6 times a day does sound like a lot. My mounts are hanging in a windowsill, with no extra humidifier and twice a day misting is more than enough.(natural humidity is around 50-60% at this time of year) They get pretty dry between mistings, but that ok, the roots need to dry out sometimes. Even with only 2 mistings a day, the plants are happy and the roots are growing well. Two of the orchids are growing directly on the cork, with no moss to keep moisture.

If the orchids were potted I would suggest you be careful but being mounted it would be hard to overwater, especially if you have good air movement. I wouldn't water more than once a day, if you are watering 4 to 6 times a day to make up for humidity shortfalls it won't work.

But humidity will still be a problem, the only way to fix it is to make the environment more humid. I guess we ideally would want the same type of environment as they come from but you would be surprised how well the plants will grow outside their natural conditions. But it varies a lot. I know this isn't specific advice but you just need to play around with things and do the best you can with the conditions you have.