Misting
 

As many of you may know, I grow my chids in a G/H..... well, maybe not! There have been many postings about how each of cope with the requirements of our plants when we will be away from the day-to-day care. Some of you have installed a misting system while others may use some type of drip system. and still others have orchid savvy friends who will come tend to the little darlings in our absence. I appreciate that the length of time away dictates what needs must be met.

My question is this: For those of you who have misting systems that are being used to maintain humidity and "water" the chids, how do you handle misting during the winter months and the damage that might/does happen when water accumulates in the crown of the plant or on the flowers leaving behind nasty brown spots? Or, in most of your experiences, this has not been an issue?

The reason I have posted this question is obvious. It has always been a problem for me when I go away. I know, there are some that can't wait for me to be out of town.... but I have my anti-theft devices well maintained!!!!!!! So does a misting system help "water" the chids so they don't look as though they are on death's doorstep when I return home or am I asking for problems of other sorts and not achieve my end result??????

I had been looking around at foggers/misters since I went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and saw/felt the advantages of adding humidity to the air.
They use a high pressure mist system, though their water particle size is rather large and the plants do get wet from it. Something I did not want.

After reading and looking around for about 6 months I bought a Hydrofogger.

Hydrofogger.Com - Commercial and Industrial Humidifiers - Hydroponics Printing Concrete Tobacco

I just put the larger one in about 4 weeks ago and it is awesome.
The fog has a very small particle size, just as small as natural fog.
The fog is very buoyant and humidifies the air without wetting the plants.
The roots can still absorb the moisture from the air but the plants do not get wet at all.
It will also extend the time between watering since evaporation is reduced.
If you get one, do yourself a favor and get the humidistat as well, that way you set it and not worry.
The hydrofogger is very easy to install, you use a saddle valve and a 1/4 in tubing (like for an ice-maker) to connect to the water supply.

Even though I am down here in Florida (and I have 25' of wet-pad) I was still having problems keeping the humidity up during the day time.
I was seeing new roots drying up as they emerged from the bottom of the plant.

In the few short weeks since installing the fogger, I'm not seeing problems with drying roots anymore and the plant leaves are staying dry.
I have an abundance of deflasked seedlings and they are definitely much, much happier.

Added info:
It is also very quiet, when it comes on it is like a hushing sound...
P.S.
I am not associated with hydrofogger in anyway, I am just really happy with my choice and my plants are too!
I only wish I would have gotten one much sooner... I was just hesitant in buying because there were so many different manufactures and designs and sizes. Some of other companies humidifiers are monstrous in size.
They make two sizes and I ended up getting the larger size and I am glad I did, the smaller one may not have been enough. I also wanted to be able to re-humidify the air quickly after the exhaust fans had run. The larger one is roughly half the size of a five gallon bucket.
Best of luck.
Jim T

I don't know about using a misting system for long term maintenance, Doc, but I can relay my use of what would be more of a watering system. I used nozzles rated for ~ 3 pints a minute for a period of about 3 months once when relocating. This system was automated to come on every 7 days and was also hooked up to a syphon to inject fertilizer as well. I had no problems, but grow mainly Catts so not as much to worry about there. I talked to a friend who being more technologically advanced set up a similar system that employed a strategic placed photo cell that make a circuit connection only when a certain light level was reached to insure that it wasn't "raining" in the greenhouse when it was cloudy outside. That type system might provide better cultural practices.

i love my jaybird aquafogger 700.....it provides plenty of humidity in my 12x24 house....i tried mist systems, but they were too wet and drippy and tended to overwater some orchids and dry out others... i hand water about every 4-6 days also.....

This topic is of great interest to me, because although I am retired so can be here most of the time to manage my two orchid houses, next year I have to be away for 5 weeks July/August. I am really challenging my mind about watering. My intermediate house is kept shut year round, but my cool house full of Odonts & Cymbidiums is left open from end March till early October.
I can rig up an overhead sprinkler system in each, on a timer, but am most worried about water in the leaf axils in the intermediate house - Paphs, Phrags, Phals, etc.
Any input welcome - I am in England.
Richard