HELP! HELP! HELP!
 

OK I was at the Parksie Orchid Nursery for their mini orchid seminar and i had a blast. I met some wonderful orchid addicts so i was able to fit right in.:biggrin:
While I was going through all their amazing greenhouses i picked up COCHLEANTHES AMAZING and the fragrance hit me right in the face :shock: and could not put it back down. Anyway I had it for about 5 days now and I'm starting to notice some black spots appearing on the leaves. I did some reading and this plant requires a lot of humidity and my current levels are at 50% - 60%.
How can I increase humidity?? How much humidity does this plant need? I have a humidifier but since the heat is on in the apartments i am unable to raise the humidity level past 60%. I am thinking of getting a much lager humidifier just for this plant to make it happy. I do not want to kill it. :_( What should i do???:scratchhead:

I have an Amazing also and a White Knight and marginata. I am keeping a keen eye on mine as the humidity decreases and the air dries from the baseboard heating. I am spraying the top layer of the medium in the mornings, ( I avoid wetting the leaves) to increase the humidity around the plant. A humidifier sounds like a good idea :nod:

I started a thread on Coch. Amazing http://www.orchidboard.com/community...s-amazing.html
There are some great photos of other coch. hybrids. as well in this thread on Coch marginata - Check it out - http://www.orchidboard.com/community...marginata.html

I have been misting the leaves twice a day but i will stop doing that. Dorothy what is the humidity level where you are keeping yours?
Thank you for your help.

Maria

I don't have a meter but it's below 50% and so far so good, this is the first time I am dealing with lowering humidity this time of the year as I have just acquired the plants this summer.
Fine misting the leaves isn't bad so long as you do it in the early morning and the water evaporates by the evening. Don't mist the leaves so they are wet at night - that can cause black spot to develop. Misting the medium and roots is ok and again best in the morning if possible.

Thank you Dorothy.

Maria

Hi Maria, What about finding a vase that the plant can sit down on the top lip without the water touching the plant? It would create moisture from underneath. Much like I saw here where someone grew Vanda's in vases. I have a couple plants that I have sitting on top of the lip of vases for added moisture. Hope I explained it okay. It's Vanda's in vases somewhere here on OB. That might work for you and if it does, would be alot cheaper than buying a humidifier.
Just a thought. kiki-do