How do I encourage root growth?

[monivik]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Looks good! Make sure there's some air-movement in there (to cut down or avoid fungus activity etc) - there probably is already (air movement).

The lid on the little "green house" has two openings on the top, that I closed. You can slide that green thing and close them or keep them open. Should I have kept them open? In that way some fresh air will come in.

Another question: Will it be enough keeping the orchids inside this? Will they get enough humidity or will I still need to water them as well?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by monivik

The lid on the little "green house" has two openings on the top, that I closed. You can slide that green thing and close them or keep them open. Should I have kept them open? In that way some fresh air will come in.

Another question: Will it be enough keeping the orchids inside this? Will they get enough humidity or will I still need to water them as well?

monivik ------ I think that if the environment inside the green-house is prevented from fungal spores somehow getting into there, then ok to have the openings closed.

But on the other hand, having some ventilation can be very beneficial for sure - gentle air-movement - to prevent something like a humid bathroom syndrome thing - where fungal spores can grow when the bathroom is not kept 'aired out'.

And Ray made a great point about needing to open the little openings in order to water the plants. That is you must open those openings in order to water the plants hahaha. That is obvious hahaha.

Actually - that was only kidding hehe. I think that Ray was seriously meaning that in order for the plants to get water into them properly, it's actually necessary to not have super high humidity for most of the time. So that the transpiration process can work nicely - I think.

I know that some plants that live in regular fresh air can actually grow under water too, such as one of the nutgrasses like Cyperus helferi. And not sure how terrariums work exactly too - sort of like fully enclosed. But for orchids in general ----- pretty sure that they need to have a humidity level below a certain general value in order to get water into them properly.

Some people may even use a little DC (direct current) fan to help get some gentle air circulation within a growing container. That's to suppress fungal growth activity on leaves, stem etc.