CAM orchids - mist or not to mist them, that is the question

[Marzenna]

Thank you

[A. thom Aberdares]

I don't grow Phals but find the discussion interesting and like to add my thoughts about it.

Marzenna's watering method makes rather sure the whole pot / container gets soaked, this method is also practiced by big commercial Phal growers, who then depending on the prevailing climate increase ventilation afterwards until the plant parts above the substrate are fairly dry again. Though their plants stay in the relative same position and with that method I would put the pots back in exactly the same position they were before. Maybe you are already doing so. The angles of the leaves from the lightsource(s) etc can be important.

I grow some orchids outdoors and many orchids have leaves which don't retain a lot of water on the leaves after rain. Then there is the water which stays behind in the leaf axils etc, which in many species in nature is not such a problem, while in artificial culture can be. I speculate this is because of the temperature of the given water, which might be higher than rain water, and the temperature of the greenhouse / grow chamber which is maintained after irrigation at its normal range. While in nature more often than not the whole environment is cooler after rain. Many fungi and bacteria prefer moist and warm conditions and their germination time is then much shorter.

Showering from above washes away any dust as well.