Phal planted in s/h

[Becca]

Sarah,
Well I only have my plants in one room, my bedroom. My finace and I have a tiny house, so my question is with the humidifiers you use, would that cause problems with moisture buildup on the walls or I am just over thinking things.....as long as it doesn't make things muggy or smelly I would think I would like to try one. Is there a brand you recommend? Thanks for the idea! I am excited!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by caseydoll

Becca, I use a couple of small ultrasonic humidifiers for my orchids. They are only about $30 or so depending on the size. You can also get 1 or 2 gallon humidifiers for less than that, less than $20. I don't know how many rooms you have your orchids in but from your pics one of those small ones set up by your table would be perfect. For me they work really well. The cool mist work the best, with warm mist you can have problems with bacteria (or so I have heard). Just wanted to share!

Sarah

I have one I tried and if you want it I will give it to you for shipping cost! They don't work at all. Ray is right. If you want to (or need to - that is the question) increase humidity, then you'll need an automated misting system. But first, why do you think you need to increase humidity? Am I missing something? Have I missed a post or two? My Phals grow in anywhere from 30% winter to 70% summer and do just fine.

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[Ross]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Ray, in the summer the house temps run around 77-80 max and 65-69 min. Outside it's usually 100+ max and drops down to 50's at night. Humidity runs around 45% max and 25% min and there's not much I can do about that. It's even drier outside. Everything I own is on humidity trays, and I've been monitoring temps and humidity daily for about a month now. As I said the roots on the phal I transplanted were showing signs of root rot before I moved it. Just the tips. The rest of the root was fat and kind of white colored.

I do think it's out of the woods at this point. It hasn't gotten any worse in weeks, so I think it's going to be OK.

Where in Southern Oregon are you? I have lived in both Klamath Falls and Grants Pass and had greenhouses in both locations, I understand low humidity (4% or less) and have dealt with it. The picture is still the same; if you need the environment to be high humidity, you'll have to enclose the environment. This will mean greenhouse, orchidarium, or some equivilant. Trays under the orchids won't do it, as Ray says (and as I can attest to.)

[caseydoll]

Becca, with the ultrasonic humidifiers sometimes I do notice that moisure gathers on the plants if I do it too close to them. I would use the regular cool mist one if I was you. I have a couple Duracraft ones but Holmes is a good brand too. On the plus side they also have a filter that you replace once every couple months. The filters are cheap and they also remove odors and particles from the air and water. It has a fan on top to dispense the moisure in the air so you also have extra air circulation. I don't know when you work but it would probably work well for you if you turned it on when you left for work and turn if off when you get home or a little later if you like. Then it won't bother you at night. And any humidity is better then nothing! Also it makes your skin less dry. But they have different settings so if you don't want it feeling too humid you can just set it on low. You would really only need a 2 gallon one or less. You may have to fill it once a day but no biggie. I got mine in a 2 pack at Target like 2 years ago. I think they were $30 for 2. You may find them a little harder to find this time of year but you live in a much bigger city than me so it probably is just a problem around here! Hope that helps and sorry so long!

Sarah

[caseydoll]

I didn't mention that I used to run a small humidifier just in my bedroom and i had one of those humidity gauges set up way across the room from it. It would raise the humidity about 20 to 30% and would stay there for a long time after being turned off. And that was in the winter. So for me they work really well.

Sarah

[Ross]

Originally Posted by caseydoll

Becca, with the ultrasonic humidifiers sometimes I do notice that moisure gathers on the plants if I do it too close to them. I would use the regular cool mist one if I was you. I have a couple Duracraft ones but Holmes is a good brand too. On the plus side they also have a filter that you replace once every couple months. The filters are cheap and they also remove odors and particles from the air and water. It has a fan on top to dispense the moisure in the air so you also have extra air circulation. I don't know when you work but it would probably work well for you if you turned it on when you left for work and turn if off when you get home or a little later if you like. Then it won't bother you at night. And any humidity is better then nothing! Also it makes your skin less dry. But they have different settings so if you don't want it feeling too humid you can just set it on low. You would really only need a 2 gallon one or less. You may have to fill it once a day but no biggie. I got mine in a 2 pack at Target like 2 years ago. I think they were $30 for 2. You may find them a little harder to find this time of year but you live in a much bigger city than me so it probably is just a problem around here! Hope that helps and sorry so long!

Sarah

Sarah, are you talking about the ultrasonic or the ones that run through filters? The ultrasonic units are small (hardly worthy of a whole room) and meant to create "fog".

[caseydoll]

Ross, I was talking about both at first. Becca was having humidity problems with her orchids and I was telling her that I have both. I thought that the one with the filter would be good for her since i think she said her orchids were in her bedroom. I agree that the ultrasonic ones don't do much. I put mine right next to my orchids (i mean right next too) and run it sometimes just to give them a little bit extra. Mostly I like the way they look because mine has a cool blue led light on it too so it glows. Mine definately aren't running now. I don't need anymore added humidity!

Sarah

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Ray

It does explain the dry roots at the surface, and if there is sufficient evaporative cooling courtesy of the low humidity, you might be keeping the roots a lot cooler than you think, and THAT might explain the excessive rotting (as well as the poor timing on repotting we've already discussed).

Ross,
Sarah was mentioning the humidifies to me because of my lack of humidity being part of a contributing factor to my roots rotting in the s/h culture as Ray mentioned previously. I am lucky if I have 20% humidity during the summer and it is usually around the upper 90's during the summer outside. I know ideally to get my catt's to flower for me some day, I will also need adequate humidity, and if I want my roots to stop rotting it will help as well. But I do have to say I have managed to convert several orchids (cymbidiums and some catts) to s/h without having the new growth and they are doing great. So I don't know. I am just going to see what I can do to get my humidity higher and wait until I see knew growth on all future plants before converting to s/h to avoid any possible chances of making the adjustment for the orchids any harder/stressful on them and me Thanks for everyones help!

[abeauty2b10]

Hi Ray,
A month ago I re-potted all my orchids because they were due and weeks later found out about your web-site and learned about S/H. I've never heard about S/H before and I am interested in trying it. My only question is because I recently re-potted my orchids will it be to much stress on the them to change at this point? You response is greatly appreciated.

[quiltergal]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

Where in Southern Oregon are you? I have lived in both Klamath Falls and Grants Pass and had greenhouses in both locations, I understand low humidity (4% or less) and have dealt with it.

I'm in Jacksonville. I've thought about a small greenhouse, but aren't those a booger to heat in the winter, and keep cool in the summer? I'd love to pick your brain a little about greenhouses. (don't want to get my finger dirty though.... ) I don't seem to have any problem getting phals or dendros to bloom. My catts are another story though. Could be they weren't getting enough light. I've moved them to an east windowsill, and been much better at feeding and watering religiously on the same day. So maybe that will make the difference. A greenhouse is probably overkill for the number of plants I have at the moment, but I may find I need one in the near future.