A Neo Lighting and Growing Environment Thread - Page 4 - Orchid Board

coffeecup · #31 12-03-2013, 11:02 AM

I water mine every week to a week and a half, depending on the moss. I don't soak them through, as I do in the spring/summer. I don't bother with misting in between.

MattWoelfsen · #32 12-03-2013, 01:26 PM

These guys got a good soaking on Sunday, they were drier yesterday. This morning, they are now damp. Living in dry, forced air, central heat system makes for a very dry environment.

However, with my concern over these plants, and providing a higher relative humidity environment, I have very little electric static problems--a nice side benefit. It seems my living conditions have improved.

I know I am spending too much time and energy over these plants! But they are delightful and the prospect of raising them to blooming size is very motivating. So far, knock on wood, I have not lost any of these Neofinetia.

Pilot · #33 12-03-2013, 02:50 PM

Matt-- I think you've already identified that you're doting over your plants and it won't help them much. Humidity is an elusive thing. It depends on temp, partial pressure and influenced by a ton of other factors. You can spend all day and night chasing the perfect conditions and you'll never achieve it. I say all this to make the point: just roll with it. When i leave for a week or so and my plants are on their own, I return to my plants doing just fine. I have to remind myself of this any time I feel like I need to do SOMETHING for my plants because they're not doing as well I had hoped and oh, this one seems a little dry, and look at this one, it needs a repot... no just let them ride.

I live north of 6500' mean sea level. Our relative humidity is on the dry side but not shockingly low (though we can see it drop to single digits depending on how to winds interact with our mountains). However, the actual water content of the air is decidedly low, no matter how you measure it. This is why I grow in an enclosure and have built a room just for this purpose. It's also why I have a self-built ultra sonic humidifier that is 40 gallons and capable of keeping the humidity way high, if I choose... but its on a humidistat to make sure it doesn't rain inside my house. I keep it low enough not to grow anything other than orchids, but high enough that it's very noticeable the moment you walk in to the room. i did this because I have an extreme I have to account for-- but most places do not have this issue. Winter is dry, that's just how it goes. And my guess is that regular (but a longer time between) waterings will do the trick for you.

BTW-- I do mist-- but my misting is HEAVY. It will soak the plants. I also grow in aquamat that holds little water. I find that consistency is key as it is with most things-- the plants will get individually watered as needed but do get misted heavily every 5 days (automatically.... I automate everything).

Something I would suggest is-- water when you get your own weather... if it rains at your house, rain on your plants... seems to work for some. I do not do this because we live in a high altitude desert.