Strategies to fight low humidity

[estación seca]

I still think you should get a Laelia purpurata. They speak Portuguese!

[rbarata]

I still think you should get a Laelia purpurata. They speak Portuguese!

So my tenebrosa.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Although not the same, more frequent watering can compensate a dry environment (compensate water loss through leaves)

I have seen plants in semi-hydroponic culture, but growing in a very dry air environment, suffer. Some tissues, especially inflorescences and blossoms, cannot gain water internally as fast as they can lose it to the environment.

Roots need to dry fast (not bone dry as I think Ray interpreted) so a coarse medium is best.

Again based upon my experience with S/H culture, in which the roots stay constantly saturated, I don't believe that any drying out is necessary, as long as the air flow to the roots is sufficient. Consider orchids growing in tropical rainforests in South America or Southeast Asia, for example; for extended parts of the year, the rainfall occurs several times a day, if not non-stop, and the relative humidity is so high, that nothing dries out for months and months.

---------- Post added at 03:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:46 PM ----------

OK, back to the subject of this thread: why can you not raise the humidity?

[rbarata]

OK, back to the subject of this thread: why can you not raise the humidity?

1 - I can raise the humidity, but...

2 - In summer outside temps go frequently over 100 and HR almost always bellow 20% (last week it reached 8%). These are day values. By night temp drops bellow 68 F and HR goes over 80%.
These daytime values by themself work agaisnt any tentative to keep HR high anywhere, in or out.

2 - I live in a flat with one south faced room that has a large window.

3 - The room is filled with electronic gear and wood musical instruments.

4 - Can't use an indoor GH because the plant I'm thinking of (Laelia tenebrosa) is relatively large, and because it needs higher light levels, it would reach too high temps inside.

[Ray]

Wow! That does sound like a challenge.

However, if you can find a way to boost the temperature to about 50%, it will have no effect on the electronics, and likely be beneficial to the wooden instruments.

I take it that the apartment is open to the outdoor conditions. Have you considered partially closing that, and adding a portable swamp cooler, run in the daytime only?

[rbarata]

I take it that the apartment is open to the outdoor conditions. Have you considered partially closing that, and adding a portable swamp cooler, run in the daytime only?

It's not open. In summer, to let light come in for my catts, the shutters are 100% opened. As a consequence, temps inside reach low 80's, which is not that much.
Humidity is another story...inside I usually have something like low 20's..to raise it to 50's I would need a lot of energy.
I have A/C in that room but I simply can't put it to work all day long. I could use it to drop the temp to make it easier to reach the 50% HR but energy is too expensive here.

[estación seca]

I believe your tenebrosa will be fine outside in those conditions. Give it about 50% shade from mid-day sun, and don't let it go dry.

[Orchid Whisperer]

To increase humidity around your orchids, grow them interspersed with other plants that have lots of leaf area, such as Spathiphyllum (peace lily). Such plants will transpire a lot of water into the air.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by rbarata

It's not open. In summer, to let light come in for my catts, the shutters are 100% opened. As a consequence, temps inside reach low 80's, which is not that much.
Humidity is another story...inside I usually have something like low 20's..to raise it to 50's I would need a lot of energy.
I have A/C in that room but I simply can't put it to work all day long. I could use it to drop the temp to make it easier to reach the 50% HR but energy is too expensive here.

AC will also take moisture out of the air. The only power consumption in a swamp cooler is the fan, which ought to be a lot less than that of air conditioning.

An editorial comment: orchid growing can be an expensive hobby. Either "bite the bullet" and pay for it when giving the plant their required conditions, or find plants that prefer what you can easily provide.

[rbarata]

The only power consumption in a swamp cooler is the fan, which ought to be a lot less than that of air conditioning.

That's an equipment to consider. A few months ago I've been looking for one but they were too expensive.
Today I found one for 60 € (60 W which is ok for my room with an area inferior to 10 sq m).

I will see if I can grow the plant in my current conditions... if not I will get one.