Strategies to fight low humidity

[Fernando]

Tenebrosa should grow under your conditions - not at it's best, but enough for growing bigger and flowering. When there is a sheath, then you should provide a higher humidity for the best development of the buds.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Fernando

Tenebrosa should grow under your conditions - not at it's best, but enough for growing bigger and flowering. When there is a sheath, then you should provide a higher humidity for the best development of the buds.

I think so too! I'll find out soon.

One more thing...I've noticed from my readings that tenebrosas growth season is late summer/fall.
Is this correct?

Mine started growing new roots right when I settled it. So I'm expecting a new growth soon.

This means the higher humidity/ higher watering frequency is not in spring or beginning of summer but it's now.
Is this correct?

[estación seca]

I have several Laelia tenebrosa seedlings from Sunset Valley Orchids. They are in constant growth through warm weather, which for me is all year.

[rbarata]

Today I made several experiments and the conclusion is: I need a humidifier.
Any idea about which type and important features?

Originally Posted by estación seca

I have several Laelia tenebrosa seedlings from Sunset Valley Orchids. They are in constant growth through warm weather, which for me is all year.

And what are your RH values?

[estación seca]

They did fine when relative humidity was 20%-30%. They are still doing fine when it's 40%-60%.

You have humid microclimates even when it's hot outside. Nestle them among leafy plants.

[rbarata]

You have humid microclimates even when it's hot outside. Nestle them among leafy plants.

The room is reaching the limit for the nº of plants.
By other hand I don't want to deal with the restlessness of being constantly monitoring environmental issues and moving plants in and out.
Today I did experiments with wet towels, bowls filled with hot water, even dropped water in hot pans...never got over 40% with the door constantly shut.
That's too much for my patience...

Also, with a humidifier, it will open doors to other genus that I can't grow now so I think it's a good decision.

[rbarata]

Bought a humidifier today.
Ultra-sonic system, 5 speed, vapor flow regulator, max capacity of vaporization of 4 l/ 24 hrs, security shut down when the 1,4 l tank is empty, etc.
I will put it to work tomorrow as I'm not at home.
My goal is to maintain an HR=60%.

Here... Sorry, it's in portuguese.

Update on this one...after using it for a week I'm satisfied.
It runs smoothly, without a noise and I can keep it working for hours in a row.
It takes a while to increase the overal humidity but, while it doesn't happen, I put the plants that need it most under the mist, especially at night.
Outside temps here have been on the low 90's (33ºC today) with a forecast to maintain it for the next 8 days (with some days on the 97 F (36ºC).
Min HR low 20's and high 80's at night.
With these conditions I can increase HR in the growing room from the low 20's to 50-55% (temp between 75~80 F) and keep it during the night which is ok for most of the orchids.

As a side note, after I start to mist my tenebrosa with the humidifier during the day a new growth appeared. I believe these things are connected.

So, I think I made a good choice.

Another side note... It's really boring to keep converting temp units from one system to the other. And it make posts really confusing.

[jkofferdahl]

I can't believe it took three pages of posts to get to a HUMIDIFIER. No offense, but DUH.

In my house in the winter, running the furnace, the humidity can drop to about 20%. I use small, ultrasonic humidifiers in the two rooms with plants and they keep the humidity up between 65-70%.

[rbarata]

The problem is not the amount of pages, John but lack of money.
When that happens one must seek for alternatives, regardless the qty of posts.

[Fernando]

That looks good!
Tell us how the plants react! (many pages if you like!!)
Perhaps I should get one, too, for those spells of saharian winds.