Need advice on Temp/humidity

[gngrhill]

Hey, all, I have a question now that fall is approaching. Most of you have seen my grow space through previous postings, but now I have a dilemma. The nights are becoming quite cool and my humidity is around 65 over night. I have always read that cool + wet is bad (diseases). So, should I turn off my humidifiers at night ? Is 60 degrees and 65% humidity risking some kind of disease ? What do you think ?

[wintergirl]

I think you might be right, I think I would turn it off at night when it's cold and your humidity is still that high.

[DeaC]

Ditto what wintergirl said. Here in central NJ I only use humidifiers in winter time as the indoor air gets quite dry so using humid. trays coupled with humidifiers works for me. But I'm thrilled to finally get cooler temps!

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by DeaC

Ditto what wintergirl said. Here in central NJ I only use humidifiers in winter time as the indoor air gets quite dry so using humid. trays coupled with humidifiers works for me. But I'm thrilled to finally get cooler temps!

Me too. I love it and the chids love it

---------- Post added at 05:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:35 PM ----------

Originally Posted by wintergirl

I think you might be right, I think I would turn it off at night when it's cold and your humidity is still that high.

thanks. I know most of the orchids like the cooler nights, but I was kind of worried that this AM when I walked out there it was damp and cool.

[estación seca]

It's a conundrum... in habitat, most orchids are damp to wet all night long, when it is much cooler than it is in the daytime. Cooling temperatures in humid areas causes dew formation. But they have great air circulation. In cultivation most of us can't give them truly optimal conditions, so they are more susceptible to diseases if damp and wet.

[Ray]

I think you'll be fine. At 65%, you're only 2/3 of the way to condensation, that that's how environments are set up for rots.

If you really get nervous every, just put the humidifier on a timer.

[Leafmite]

I agree that you do not need to worry for the most part. Healthy plants/orchids won't be affected by the lower temperatures. We had the lower temperatures and rain. The only orchids I moved to a dryer place were the Angraecum didieris and Aerangis as they tend to be susceptible to fungus infection.

[gngrhill]

Thank you all for your advice. I will consider it all for my future plans going into winter.