Creating Air Circulation
 

I'd like to create air circulation by using a fan. I presume it should be kept at low speed, but my question is, where should it be placed in relation to my orchids. I know they don't like direct draft, but I'm not sure how far away, what angles, etc....any assistance here would be appreciated. Other problem is, they are in different rooms. Also, in summer, how does Air Conditioning affect them? :scratchhead:
thanks!
FirstTimer

You don't want to overblow your orchids because that can dry them out. I would say to put it on low speed.

Air conditioning in the summer makes the air less humid is what I have been told

I'm a fan (so to speak) of lots of air. I have a small fan running 24/7 in my main grow area and another in my orchidarium. I use 12 volt fans designed for this Coralife 3-1/8" Cooling Fan Kit I use 1 upstairs in main grow area

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...57/DSC1945.jpg

It's at upper right

And two others in my orchidarium

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...um_After01.jpg

You can see fans at upper left inside tank and upper right outside tank. Fans are cheap and inexpensive to run.

Okay! I'm really out to lunch on this one!! Here I'm thinking a regular house fan...I am TOO FUNNY!!! I never even thought about those tiny, little guys. Thank you so much! I guess when they are that small they won't give the orchids too much draft then?
Thanks
FT

By the way, NICE orchids!
FT

You would definitely save energy by using a tiny muffin fan....lol that's why I never turned on a house fan for my plants

thanks for your reply Smartie...I like the word 'muffin' fan.
LOL
take care
FT

Tee hee! I like muffin fans too! Check out the post in "Parts and Equipment." You can find them cheap at computer/industrial surplus stores.
--Carolyn

I have two large bladed fans in my growing room area. It is probably an electricity hog (as I run them pretty much all the time) but they work okay for me. It requires some electrical work though. We had to drill through the ceiling and then run wires back to the circuit breaker.
I would agree that if your plants are in various locations of the house you'd probably want moveable fans.

I'm running some tower fans, some base fans and clamp on fans. I love the clamp -ons as you can also use the base anytime, it's smallish & has 2 speeds, got it at rona for 12 bucks. I LOVE IT!

fans and humidity
 

You could also aim a standard oscillating fan away from the orchids. It will still circulate air by pulling it from them rather than blowing it towards them (perhaps creating less chances of any kind of dessicating effect while still moving the air about). I have three of the twelve-inch size oscillating fans going throughout the different areas of the house where I have orchids. They run twenty-four hours a day, and on low speed I don't think they really spike the monthly utility bill all that much. As far as airconditioning goes, I've found from experience that bringing a flowering plant inside to enjoy the flowers (rather than, say, allowing our thriving population of Japanese Beetles to enjoy them) in the middle of summer while the air's on won't harm the plants (assuming they're not sitting directly in the path of the stream of conditioned air). After they're done flowering, just sit them back outdoors to enjoy their summer vacation (if that's an option for you).

:scratchhead:
For fans exchanging air rather than just circulating it, it doesn't seem like it would matter whether the fan is pointing in or out of the tank. Unless you have a fan powerful enough to create a vacuum in the tank, all the humid air that is blown out by an outward pointing fan will be displaced by dry air that is pulled in through other gaps or openings.

I've got a Rona nearby, so I'll check out those clamp fans...I wonder if they only clamp? or can they sit on their own as well?
FT

Yes indeed, these are also base fans, ya sit them anywhere you want them :)