attempts at getting higher humidity
I posted before about the extreme dryness of the Southwest US and how the medium (bark, even spagham) dried out within a day (to a day and a half) making daily watering a necessity and also risk of overwatering. Today 13% humidity. 90 degree F heat. Very dry climate. Today I am attempting an experiment on the one root problem orchid and a newly saved orchid-- I do not know what type of phal, both were rescues. The root problem orchid has firm but covered in a brown sheath type roots, there are small roots slowly coming out of the brown roots. These are not hollow rotted roots-- they seem quite healthy but they are brown. This is a Yellow phal with little veins. The leaves are stiff and healthy. The other one had 2 flower spikes, but I do not know the color.
Any way, I got a terrarium hygrometer used for reptiles and a temperature gauge. In a large 55 gallon fishtank we had hanging around the house, I put in some bottom grids, like used on a humidity tray, about an inch of bottom rocks then filled the bottom with water. I got a large piece of cork, soaked it, and mounted the 2 experimental orchids on the cork with a scant handful of orchid mix and a tiny amount of spag. I hung the bark with 2 orchids on the side with a hanger made with an old coat hanger.
The after a bit inside of the terrarium was 60% humidity and 90 degree f. The actual humidity where I am is 13%.
I checked what the humidity was and temp in Manila Philippines, and it is humidity 89% and 82 degrees f.
I will move the fish tank farther from the window.
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I have been a little confused because I have been told to water every 10 days and allow the bark medium to dry.
That is utterly wrong according to some other sources. They say that the bark should be kept moist, but there should not be standing water. In other words good drainage.
So now the phals are not touching anything. They are mounted sideways, on the bark hanging, like they would have been in a natural setting, and now they are in high humidity but well drained environment.
I put some of my weak orchid fertilizer mix in the spray bottle and spray them a few times per day. I will try to keep the humidity at at least 70%, and the temp a little lower than 90. (I will try to get this heat lower, to maybe 85 degrees f).
If this works, I think I can live with it. They look great by the way, but I better get minis next time around.
Can I ask, if anyone knows a good plant that might live on the ground below the phals? I was thinking some peperomia. They seem to be a heat and humidity loving plant. Are there any terrestrial orchids a beginner can do in my temperature/ humidity conditions?
Thanks, any answer welcomed.
Last edited by Optimist; 08-30-2013 at 07:43 PM..
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