Increasing humidity - Orchid Board

bethmarie · #1 08-16-2012, 08:58 AM

What have you guys found that really works in a home environment? I've read that humidity trays are minimally helpful, and my hygrometer seems to agree. I've got a new angraecum leonis, the only plant in my collection that really demands high humidity, and I want to keep her happy. Here she is, looking lovely the first day after arriving from HI.

Gage · #2 08-16-2012, 11:16 AM

When I was a kid and was keeping reptiles, I would erect plastic sheeting around my reptile area to keep in the heat created by a little space heater. The same principle applies to humidity. Think more about preserving the humidity around the plants rather than just creating the humidity. Air conditioning sucks the humidity right out of the air, so I would try and protect your plants from that dry air circulation with plastic, window blinds/shades, an aquarium, terrarium, etc. Hope this helps!

Leafmite · #3 08-16-2012, 11:54 AM

My leonis (hopefully it will recover from the mealy bugs) doesn't seem to need high humidity. I don't use air-conditioning, though, so perhaps that makes a difference. It has always been fine with the same treatment the other orchids (including other angraecums), and other plants. If you have other orchids growing well, the leonis should, too. There is a great source online, the Angraecum Encyclopedia: Genus Angraecum - Angraecum Encyclopedia
Angraecums do like plenty of air flow around them, roots and all, and do not like their roots broken during repotting (so always soak for a while before a repot and be very careful). With the leonis, scale and mealy bugs can get into the fold of the leaves and can be difficult to eradicate. Good luck!

31drew31 · #4 08-16-2012, 01:50 PM

More plants does the trick!

Really though, the more plants you have in an area the more evaporation which means higher humidity.

naoki · #5 08-17-2012, 12:21 AM

Since, we have really low humidity in interior Alaska, I have tried several things. Usually 10-20% in the winter, and 20-50% summer. Without solving these humidity problems, there is no way I could grow any orchids (rupicolous laelia might be ok). Humidity tray or spraying frequently (unless I do every 30 min) doesn't do anything in our climate.

You can put 1" of water in an aquarium with a glass cover and put the plants on a raised platform. For the raised platform, the fluorescent light egg crate grid (diffuser) on a brick or pots works pretty well. If you have a big plant, you nee a tall aquarium.

4 ft. Replacement Diffuser-L2GT PLTS R5 at The Home Depot

You can get 70-80% humidity even outside is around 20-30%. You should make sure that you put a small fan inside to give good air circulation. Without good circulation, you may need to use lots of chemicals (to fight with bacteria/fungi).

Or grow tent works well if you have more plants. http://www.amazon.com/Aviditi-PTU-67...ords=grow+tent

It's been overheating a little bit recently, and the ventilation fan kicks in frequently. But when it's not overheating, I can keep 50-80% (when outside is 30%RH) with passive "humidifier" in it. I just put a couple of 1x2' container filled with water (something similar to humidity tray).

Or if you can dedicate a small room/closet for orchid growing, and you can prepare the mold prevention, you could humidify entire room, right?

But don't you get pretty high humidity in NC? When I was in the triangle area, growing orchids was super easy.

Bud · #6 08-17-2012, 02:46 AM

do a bell culture or a large vase culture

the bottom of the vase has water but not touching the roots of the plant and the middle part of the vase is where the plant is located; you may cover the vase to trap the humidity in but make sure there is about a little space for air flow

the bell culture is a clear glass vase inverted on the humidity tray where the plant is....make sure that there is an inch of space to let the air flow

Silje · #7 08-17-2012, 08:00 AM

Hey!

Low humidity is my main challenge as well, especially during the winter months when it drops to 10% or so. During the summer months my plants enjoy more tropical conditions with high humidity and plenty of rainfall.

So, for the first time this winter (I'm on the southern hemisphere) I made a plan that did not include just regular (panicky) misting to try to get the chids through the winter.

I got myself a book shelf (cheap, basic Ikea type with adjustable shelves in), wrapped it in clear, see-through shower curtains (roughly ten dollars at a place similar to Ikea), and nailed the shower curtain to the book shelf and left one side open to be able to take plants in and out.

On the bottom shelf, I put two cat litter trays and filled them with water.

Then I stacked all the orchids (that are not in bloom) on the remaining shelves, hung some mounts around where they would fit and put the whole thing in a location where they receive the suitable amount of light and sunlight. For me that turned out to be next to the glass sliding door leading out to the veranda. As luck will have it, that spot receives direct sunlight up to 9 in the morning, and then again at from 15 to sunset in the afternoon.

I mist a bit now and then if I feel that the humidity is too low, and I water and fertilize once a week.

When I'm not busy fiddling with the plants, I use sellotape to close the open flap tight. Some might say that an enclosed structure like that does not provide enough air circulation and that I'm asking for trouble, but I think I check the plants often enough to ensure a bit of circulation and exchange and so far there are no concerning indications of problems brewing.

Most of the time I'm able to provide the plants with temperatures in the range of 18-26 degrees Celsius and with humidity ranging from 60-90%.

Works like a bomb. Plants are happy and spiking and producing psedubulbs like crazy. They've got nice color and so far indicate in all ways that they are happy.

keithrs · #8 08-17-2012, 10:30 AM

Just remember... With high humidity comes mold! You will need air movement to solve that.....

Leafmite · #9 08-17-2012, 12:25 PM

Hey, I have lots of plants, too!

Silje, using this method, what medium/mount do you use for your Angraecums? I am guessing mounted?

Silje · #10 08-17-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Hey, I have lots of plants, too!

Silje, using this method, what medium/mount do you use for your Angraecums? I am guessing mounted?

Well, that's the thing...I've always told myself I cannot have any vandeae plants because of my low humidity so I never got myself one. But, since I seem to have come up with a solution, I've decided (just yesterday) to order myself an aerangis. I was determined to get myself an African orchid, but I was very indecisive whether to go for an Aerangis or an Angraecums. In the end the Aerangis won.

So, a long story to say: No idea.