Brassavola in the vivarium

[andy83]

One more question about this lovely orchid. What is the green growth in the center of the picture. Is it the start of a new leaf?

[Jussi_K]

the day humidity is pretty low. It should be atleast 60% rather 70%. The aircirculation does likely damage to those roots---

[Ross]

Originally Posted by andy83

One more question about this lovely orchid. What is the green growth in the center of the picture. Is it the start of a new leaf?

New roots.

[Ironwood]

There is some new growth on your plant quite evident in earlier photos, if that is what you are referring to.

[andy83]

I will move the fan to the other end of the tank and then just have ventilation slots above the orchid.

Originally Posted by Jussi_K

the day humidity is pretty low. It should be atleast 60% rather 70%. The aircirculation does likely damage to those roots---

For the new roots....thanks for the answer. I wasn't for sure if that little new one was a new leaf or a root. What does a newly forming leaf look like on these things?

[Ross]

A new shoot (leaf) will come from the base of the older shoots. New roots can (and will) emerge from time to time almost anywhere. As to fan, mine blows directly on the plants and roots 24/7 but the humidity stays up at 90-99%. Air movement is good for the plants and roots, dry air moving past roots will stop their growth pretty fast.

[andy83]

Ahhh....I think I just rectified that situation. I am temporarily using a spare fan and I had it blowing air from the outside onto the roots(dry air). Duhh....I turned it around and I'll be sure to make sure its sucking air when I install the permanent fan. That way it will pull the more humid air from the water feature.

I'm going to put a vent above the waterfall so that the fan on the other side will be pulling fresh air there. I'll experiment and check the good old humidity gauge.

[Ross]

By the way.... 12 volt fans can be placed entirely inside the tank blowing lots of air about without any air exchange to the outside. Just a thought. That's what I am doing with mine in this picture:


There is no outside air exchange unless I open the doors.

[andy83]

Nice orchidarium!

That would work but I think I would have a hard time concealing that. The top of the tank is sealed anyway except for where I put the slots for the fan. There may also be a few very small places that aren't totally sealed off. It's fruit-fly proof.

[Ross]

Firstly, assuming you have acrylic tank (didn't bother to look at first post again) then drill small hoole through tank wall near where fan will hang. Run wire from fan through the wall. Reconnect the fan to the power supply. I used this fan Coralife 3-1/8" Cooling Fan Kit so you can safely mount fan totally inside your tank with no shock worries. I would seriously consider eliminating most outside air from tank except from manually controlled ports. That way you can keep high humidities. Like I said earlier I can easily maintain 90+ humidity for 24 hours with 5-second mistings every 4 hours (I've been able to move from 3 hour intervals to 4 hour intervals with this new tank). I'm thinking of going to 5 hour intervals.