Neo in Glass

[Vanda lover]

I would think that if there was a little dribble of water left in the bottom of the vase, that that should be good enough, at least from what I have read from other threads.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I would think that if there was a little dribble of water left in the bottom of the vase, that that should be good enough, at least from what I have read from other threads.

You know I have tried this before and have found little improvement in terms of keeping the root area more humid/moist. Its as if the surface area isn't big enough to make an appreciable difference. I even tried it with adding hydroton , figuring the surface area would increase, but then you have the issue of hydroton wanting to roll out every time you empty the vase.

What I need is a green house where I can make it as humid as possible. This is the clear choice! LOL

[camille1585]

I guess the only way to know if this is the way to go is to keep up with the experiment. In the very worst case you'd see the roots start to deteriorate, and then all you have to do is water less often.

I think that part of it is that it's hard for me to imagine how difficult it is to deal with very very low humidity. Here it's never less that 45-50%, so I think that if I were to leave them soaking all day they might not be dry by morning.

[DelawareJim]

Ryan;

No worries on the post. At first I thought you might have thought I was one of those people who responds to the latest posts without reading the entire thread (One of my pet peeves). When I read it a second time I knew what you were getting at.

I'm afraid I mis-understood from the start and didn't realize you were soaking longer than most people using the vase culture typically do. It became more clear after reading your exchange with Camille. That said, your roots should be more acclimated to being in water longer and you should see good results.

I agree a greenhouse would help a lot. We all need a greenhouse Have you thought about an orchidarium? While the store bought kind like the "Grand Cayman" and others can be a bit pricey, quite a few people have had good success with Exo-Terra terrariums or aquariums in the 20-75 gallon range. I have a couple of 50 gallon tanks with a glass aquarium top and a normal output 2-bulb T5 light fixture that I use for growing certain aquarium plants emmersed that work quite well. Add a computer/muffin fan for improved air circulation and you should be good to go.

Cheers.
Jim

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Ryan;

No worries on the post. At first I thought you might have thought I was one of those people who responds to the latest posts without reading the entire thread (One of my pet peeves). When I read it a second time I knew what you were getting at.

I'm afraid I mis-understood from the start and didn't realize you were soaking longer than most people using the vase culture typically do. It became more clear after reading your exchange with Camille. That said, your roots should be more acclimated to being in water longer and you should see good results.

I agree a greenhouse would help a lot. We all need a greenhouse Have you thought about an orchidarium? While the store bought kind like the "Grand Cayman" and others can be a bit pricey, quite a few people have had good success with Exo-Terra terrariums or aquariums in the 20-75 gallon range. I have a couple of 50 gallon tanks with a glass aquarium top and a normal output 2-bulb T5 light fixture that I use for growing certain aquarium plants emmersed that work quite well. Add a computer/muffin fan for improved air circulation and you should be good to go.

Cheers.
Jim

Phew! Good! I love OB and we have some of the nicest people on the net living here so I didn't want to upset anyone! Mental note, though-- I think I was responding with that post while juggling a baby girl... so I was way more to-the-point and I think thats why it came off that way. The baby, BTW, has already learned how to water plants. LOL

These are some good ideas and I'll have to consider them. Sometimes I feel people don't quite understand the battle one has to wage on dryness in a place like Colorado. I used to live back east and humidity was never an issue (except in the summer when it became too much!). Even those on the West coast, in general, can enjoy higher humidity. But being at an altitude above 6500 feet, physics take a turn and toll on how the elements of Nature behave. Partial pressure is our biggest enemy here-- meaning its so much lower because of the altitude that we have less space in our air for water, oxygen nitrogen and so on. Of course, most things adapt-- plants, people etc... but it doesn't negate the fact that when the winds come racing down the mountain, the partial pressure gets squeezed and we have even less moisture than before. This is a common occurrence here. Its only when the wind slows and begins moving to the west... called an upslope... that we enjoy moisture-- usually heavy fog, rain and in winter, sizable snow storms. But this is rare. Our lives are so-well dictated by our mountains that sometimes you can resent them... but then you look and remember how tremendously gorgeous they are and despite the wickedness of Nature here, she also greatly rewards us.

[Vanda lover]

We bought a tiny greenhouse, which I use first thing in the spring to put my garden seedlings out, then when it warms up, I move some of my orchids out there for the summer. It works great, because I can soak the floor and have humidity all day, and I have a fan to blow it around. I would love a big one [needless to say] but this one was cheap.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

We bought a tiny greenhouse, which I use first thing in the spring to put my garden seedlings out, then when it warms up, I move some of my orchids out there for the summer. It works great, because I can soak the floor and have humidity all day, and I have a fan to blow it around. I would love a big one [needless to say] but this one was cheap.

When can you safely plant outside (with and without the little green house)?

A green house would be wonderful, wouldn't it? Even with a greenhouse, though, I would need to overcome a few things-- mainly the winds and sun. I think leaving water around on surfaces and in buckets etc would help a lot but at 6500 feet MSL, we get some seriously powerful sun here.

We have a few acres of land here in Colorado and I think it's our intention to eventually have a greenhouse (yes, even my wife agrees this is a good idea!!!). Until then I have decided a swamp cooler would be a good idea for the solarium. In such a dry environment, evaporative cooling will work very well here. That should up my humidity a lot, at least in the summer months. I have tried using a humidifier during these cooler months but the machines they make these days are sad-- I wore mine out pretty fast! Sadly, I have to admit some fault as it wasn't meant for constant use.

[johnblagg]

I read this post and decided to try this but I add some fiber stuff the chids were actually pnanted in around the top of the vase to trap humidity somewhat ...mine are doing great this way

[Vanda lover]

Here on Vancouver Island, I like to wait until the end of May before I put them outside. Use your last frost date as a guideline, but keep an eye on your night temperatures.
It sounds like you'll need to put your greenhouse in a spot where it can get mainly morning light, on the North side of a building or other shade source might be good. If it faces south, you'll cook.

[alsorchids]

Ryan; I know exactly what your climate and growing environment is like. I am at 5400 feet here in New Mexico and the winds can be constant. If you can get a swamp cooler installed great. The portable units can be O.K., but I am using a humidifier(table top unit) which works well if you don't mind the expense of the filters all the time. I have had it 4 months and it runs and looks like new even using our very hard well water. Let me know if you want the brand and model number etc. and I will PM you if you like. AL