Moving to a grow tent

[Dusty Ol' Man]

No, no! Not me! My orkids. I know, but I'm starting to treat them that way. Anyway, I have appropriated from Mrs. Dusty this grow tent since she hasn't used it in quite some time. I have two new heat mats and trays to use for humidity. I have a couple questions for you tent users. First, with two trays containing water and rocks on top of heat mats, do you think the humidity will be raised significantly? And second, would the evaporation of said water create enough air movement, or should I employ a fan? All of your learned opinions are valuable to me, so feel free to let the comments fly! I have found the lighting I will use, but have yet to order it. This will house two phal hybrids, four large dendrobiums, and, if I can make it work, a hospitalized vanda in a vase. I have a place for a few mounted minis, also.

[Orchidtinkerer]

a fan won't hurt and I find it helps raise humidity as it picks up water from the trays and disperses it more - that is actually the main reason I use fans.

Get a usb powered one on a usb extension lead, no wiring needed like that - all very cheap on ebay. It doesn't need to be very strong.

a usb fan generally uses about 0.2amps at 5 volt so 1 watt of power. You don't want it to be much stronger, you can get small oscillating fans rated at 15 watts but they will be too strong.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Thanks for that. I have a small muffin fan, but it puts out enough flow for a small room. I will look into that.

[WaterWitchin]

Get an inexpensive thermometer with humidity. Read this recent thread... Temperature and humidity meter

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Have one, thanks.

[My Green Pets]

I second the fan suggestion. I grow in a tent, but it is fully enclosed, so things are a little different. It's not airtight though, and everything dries out pretty crispy dry in two days.

I'm concerned that my plants might be more susceptible to fungus in the tent conditions but for the most part things have gone well. Your phals and dens should be just fine.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Ordered the fan today. We shall see how long shipping takes.

[Dollythehun]

I have one of those tents. Like MGP says, it's not air tight, you could easily pull fresh air up from the bottom.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I have one of those tents. Like MGP says, it's not air tight, you could easily pull fresh air up from the bottom.

I only wish I could vent the top. It would make air movement easier. I don't want to modify the plastic.

[Orchid Whisperer]

With or without water in the pebble trays, your humidity will increase substantially because the plants will transpire water, and the tent will retain it to some degree. The fan(s) will move air (good), but probably are not needed to move humidity around, plants will do that on their own.

Heat rising from the heat mat could potentially move a little air due to convection, but minimal compared to what fans can do.