Humidity trays on how to set it up and what i have
 

People say that you should put your Orchids on a humidity tray. i am just getting into Orchids and do not want to spend a lot of money just yet on them. i bought some cookie sheets that are the throw away type and the pea gravel b/c i have heard that the pea gravel is good to use. Do I just put the plants on the gravel and let them sit or do i need to drain the water out daily. My orchids are in a plastic pot and they have a clay pot i can sit them in but dont think it would be a good idea to leave them in the clay pot b/c of to much water. Any suggestions on how to set this up.

Thanks a bunch

Hi Pauldog,

Unfortunately, while there are still people who recommend using humidity trays, they are basically useless in terms of raising humidity around plants.

Spritzing is even worse in that it can cause damage.

I have a collection of about 100 plants that I grow under lights and in windowsills and I pay no attention at all to what the humidity is and my Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Paphs, Phrags, and Dendrobiums grow and bloom just fine. I stay away from hard to grow species and types that are known to need high humidity.

Carl

Hi,

I agree with Carl. For the most part they seem to adapt to a wide range of humidity levels especially if all other needs are being met.

Don't you live in an orchid friendly area anyway?
What does your humidity usually run?

Maureen

I realy dont believe in humidity trays especially if you live in the florida area, like me in Jamaica I would never use them, just know what kind/type orchids you have in your collection and what medium used to pot them then you work your way from there. I usually water my dendrobiums & Cattleyas once a week & fretilize once a month, Phalaenopsis twice a week try not to let it dry out and my sun, shade & mokara everyday & fertilize twice weekly. I have the dens, phals & cattleyas on my patio and thew receive some amount of morning sun and they all are thriving.

so if i dont use the trays do you water from above or do you mist them. i have only been into orchids for about 7mths now so still learning alot

Paul, what kind of of orchids do you have? I am kinda new to orchids too
I dont mist mine at all or water from above, I am afraid of the water getting down into the crown of the plant and causing it to rot. I normally water my dendrobiums & cattelyas by putting them under the tap or the hose and just wetting the roots/potting medium, I normally run the water on them for about 2 mins not getting the flower or the leaves wet. Then I let the water run fully out of the pots before placing them back into their location. I do this once a week. Or you can place the plant in a bucket of water and let it sit there for about 5 mins, not too much water to touch the leaves.
I hope this helps.

I hope a senior member can shed some light on how to water correctly and the watering frequency.

The best way to water orchids is to water them from above, taking care not to get water on the leaves or flowers. Water early in the day so that the plants can dry should there be some splash onto the leaves.

It is a bad idea to drench the plants by sitting them in a container of water because that is a sure way to pass disease from one plant to another.

Millions of orchids are watered from above every day so don't worry.

Carl

Thanks Carl

to what type of orchids i have i am not sure. the sign says they are phals and one says it is a vanda. on one of the phals i have a yellow leaf cumming on. do i need to go ahead and cut it off or let it fall off on its own.
thanks a lot to all who have replied