- - CONTROLLING
HUMIDITY - -
Raising humidity
- In a greenhouse, you can wet down the walks and floors to increase
the humidity.
- In your home, a humidity tray works very well. A humidity tray is
any kind of shallow container that will hold water. Just add some
pebbles and water. Place the orchid above the tray making sure the pot
does not touch the gravel. You can also increase the water evaporation
from the tray by adding a heating cable (sold for germination of seeds)
under the gravel. For more information about humidity trays, please read
my Frequently Asked
Questions page.
- Group your plants together as much as you can, but not so close that
it prevents free air movement around each plant. The grouped plants will
assist each other in forming their own beneficial micro-climate cause by
their own evaporation.
- Humidifiers work very well. There are many types and many prices.
You will have to see what your budget can afford and then check out the
various types available in your area. Before investing in a humidifier,
however, you should first invest in a hygrometer to see if you really
need one.
- If possible, grow your orchids in the kitchen by the sink, in the
bathroom, the wash room, or anywhere hot water is used. The evaporation
of the water adds moisture to the air.
- If the air is extra dry, you can enclose the orchid in a plastic
"tent". The plastic cover acts like a miniature greenhouse. Don't make
your enclosure air tight, and do not expose your orchid to direct sun
light when it is enclosed in a tent.
- Make sure your furnace and air conditioning units are not blowing
hot or cold air directly on your orchids.
- Misting does little for raising the humidity. The water in the air
quickly evaporates. If you insist on misting be sure and do it early in
the day so that any moisture on the plants leaves will be dry by
evening.
Lowering Humidity
Excessive humidity is rarely a problem for orchids grown
in the home. High humidity is usually more prominent in a greenhouse
because of the greenhouse's sealed environment. This is especially true if
you live in an area where the climate is damp or in and area where winters
are dull and cloudy most of the time.
A sign of excessive humidity or damp stagnant air is the formation
of brown water spots on the leaves, small pink or brown spots on the
blooms, and the flower sheaths turning black (in extreme cases).
To correct the problem, you need to increase the air movement with
fans to dry out the area. Vent the area to the outside if the humidity
outside is lower than inside. Be careful not to introduce hot or cold
drafts on your orchids while venting. Decrease watering if possible and
DON'T mist.
|
