I cannot argue with your evidence, but I stand by my general comment. There
are too many factors involved - air flow from fans, heaters, etc., how well
sealed the room is, and those inconsequential laws of nature.
Nature always wants an equilibrium, i.e., no gradients. A single source of
evaporation will raise the humidity in the immediate area, but those
airborne water molecules will quickly disperse into the entire room, and if
that room is not sealed off from the rest of the house, into that full
volume as well - and beyond. The simple fact that household humidity is low
in the winter proves that the moisture emanating from showers, sinks,
dishwashers, washing machines, our own perspiration and exhaling, etc., is
diffusing out into the dry environment outdoors.
If the %RH near your plants is 10%-15% higher than the surrounding room, I'd
speculate that you don't have sufficient air movement.
You might find this of interest:
http://forum.theorchidsource.com/cgi...=000089#000005
--
Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids -
www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"Peter Aitken" wrote in message
m...
"Ray" wrote in message
...
1) I sell beige plastic nursery trays that can be used that way. (I use
them to catch drips or as carrying trays.)
2) I don't think "humidity trays" are of any real benefit.
If you're a home grower with humidity levels too low, they seem to be a
good
idea. Unfortunately, nature is working against the idea, as that one
foot
by two foot try is trying to humidify your whole house. Add the air
movement you should have in the grow room, and you're dispersing the
moisture even faster. In reality, your plants do not really see a
significant increase in even the local humidity.
Seal that room off totally from the rest of the house, block all central
heating vents, and set up a lot of trays and it's a different matter.
--
I'll have to disagree with you - I used a portable hygrometer to measure
humidity above my trays and it is regularly 10-15% higher than the rest of
the room. Whether this is really a great benefit to the plants I can't
say,
but it is a real effect. I do not have the option of sealing the room as
you
describe - my goal is to have my orchids a part of our everyday living
space.
--
Peter Aitken
Remove the crap from my email address before using.