In article , Ray
wrote:

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.


The original poster might want to think about adopting the advice in
your last statement. In my case, humidity trays have been a GREAT help.


My growing space (about 10 x 22 feet) is a sunroom that is connected
to but separate from the rest of the house. (It was an exterior room
built over the attached garage). Entry is through the living room via
by a tight-fitting wood-framed glass door. An ancient hot-water
radiator (which is always spewing a bit of steam) is connected to the
central heating system but is independently controlled, and it heats
in the room in the winter. However, the artificial lights (1 overhead
400-watt MH and 8 flourescent 4-foot tubes under the shelves), which go
on at 3 AM, usually keep the room pretty toasty. Also, the room is on
the other side of the living room fireplace.

In the room I have 16 large humidity trays and 2 of the extra-large 29"
x 13" trays. It's not a problem to maintain 60-70% humidity EXCEPT in
the dead of winter when the temperature drops to below freezing, and
then I plug in a small humidifier. (I have three fans running 24/7.)
All of the windows in the room were replaced about the time I
discovered orchids and line the east, south, and west walls. The
orchids are on tables in front of the windows; below the windows they
are growing under lights. In winter, blinds come down at night to
provide an air barrier to prevent a chill coming off the glass.

This is certainly not as satisfying as having a greenhouse, but it's
pretty civilized--I enjoy communing with the orchids over my first cup
of coffee. The room was fairly easy to set up. The single most
expensive thing was calling in an electrician to do the additional
wiring and add ciruits.