For several years we've been using plastic humidity trays to help keep
the humidity up around our plants and also to protect the shelves they
sit on from water drainage. For most of this time we filled the trays
with broken sea shells. This keeps the pot up out of the water so the
water in the tray doesn't wick up into the pot. The problem we're
having is that the shells get all messy with soil, dirt and even algae
and as you can imagine the shells are really hard to effectively clean.
When using a pot with no feet the pot does sometimes sit down low enough
in the shells to wick water, and pots with feet usually have their feet
hidden because they sink into the shells.

We've tried gravel, Turface and a number of other things but don't do
any better.

My question is can anyone think of something better we can use. I'd
like it to sit high enough that the pot cannot wick water into the
drainage hole. I'd like it to show off the feet on pots that have them.
I'd like it to be as invisible as possible. I'd like it to be cheap and
easy to find or buy. It needs to be water proof and uniform/level
enough to hold small or large pots (with and without feet) and most of
all I'd like it to be easy to clean. Wood strips? Masonry pieces?
Furniture blocks?

Any ideas?
wmcorcor

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I've had great success with small squares of stain glass scrap that my
mother-in-law provides. She does stain glass work, and doesn't mind making
small squares, even grinds/polishs the edges so they are not sharp. They
are uniform in thickness, can be color coordinated, and are stackable to
change the pot to the desired height. Non water absorbing (or course), adds
no chemicals to the water, never rots. I use these for small pots normally,
but perhaps this could be adapted to larger pots as well? I would think
using silicon cement to "build up" pads or platforms for larger pots in
large trays may be a good option. Good Luck!

Sam Crowell
Klamath Falls, Oregon

My question is can anyone think of something better we can use. I'd
like it to sit high enough that the pot cannot wick water into the
drainage hole. I'd like it to show off the feet on pots that have them.
I'd like it to be as invisible as possible. I'd like it to be cheap and
easy to find or buy. It needs to be water proof and uniform/level
enough to hold small or large pots (with and without feet) and most of
all I'd like it to be easy to clean. Wood strips? Masonry pieces?
Furniture blocks?

Any ideas?

__________________________________________________ _______________
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download! http://toolbar.msn.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/

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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Hi Bill,
You will probably get a slew of responses to this question. They will all
say that humidity trays are useless. They simply do not increase the
humidity to any substantial degree - and they produce a mess of disease
bearing problems as well. If you want to increase humidity, make a plastic
tent over your plants, making sure to vent the tent regularly. Dump the
shells -
you'll be much happier if you do.
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Corcoran. Bil"
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 5:03 PM
Subject: [IBC] Humidity Tray Medium



Any ideas?

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Thanks Marty:

I guess I should have specified that the main reason we use them is to
keep the water that drains out from ruining our shelves and not so much
for humidity. Obviously both are more important on our indoor plants
but we do like the protection they offer outside also.



== -----Original Message-----
== From: marty haber ]
== Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 5:39 PM
== To: Corcoran. Bil;
== Subject: [IBC] Humidity Tray Medium
==
== Hi Bill,
== You will probably get a slew of responses to this question. They
will
== all
== say that humidity trays are useless

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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Marbles.

When they get mossy, put them in an old sock, tie a knot and put
in washing machine.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.


For several years we've been using plastic humidity trays to
help keep
the humidity up around our plants and also to protect the
shelves they
sit on from water drainage. For most of this time we filled
the trays
with broken sea shells. This keeps the pot up out of the water
so the
water in the tray doesn't wick up into the pot. The problem
we're
having is that the shells get all messy with soil, dirt and
even algae
and as you can imagine the shells are really hard to
effectively clean.
When using a pot with no feet the pot does sometimes sit down
low enough
in the shells to wick water, and pots with feet usually have
their feet
hidden because they sink into the shells.

We've tried gravel, Turface and a number of other things but
don't do
any better.

My question is can anyone think of something better we can use.
I'd
like it to sit high enough that the pot cannot wick water into
the
drainage hole. I'd like it to show off the feet on pots that
have them.
I'd like it to be as invisible as possible. I'd like it to be
cheap and
easy to find or buy. It needs to be water proof and
uniform/level
enough to hold small or large pots (with and without feet) and
most of
all I'd like it to be easy to clean. Wood strips? Masonry
pieces?
Furniture blocks?
Any ideas?
wmcorcor


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***************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++

************************************************** ***************
***************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ:
http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail
+++++


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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 4/24/2004 5:04:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:

My question is can anyone think of something better we can use.

Have you ever been to a hotel for a conference and have them put water
on the tables? They always sit the pitcher of water on a hexagonal or round
tray that contains a hard plastic grid. This allows the condensation from the
cool pitcher to run off without having the pitcher sit in water.

The plastic grid is a separate piece. Now I know that the plastic
pieces are probably the wrong size for you humidity trays. But if you could find
a similar plastic grid you would have a solution.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast
BSF Annual Convention May 28 - 31, 2004 Radisson Hotel, Cape Canaveral,
Florida
Sponsored by The Bonsai Society of Brevard and the Treasure Coast Bonsai
Society
http://www.bonsaisocietyofbrevard.org/2004/2004.html

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All interesting ideas so far. I was looking for glass or better yet
some sort of thick unglazed tile but everything I find is usually too
think to get the pot up out of the water and the thought of trying to
glue together pieces to get the right height for every pot was a little
daunting. I'll check out the home center next week to see if there is
some sort of cheap terra cotta tile that may be thick enough.



Other ideas



_____

From: ]
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 5:53 PM
To: Corcoran. Bil;
Subject: [IBC] Humidity Tray Medium



In a message dated 4/24/2004 5:04:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:




My question is can anyone think of something better we can use.



Have you ever been to a hotel for a conference and have them put
water on the tables? They always sit the pitcher of water on a
hexagonal or round tray that contains a hard plastic grid


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++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Bil: Ceramic supply vendors (also Hobby Lobby or Michael's) carry little
ceramic tripod pieces which are used to elevate pieces being fired in the
kiln. They keep the glaze from the potter from welding the piece to the
kiln bricks. Just two or three per pot should do.
They should have no problem if you put them in your dishwasher for
autoclaving the algae off every once in a while.
Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Corcoran. Bil
For several years we've been using plastic humidity trays to help keep
the humidity up around our plants and also to protect the shelves they
sit on from water drainage. For most of this time we filled the trays
with broken sea shells. This keeps the pot up out of the water so the
water in the tray doesn't wick up into the pot. The problem we're
having is that the shells get all messy with soil, dirt and even algae
and as you can imagine the shells are really hard to effectively clean.
When using a pot with no feet the pot does sometimes sit down low enough
in the shells to wick water, and pots with feet usually have their feet
hidden because they sink into the shells.

We've tried gravel, Turface and a number of other things but don't do
any better.

My question is can anyone think of something better we can use. I'd
like it to sit high enough that the pot cannot wick water into the
drainage hole. I'd like it to show off the feet on pots that have them.
I'd like it to be as invisible as possible. I'd like it to be cheap and
easy to find or buy. It needs to be water proof and uniform/level
enough to hold small or large pots (with and without feet) and most of
all I'd like it to be easy to clean. Wood strips? Masonry pieces?
Furniture blocks?
Any ideas?
wmcorcor

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++