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Home humidifiers
Xref: news7 rec.gardens.orchids:40307
Hello members, Does anyone have any recommendations of humidifiers for the home orchid grower. I currently run an evaporative type unit but am only able to achieve 30% relative humidity. Any ideas? Thanks. Karl |
Home humidifiers
Karl, I'm using a Hankscraft cold humidifier, the type you use for babies.
Since I only have the one plant stand, I have it right next to it. Plastic over the door, and I maintain 60%-80% humidity, depending on where on the timer the cycle is. Only draw back is having to fill it 3x a day.... -- Hugs, Molli Happy 19103 (I am NOT Y2K compatible) "Jbkkhawk" wrote in message ... Hello members, Does anyone have any recommendations of humidifiers for the home orchid grower. I currently run an evaporative type unit but am only able to achieve 30% relative humidity. Any ideas? Thanks. Karl |
Home humidifiers
Karl,
For many years I grew houseplants in the living space all winter without a humidifier. By February the spidermites and dry leaves had devastated the plants. The static electricity was unbearable. When replacing the forced air gas furnace I added a humidifier. It brings the house to about a 30-40% relative humidity. It's great for my health (no dry skin, dry sinuses, etc) and the plants have responded over the years. I seldom have mite problems. When I grew orchids in the basement I would use washing machine trays filled with small gravel as the tray under the plants. I usually kept water in the trays. That helped to elevate the humidity in the basement and ultimately in the entire house. This year I have a greenhouse which I keep at about 80% humidity that feels great on a cold winter day. I've noticed that the main house seems drier this year than in past years. I believe the trays were helping keep the entire house more humid. Since you say little about your environment I can only assume you are growing under lights or near windows. I recommend the pebble trays with water. Fans also help to move the air and enable the drier air to pick up some of the moisture. Air movement also aids the plants in other ways, too. If you live in an older home with hot water radiators you can add humidity by trays of water on top of the radiator. I don't think the humidifier alone is sufficient to do what you need. Even in the greenhouse I find I have to wet the floor on dry days to keep the winter air moist. Good growing, Gene "Jbkkhawk" wrote in message ... Hello members, Does anyone have any recommendations of humidifiers for the home orchid grower. I currently run an evaporative type unit but am only able to achieve 30% relative humidity. Any ideas? Thanks. Karl |
Home humidifiers
Sue is right. You need an enclosed space to give the humidifier a
chance at jacking up the humidity. OR, the pebble trays with water are a easy way to go . OR, Lowes sells a drum type that fits into your blower unit for the whole house. It hooks into your water line and the airflow of the blower turns the drum. OR, Go to your near by Salvation Army store or pawn shop and look around I have bought many cold and warm working units for 8 to 10 bucks. Upstairs I have a 20'x15' glassed in porch and run a non vented natural gas heater and set a pan of water on top of it to radiate into the room. It uses very small amount from humidifier in there to reach about 60%. Downstairs I have a PVC frame covered in greenhouse plastic (12'x15') heated by electric heater and the heat from the ballists and lamps (in summer the ballists sit outside the room and fans vent the lamp heat outside) This room requires a humidifier running 24/7. Still for 8 bucks and 1and a half gallons of water a day It is able to stay at 75%. There are a lot of ways, just depends on your budget, the amount of room, the amount of plants, the temperture, and the space involved. AIN'T GROWIN GRAND! JRT On 23 Jan 2003 18:25:27 GMT, (Jbkkhawk) wrote: Hello members, Does anyone have any recommendations of humidifiers for the home orchid grower. I currently run an evaporative type unit but am only able to achieve 30% relative humidity. Any ideas? Thanks. Karl |
Home humidifiers
I use a Bemis Model 826-X00 (the X denotes color). My place is only
~1k sqft. I can normally keep it at ~50%RH and even in the 40%sRH when it's 10 to 20 below outside with all my double-pane windows icing up. It's rated at 8 gal/day and holds about 5 gals. It normally uses about 3 gal/day but when it's really cold it can use 6 to 7 gal/day. There are larger models available rated at 11 gal/day. We have exceptionally good water here so I only need to change out the filter every couple of years or so. It sits in one corner of my livingroom and RH is monitored at the other end of the room. I don't check the other rooms but assume they follow pretty close, though probably a bit drier. I do not want higher RH because of the potential for damage to the building interior. My plants do very well under these conditions although leaves tend to be a bit leathery. Other local enthusiasts that grow in GHs are amazed at my results at such low humidity. Adult orchids are very adaptable and seem to get used to these conditions. Also, picking your plants and potting/mounting methods makes a difference. Good luck with yours. S V (Jbkkhawk) wrote in message ... Hello members, Does anyone have any recommendations of humidifiers for the home orchid grower. I currently run an evaporative type unit but am only able to achieve 30% relative humidity. Any ideas? Thanks. Karl |
Home humidifiers
Jbkkhawk wrote:
Hello members, Does anyone have any recommendations of humidifiers for the home orchid grower. I currently run an evaporative type unit but am only able to achieve 30% relative humidity. Any ideas? Thanks. Karl I have a Lasko Natural Cascade in a 10 by 12 room that can get the humidity up to decent amounts, if it does not get too cold outside (yesterday it was -7 F and I had some problems at first until I could get the room warmed up enough - it is a sun room to boot). Karen |
Home humidifiers
Thank you all for your input! I grow my plants under lights (4ft. flourescent)
at a shaded western window in the colder months. They go outside under shade cloth in the warmer months. I've tried closing the door to the room where the plants are located and it's helping a bit already. I may try a heavier duty humidifier as well. Thanks again, and good growing to all. Karl |
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