Misting air roots

[Brittany]

Peoples

Reading in one post member stated that she misted her air roots. We are now having temps in the high 80`s and 90`s, with day time humidy of teens and nights 50ths.

I looked at my air roots, actualy my plants air roots and find a lot of dryed roots. Should I be misting my plants air roots when we are having these very low humidity days.

Thanks

Charlie

[robb]

misting isn't a bad idea, but it is no substitute for proper watering, as i found out the hard way. when i first got my phals, i misted them more often than watered, and have lost several leaves (all wrinkled and shriveled looking) due to dehydration. the air roots can't really get water any other way than misting, though i read here also, if the roots are not misted, they will eventually dry up and die off (natural response to being useless to the plant).

[arleneg]

Charlie,

I live in a rather dry environment, too. If your orchids are outside, I would water them thoroughly in the morning, every other day. If you have a sprinkler system for your yard, I suggest placing your orchids near them. This way, it will increase the humidity level around the orchids.

If your orchids are indoors, place them on humidity trays (tray/saucer with small pebbles) and make sure you have a small amount of water (not touching the pot bottom) in it. Watering your orchids every other day or two will help, too. Mist the air roots every day if you want, but not necessary.

What type of orchids do you have?

[Brittany]

Arlene

The types of orchids that I have are listed in my misting plants thread.


charlie

[arleneg]

Charlie,

Ok. I read your "misting plants" thread. Are the roots on your Phals or Vandas wrinkled? I would still suggest placing both Phals and Vandas on humidity trays. Mist Phals if you want. However, Vandas like lots of water. That said, water them thoroughly in the morning and mist exposed/aerial roots in morning and afternoon.