Humidity Question

[Brittany]

Where I live on the east side of Washington state, the humidity is running from 60% to 90%. Should I do away with the wet gravel under the pots and just set them on the gravel?

Charlie

[mayres]

I looked at my humidity meter last night and noticed 83% - has been raining "cats and dogs" for days here! I never stop using my gravel trays regardless of the time of year - as long as you have good air movement any extra humidity shouldn't hurt. Many people believe the amount of good from the trays is marginal at best - my tests have shown an increase of about 10% at times of the year. My thinking is I don't think it can hurt and it just MIGHT provide some (even minimal) benefit - so I use them.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Brittany

Where I live on the east side of Washington state, the humidity is running from 60% to 90%. Should I do away with the wet gravel under the pots and just set them on the gravel?

Charlie, it depends on what kinds of orchids you have. Many of the most commonly grown in-home orchids will do well with 60-80%. What kind have you got?

[pikevi]

While we are on this subject; Would high humidity be a definite 'NO-NO' for any orchid? If so which Genera do they belong to?

Thanks.

[jbigio]

As long as the ari movment is good you should be fine Temp has a lot to do with the way Orchids react to the humdity levels as well

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pikevi

While we are on this subject; Would high humidity be a definite 'NO-NO' for any orchid? If so which Genera do they belong to?

Some native Aussie Cymbids need super dry for most of the autumn, wnter, spring. There are some that receive seasonal drryness but I don't know any that want year-round dryness.

[pikevi]

Thanks kmarch.

Cyms. generally must be exceptional. I recently ( a week ago) saw a Cym. out of its pot and with a few totally dry barks clinging on to the roots but it had two outwardly healthy spikes.

I 're-potted' it with the scooped-up media that was strewn around . My wife was very upset that I did it because she thinks that I may get into trouble with the garden centre.

Since their objective is to make a profit I would have thought they will take good care of these expensive plants ($40-70CAD), than the other cheaper ones ($2-4CAD)