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11-15-2007, 03:11 PM
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| Tara: I took a tip from one of our forum members and made some inexpensive humidity trays from black nursery trays covered with a piece of florescent light defuser grate, cut to fit. You can get a 2' x 4' piece at Home Depot for about $14 and you'll get three pieces to fit the trays. The solid black trays are about $1.50 each. They may be hard to find this time of year. I just keep them filled with water, no rocks - makes them too heavy. The plastic can be easily cleaned out with very little mess. There are several threads on the forum regarding humidity trays, but I can't seem to get the search button to find them. Hopefully, someone else can post the threads. Good luck!      |
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11-15-2007, 03:33 PM
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| The word "cheap" may be the challenge? Actually I purchase 6X30 inch trays from a garden shop that are made as saucers for long window boxes. I put a layer of pea gravel in the bottoms and cover just short of the top with water. The reason it is good to use rocks (or other objects) in the trays is that it provides solid surface area for the water to be "pulled" out of the body of water via surface tension and evaporate - creating more humidity around your plants than a body of water alone. At least that is my theory.  |
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11-15-2007, 03:42 PM
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| You're right - the pea gravel is great and creates a better environment. I use the gravel in smaller saucers in various locations. Since I must clean the trays out in the kitchen sink, I found that my disposal unit does not like gravel.  That's why I only use plain water in the larger trays. A fan nearby also helps. |
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11-15-2007, 03:44 PM
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| Rocks also increase the amount of surface space, providing more surface area that is covered with water.
__________________ "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson |
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11-15-2007, 09:22 PM
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| I have the same type of shelf system that Sharyn has, but I have attached my trays below the shelf. I went to the local hydroponic store to get seedling trays for about $1 each. Went to Lowe's and bought zip ties ($2) and a square wooden dowel rod ($2). I used my dremmel to drill holes around the top of the seedling tray and then used the zip ties to attach it to the bottom of the shelf. I use the dowel rod as middle support because the trays are cheap and weak. Instead of rocks, I use an ultrasonic fogger ($25 ea) that is set on a timer ($15) to go for 20 minutes every 2 hours during the day. I do not run it at night in fear of fungus. This has really helped with the humidity. The natural humidity here is usually between 0 - 25%. I can usually maintain 45-60% humidity with the tray and fogger. I have this set up on both shelves that I have in use. Just another method Jay Last edited by jay; 11-15-2007 at 09:23 PM. Reason: added prices |
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11-19-2007, 03:25 PM
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| jay: I like your idea with the fogger. I haven't been able to find reasonable foggers like you mentioned. While looking at your shelving, I realized that I have the same type of shelves and can turn my shelves upside down and get a little more "head clearance." I'm sure I can get at least another inch+ on each shelf. Well...........that's another day project!  |
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11-19-2007, 09:18 PM
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| Sharyn, Here is a link to the place that I ordered my foggers. The one I am using in the tray is the low water level fogger which is the third one down. jay |
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11-20-2007, 07:15 AM
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11-20-2007, 09:00 AM
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| Jay: Thanks for the link. Excellent! Sandra: They're easy to reassemble. Use a rubber mallet to disassemble each shelf. Otherwise, place a terry towel over the corners and tap with a hammer - avoids chipping and denting.  |
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11-20-2007, 10:18 AM
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I'll have the coffee and cake ready! P.S. I just couldn't solve it until you said it! Thanks again. |
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11-20-2007, 11:23 AM
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| Sandra: I just found out the hard way that's it's not going to work. The plastic shelf support brackets are tapered and there doesn't seem to be a way to reverse the shelves. I've already tried reversing the legs and also the brackets but no go. Well, I guess we can always turn the whole unit upside down.  |
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11-20-2007, 11:53 AM
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| There is a company called IGS (indoor Gardening Supplies) that sells very durable trays. Not the flimsy ones you get at the local big box stores. I have been using them for years and they have not cracked or broken. I put pebbles in the bottom and put them on racks for my orchids when I bring them in for the winter. They may cost a bit more but they last a LONG time. Indoor Gardening Supplies. Lots of neat lights and stands at the site also. |
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11-20-2007, 10:55 PM
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 If not, I'll take a pic. Either way, if the unit is stacked or not, the weight would be distributed the same to give balance to it. And I'm not sure but I think the bottom supports come out and can be exchanged with the finishing pieces on the other end, if you don't have yours stacked. You did it again Sharyn, I couldn't see it until you said it! You rock! P.S. Soooo, did you turn yours upside down? |
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11-20-2007, 11:43 PM
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| Turning the unit upsidedown doesn't solve the problem of the support brackets beign tapered. the large end of the taper will be at the top and the narrow end on the bottom. Any weight placed on the shelf will cause it to come loose and fall down.
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11-21-2007, 06:52 AM
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| Sandra: My apologies for my "sick" sense of humor in turning the carts upside down. I realized quickly the other day that the tapered brackets would not allow any support for the shelves, so I abandoned the project. I should have posted this sooner, so I hope that you saw Kevin's post. However, I did pick up some good tips from Jay & Hummer for a fogger unit and some strong trays. Thanks for the links. |
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11-21-2007, 07:32 AM
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I didn't even think about the weight if placed on the shelves if reversed. In fact, I haven't been thinking much lately about anything except cooking Thanksgiving dinner.Yes, the other tips here are great, and so was yours....well, at least it sounded great! LOL |
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11-28-2007, 10:18 AM
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| I run a cool air humidifier 24/7 but it does not raise the humidity as much as I would like. I have a shelving unit right above the heating vent with two phalaenopsis plants on it behind a window and window seat, where everything else grows. I was wondering if it would help to put humidity trays under these phals and that the heat from the vent might help to intersperse the moisture from under the phals to the rest of the collection as well. |
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12-02-2007, 03:12 PM
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The heat vent is what's causing your humidity to stay low. It's dissipating the moisture. I use an "Air o Mist" model and it raises my humidity quite well. 20% or more!
__________________ You can't always write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say, so sometimes you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream. -Frank Zappa |
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