Relative Humidity

[orchid-man]

I was talking to another orchid enthusiast this afternoon and we got talking about the humidity within our growing environments. This conversation came about as he had come around to my place to take some photos for me of Cyrtochilum edwardii X Baptistonia echinata(photos to come). Before he took the photos I showed him my new shade house/green house, and he said ‘hell its humid in here’. My reply was it’s 90% and the temperature is 25 degrees C = ~ 76degrees F and I don’t let it drop below 80% and I only have to water once per week when I fertilize. His reply was that he was working on 45 -65% humidity. I pointed out the Ondidium Sharry Baby’s in spike, no spotting on the leaves the Encyclia cochleata’s in flower (2 open on each spike)(mounted with roots everywhere)the Encyclia Ciliare in a hanging basket with 75mm long green aerial roots. To say he was gob smacked is an understatement .

My question is What is The IDEAL humidity level to grow a mixed collection including Cats, Brassia, Oncids, Zygo’s and Dendrobs?

[orchid-man]

As promised here the pick that was taken

[Brutal_Dreamer]

For our collection, we grow between 40 and 70% so the closest choice for me was 50%-65%. This seems to be our humidity range. It varies between summer and winter months.

Cheers,
BD

[clintdawley]

50-65% is fine...unless you grow a lot of Masdies or Dracs. Phals, Catts, Dends and Oncids will be fine in this range.

[hcubed]

I vote 50-65% too, but I don't have anything very specialized. Then again, outside is more humid, so I tend to get the higher side of this or over in the summer I think.

[Gin]

I voted 50% to 60% some times a little higher . Gin

[Tmai]

I don't feel qualified to vote because as a novice I don't know what the ideal humidity should be. But I choose 65% - 75% because that's what I have here in the spring/summer/fall months growing outside (northwest FL), though much of the summer is above that. In the winter, with the exception of very cold weather (20F), I grow in the garage (big south window) where the humidity stays 60-75. When temps get in the 20s outdoors, I bring my 70 plants into the Florida room(north facing 14 x 14, big windows, skylight). There the humidity stays above 50% even when the outside humidity is very low. I finally figured out that was thanks to the 20 gallon aquarium in the room! The aquarium does a better job than a humidifier, plus we get to enjoy the fish too.

Tami

[jrod]

Mine's 50-60%. B., Phal., Brs., Onc. seem to have no trouble, aerial roots everywhere. Vandas have pretty good aerial roots, but I get brown tips once in a while. I think they're fine once they really settle in.

[orchid-man]

It looks like I might have to consider trying to reduce this high humidity,but things are growing well and with it this high I dont have to worry so much about the temperature highs.

[pavel]

It looks like I might have to consider trying to reduce this high humidity, ....

Why? If things are growing well for you, why tinker with it?