When I first built my greenhouse we had a rainy spell with humidity in the 95% + and 90 deg + during the days. At night we dropping into the 70 deg and and when I went out into the greenhouse I found water dripping off all surfaces. I quickly started buying fans. I use the cheap throw away ones from Target and Kmart. They cost less and give me two plus years of service, before I have to replace them. The expensive one I got several years ago only gave me three years of service and it cost about four times the cheap fan. My limited math and business skill told me the cheap fans were a better deal.
I still have problems if I do not keep my plant spread a little bit. One set of leaves laying on another can lead to rot problems or leaf spotting. I currently have seven fans in my 14 by 32 foot greenhouse moving air all the time in all circular pattern around the greenhouse, four are above the plants, two below, and one blowing from bottom to top. The fans below the bench level are in wood and plastic boxes to protect them from water when I am spraying it around as I water the plants.
At 8:46 PM +0000 7/13/04, K Barrett wrote:
Tom, do you have lots of fans going to keep leaves from spotting? For the 'corn growing' conditions of 95% humidity?
K Barrett N Calif, USA
I would disagree with the article in Orchids, I find that in the midwest that humidity is much more important than temperature. I grow my Sophronitis under intermediate to warm conditions with about 3000 foot candles and as much humidity as possible. I have even grown it warm under lights with only about 300 foot candles but lots of humity and it was quite happy growing and blooming, of course it grew slowly in my greenhouse with more light it is much happier growing and blooming. After growing plants under lights for years I did not think light was that much of a factor, and I find that most of my orchids grow better under much higher light than is often recommended. The main factor for many of them is humidity. I can not provide enough humidity except during July and August, what we call corn growing weather. It is a comfortable 86 with 70% humidity and with my misting system it is probably closer to 95% humidity in my greenhouse. In the winter I am happy when I can keep it above 70% humidity.
--Tom
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Toolbar provides one-click access to Hotmail from any Web page FREE download! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
-- --Tom /---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Tom Hillson Computer Services Manager |(515) 294-1543 College of Agriculture | Iowa State University ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |"The only thing I have too much of is too little time"
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
