|
Tom Hillson inquired whether anybody is using supplemental CO2 to promote the development of orchids (OGD Vol. 8, Issue 382, Fri. Nov. 10, 2006). The answer is, YES I do, and with happy success too, for my orchid collection that ranges from 1500-2000 plants growing in the basement of my home. The key factor in determining the need for such a supplement is whether the orchids are growing in a closed environment. Mine are. They are closed off from the outside air. A separate outdoor air conditioner is connected to the four rooms, circulates the air and is controlled via three thermostats to provide three different environments: Cool, Intermediate, and Warm. Heating is provided entirely by the lighting systems, even in the warm room which is set for almost 85°F during daytime hours. But having so many orchids in a closed environment is like having many too people in an unventilated room. They would eventually run out of oxygen and begin to suffocate. With plants it is the opposite. They give off oxygen during the day, and consume the vital CO2 required for photosynthesis to make sugars which are the precursors of all organic compounds that make up the body of the plant. It makes a lot of sense, as students of basic botany/biology will soon realize to their satisfaction. How do I provide the supplemental CO2 to the plants? There are several methods, including waste products from burning wood, leaves, paper, gas, etc., but I use pieces of dry ice – the solid form of CO2. I used to add chunks of dry ice sporadically — once every two to three months, but then about 8 months ago I changed the schedule and started adding dry ice pieces once a week. I placed a piece of it right in front of one of the fans in each room so that as the dry ice slowly sublimed (underwent a change of state from solid to gas), the fan then blew it across the room and mixed it with the other gases in the air. The net result was to elevate the CO2 level in each room of the facility. It took about 12 hours or more for the blocks of dry ice to sublime completely. The reward three months later was astonishing. Orchids that had not bloomed for three years were putting out buds and then flowered. Those that had bloomed more recently started blooming again. Foliage became lush and greener than before. The overall health and well being of the collection was something worth seeing. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Just as people deprived of oxygen can breath freely again and even saved from drowning when a tank of O2 is offered, the situation is comparable with CO2 supplementation of orchid plants that have been living under a deficiency of it. For the supplemental CO2 to benefit the orchids, four factors must come together: 1. Closed environment 2. Large number of plants for the space included 3. Proper frequency of application of the CO2 (Determined by trial and error) 4. Proper amount of CO2 applied each time (Also determined by trial and error) For Tom Hillson and others, I hope your experience is half as successful as mine has been. Good luck with whatever method you choose. All my best regards. Dr. Charles E. Bracker [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
