How to Make a Humidity Tray for Orchids With Bark

Orchids belong to the largest family of flowering plants in the world, the Orchidaceae, with more than 30,000 known species and new hybrids popping up every year. Orchids might have a reputation of being difficult to grow, but this is not necessarily the case. As long as you give them bright, indirect light, bark as a growing medium, a bit of fertilizer and sufficient humidity, you should have success in your orchid growing endeavors. A simple humidity tray filled with bark can help to provide the humidity these lovely plants require.

Measuring tape or ruler
Plastic tray or saucer
Orchid bark
Humidity meter (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Select a plastic tray that is larger than the base of your orchid’s pot. If you have multiple potted orchids, measure the length they spread to determine the correct size for your tray.
- 2
  Purchase specially formulated orchid bark to use in your humidity tray. Spread it evenly on the tray to make a layer about ½ inch deep.
- 3
  Set your potted orchid or orchids on the tray. Then pour water onto the bark to fill the tray to the top of the bark, but not to the top of the tray.
- 4
  Monitor the water level in your humidity tray after you add water to it, because your orchids’ roots can rot if you allow them to sit in water or if you keep the potting medium in their pots too wet.
- 5
  Set up a humidity meter next to the orchids you keep on a humidity tray if you wish. The ideal humidity for many types of orchids is between 60 and 80 percent. Add water to your humidity tray when the humidity decreases.

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