Alternatives to Humidity Trays for Orchids

Humidifiers

• A cool-mist humidifier is an effective way of adding humidity to your orchids. Ensure that it doesn’t blow directly onto the plants because wet leaves encourage fungal diseases. Ultrasonic humidifiers create a very fine mist, but don’t filter minerals or pathogens in the water. Using distilled water avoids this problem. Warm-mist humidifiers boil water and release steam. They’re less likely to contain mineral impurities or pathogens but can overheat.

Misting

• Misting is a controversial subject. Many gardeners like misting their orchids and believe they’re increasing the humidity. However, according to horticulturists at Washington State Cooperative Extension, misting doesn’t much increase humidity. Although evaporating water does cool the leaves and raise the humidity, do it when temperatures are warm, there’s a lot of light and the air is moving, or it’s not effective. It also has to be done frequently. Misting does help clean the leaves.

Other Options

• Place orchids in damp areas, such as the basement, washroom, bathroom or kitchen by the sink. Evaporating water from hot water use adds moisture to the air. Grow ferns in the same room as your orchids and they’ll add humidity to your air. Growing small orchids in a covered fish tank or decorative glass container is another way of adding humidity by creating a minigreenhouse. Don’t place the glass container in direct sunlight because it can become too hot. Grouping a number of plants together increases humidity around those plants. Make sure plants aren’t so crowded that air circulation around them is cut.

Air Motion

• It’s important to keep air flowing around your orchids so that excess water can evaporate, or your orchids are susceptible to fungal infections. Flowing air also helps prevent burnt leaves when orchids are exposed to bright light. Avoid blowing a fan directly on your plants. Ceiling fans are a good option or face an oscillating fan away from your orchids so it creates a flow of air but doesn’t blow away the humidity existing around them.