AboutWayne King Expertise Any question about orchid culture. I have thirty+ yrs of growing experience,president 2x of our local Orchid Growers Guild,held a position in most all other offices associated with the Guild at one time or another. Head of Orchid judging team for local club meetings and some shows. Member of two Orchid Socities and local Rep.for Mid America Orchid Congress for several yrs.I have in my collection about 800 Orchid plants of all types.
Experience
Past/Present clients Previously an expert on expertcentral.com.
Question Hi again Wayne...much of the documentation says that most orchids want airflow. How do you recommend adding airflow to an orchid...a small fan perhaps, left on continously? Perhaps the bigger question: in everything I read, the necessary growing conditions vary widely between types of orchids. How possible is it to create a range if growing conditions in one house? I only have 6 right now (next to windows, no greenhouse or anything), but with so many different conditons necessary, I am not sure how realistic it is.
Answer Jonathan, Air flow is important in two respects. The first is at the root level as, in nature these orchids grow with their roots largely exposed to air. In trying to duplicate that in the pot, we use a special orchid potting and potting mix that promotes air flow to the roots. While air flow about the plant is essential is controversial. A small fan can be used. I prefer to use the fan a for a few hours just after watering to help evaporate excess moisture from the plant. Since the watering is done preferably in the morning, this is when the fan should be used. A slight air movement can be done around the clock, especially if you have the plant on a pebble tray to create humidity about the plant. The air movement tends to promote evaporation of the water in the pebble/ humidity tray, increasing humidity.
You can create different conditions by having plants in different windows. The west and south windows tend to have more sunlight and, therefore, warmer conditions on sunny days. If you live in a temperate climate, the temperature, in the winter, can be varied by growing the plants closer to a window. This creates brigther and warmer conditions on s sunny day and colder conditions at night. Loer light plants can be grown further back from the window or in an east window. If you have a basement, that ia almost always good for plants that prfer it cooler where you can grow them under lights.
