Foggers & Humidistats

[Nepenthesis]

So my greenhouse is really jank and it is like 90% humidity at night but 60-70% humidity during the day and then the heater has the nerve to lower the humidity at night so it is like 60-70%... I need a fogger to keep the humidity high at all times. My swamp cooler doesn't humidify like I would like it to either, it actually lowers the humidity from like 60-70% during the day to about 50% or a bit less, but I need it during the summer to keep the GH cool and I'll also need a fogger, so why not get one in the winter for Christmas? I also need to find a humidistat to run that, and it pisses me off because every time I search humidistat I get hygrometers because Google is absurd.

I am trying to humidify a 6' x 8' greenhouse. Already gave my humidity readings currently up there ^ but that is during winter, it will probably be less humid during summer, but still 90% humidity at night. I'm like fogger confused so I have no clue what I need, looking for advice from people with foggers.

So I need to find a fogger and a humidistat, but I have no clue where to start looking and what I need. Budget is $200, and I can go over a bit but $200 is a good goal for both.

 

[Heli]

http://www.ideal-air.com/products/dehumidifiers-and-humidifiers/humidifier---commercial-grade.aspx

 

[mcmcnair]

A lot of people have started moving to using large tubs full of water with air stones to humidify. If you put trays underneath all of your benches like the kind of hard plastic storage bins that go under beds, full of water and had an airstone or two in each tub and got an industrial air pump ($60-80) plus $2.50 for each air stone and tubing is cheap at lowes like $.15 a foot. That would probably work for your greenhouse. Idk about the humidstat.

 

[Nepenthesis]

http://www.ideal-air.com/products/dehumidifiers-and-humidifiers/humidifier---commercial-grade.aspx

Does it have a built-in humidistat? I was actually thinking some sort of ultrasonic fogger that you just put in a bucket of water, but not sure if that would work. I remember being linked to a website with a bunch of ultrasonic foggers ranging from $50 to like $200, just little metal discs with cords, and the ones in the $90 range were right for my greenhouse I was told... I can't find the link though, it was like April or May.

A lot of people have started moving to using large tubs full of water with air stones to humidify. If you put trays underneath all of your benches like the kind of hard plastic storage bins that go under beds, full of water and had an airstone or two in each tub and got an industrial air pump ($60-80) plus $2.50 for each air stone and tubing is cheap at lowes like $.15 a foot. That would probably work for your greenhouse. Idk about the humidstat.

No, there's too much air flow. I have those tubs and tried it before with just standing water but it did nothing, and air stones probably won't help with all the air flow I get in and out of the GH, through little cracks in the door mainly. It would just suck the humidity out like immediately.

 

[mcmcnair]

well thats your problem, no matter what you do unless you seal the air in your greenhouse nothing will be able to keep the humidity up. put your money into sealing your greenhouse properly and then try a cheap solution like i suggested and I bet you will get your desired results. also the air stones keep the water moving which does help

 

[Tony Paroubek]

http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/cat1;gs_thermostats_controllers;gs_humidistats_1.html

I fail to see what the concern is though on the humidity level. Why the obsession with such super high humidity readings?

 

[Not a Number]

Raising the humidity in the summer is going to lower the efficiency of the swamp cooler so you'll get less cooling

 

[mylesG]

if it is in an effort to keep you sphag from drying out, you may be better off setting up a simple homemade mister system

 

[Nepenthesis]

http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/cat1;gs_thermostats_controllers;gs_humidistats_1.html

I fail to see what the concern is though on the humidity level. Why the obsession with such super high humidity readings?

Thank you! Those are rather expensive though... I am ordering my thermostat from a place that also has a prewired humidistat, I think this should work, right?

It gets down to about 50% humidity when the sun shines on the greenhouse and the sphag dries out. My sphag is very precious to me, I'm obsessed with it as much as I am with my CPs... I'm collecting tons of different species to farm in the GH. And also it really pisses me off how the humidity lowers at night when the heater kicks on, so I'll need a fogger for that too.

well thats your problem, no matter what you do unless you seal the air in your greenhouse nothing will be able to keep the humidity up. put your money into sealing your greenhouse properly and then try a cheap solution like i suggested and I bet you will get your desired results. also the air stones keep the water moving which does help

It is sealed off as much as it can be. I have that insulation tape lining the door already, it is a sliding door and it is as sealed off as it can be.

Raising the humidity in the summer is going to lower the efficiency of the swamp cooler so you'll get less cooling

Yeah, but the fogger will cool the air as much as the evaporation cooler would it if humidified, same thing there. It won't make a difference.

if it is in an effort to keep you sphag from drying out, you may be better off setting up a simple homemade mister system

I would but I don't have the billions of gallons of RO to use on that when I can just mist whenever I can or better yet, raise the humidity.

 

[Keith]

Weather striping and caulk can go a long way and I agree that it is your best starting point. Then how about an inexpensive waterfall like Lils? http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?127712-Fountain-for-the-greenhouse-(DUW)
Then you have a massive surface area of water, a reservoir to re-use and recycle the water, and a convienient place to display and grow your sphag. Looks pretty easy to me and should be very effective. Probably take an afternoon at the big box store for supplies and brainstorming and a day or two to assemble and work the bugs out.

 

[Nepenthesis]

Weather striping and caulk can go a long way and I agree that it is your best starting point. Then how about an inexpensive waterfall like Lils? http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?127712-Fountain-for-the-greenhouse-(DUW)
Then you have a massive surface area of water, a reservoir to re-use and recycle the water, and a convienient place to display and grow your sphag. Looks pretty easy to me and should be very effective. Probably take an afternoon at the big box store for supplies and brainstorming and a day or two to assemble and work the bugs out.

I don't have space for that. I have so little space that I have to set my orchids on the ground. I only have 2.5ft by 5ft or so of walk space, the rest of the spaces is filled by shelves and plants.

 

[Keith]

Greenhouse # 2 then? he he HL and LL?

 

[richjam1986]

http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/cat1;gs_thermostats_controllers;gs_humidistats_1.html

I fail to see what the concern is though on the humidity level. Why the obsession with such super high humidity readings?

Agreed x 10... I would listen to the extensive experience of Tony
It seems like most growers are overly concerned with humidity. Understandably so, as there is a long established culture of needing to provide super high humidity to grow nice plants, but that is simply not the case. Most of my Nepenthes grow in 35-40% humidity year round. I provide higher humidity for select plants such as cuttings, new aquisitions, small sensative plants, helis, and my smaller lowland neps; but even my larger lowland nep setup (including N. bicalcarata and ampularia) currently only has 40-50% humidity durring the day, and up to about 60% at night. The larger lowlanders grow a bit slower than they might otherwise, but they have acclimated and they still grow fine. Need proof that you don't need high humidity? Here's a few pics of some of my plants growing under these conditions (not to show off, but to prove the point):

N. singalana
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7997754064/" title="059 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7997754064_631771e386.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="059"></a>

N. spectabilis x aristolochioides
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7997750583/" title="050 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7997750583_665ac1bacd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="050"></a>

N. bicalcarata
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7848167654/" title="073 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7848167654_54e5659996.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="073"></a>

N. maxima 'tentana'
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/6867741507/" title="057 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6867741507_ef132e00e0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="057"></a>

N. glabrata
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7848177580/" title="030 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7848177580_134e7887b3.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="030"></a>

N. truancata 'pasian'
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7848181596/" title="018 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7848181596_024d9be0b3.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="018"></a>

Higher humidity does have its benefits, and it will help your moss out, but I personally wouldn't think it worth the trouble or money. I think your humidity levels are within a really good range as is (much higher than for most of my plants, at any rate). Periodic moderate humidity drops will also help to prevent fungus attacks, as opposed to super high humidity all the time.

Obviously not telling you what to do, but just some things to consider.

 

[Nepenthesis]

Agreed x 10... I would listen to the extensive experience of Tony
It seems like most growers are overly concerned with humidity. Understandably so, as there is a long established culture of needing to provide super high humidity to grow nice plants, but that is simply not the case. Most of my Nepenthes grow in 35-40% humidity year round. I provide higher humidity for select plants such as cuttings, new aquisitions, small sensative plants, helis, and my smaller lowland neps; but even my larger lowland nep setup (including N. bicalcarata and ampularia) currently only has 40-50% humidity durring the day, and up to about 60% at night. The larger lowlanders grow a bit slower than they might otherwise, but they have acclimated and they still grow fine. Need proof that you don't need high humidity? Here's a few pics of some of my plants growing under these conditions (not to show off, but to prove the point):

N. singalana
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7997754064/" title="059 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7997754064_631771e386.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="059"></a>

N. spectabilis x aristolochioides
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7997750583/" title="050 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7997750583_665ac1bacd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="050"></a>

N. bicalcarata
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7848167654/" title="073 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7848167654_54e5659996.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="073"></a>

N. maxima 'tentana'
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/6867741507/" title="057 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6867741507_ef132e00e0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="057"></a>

N. glabrata
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7848177580/" title="030 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7848177580_134e7887b3.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="030"></a>

N. truancata 'pasian'
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/7848181596/" title="018 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7848181596_024d9be0b3.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="018"></a>

Higher humidity does have its benefits, and it will help your moss out, but I personally wouldn't think it worth the trouble or money. I think your humidity levels are within a really good range as is (much higher than for most of my plants, at any rate). Periodic moderate humidity drops will also help to prevent fungus attacks, as opposed to super high humidity all the time.

Obviously not telling you what to do, but just some things to consider.

Dangit, your singalana makes mine look like a green diarrhea with a bit of red splotching. >_<

I guess you're right. Maybe I better just order the thermostat for $20 and spend the rest on plants. #1 on my list is ordering a long awaited lowii x campanulata from Tony.

 

[richjam1986]

I sympathise with your concern for the moss though...
If it is watered from above frequently enough the moss should still do pretty well, and the moss in trays should stay pretty wet and humid I imagine. You could partially cover the moss trays with syran wrap? You might also consider hosing down the floor of your greenhouse twice a day with normal water from your garden hose. That would probably help a lot if done right before/durring the heat of the day. I always try for the cheapest options first

Edit: Honestly, I've always thought the sphagnum in your nep pots looked great! You're doing something right!

 

[richjam1986]

Dangit, your singalana makes mine look like a green diarrhea with a bit of red splotching. >_<

I guess you're right. Maybe I better just order the thermostat for $20 and spend the rest on plants. #1 on my list is ordering a long awaited lowii x campanulata from Tony.

Lol Give your singalana time. I'm sure it will do great.

lowii x campanulata's are super nice. I would deffinately envy you

 

[Nepenthesis]

I sympathise with your concern for the moss though...
If it is watered from above frequently enough the moss should still do pretty well, and the moss in trays should stay pretty wet and humid I imagine. You could partially cover the moss trays with syran wrap? You might also consider hosing down the floor of your greenhouse twice a day with normal water from your garden hose. That would probably help a lot if done right before/durring the heat of the day. I always try for the cheapest options first

The moss in trays isn't as much of an issue since it is basically sitting in water, but I like having live sphag in all of my Nepenthes pots and it dries out if I don't mist it often.

I found the website I mentioned earlier, http://www.mainlandmart.com/foggers.html

Which one do you guys think would be the best for my GH? I can just purchase a timer and modify the timing as the seasons change so that it turns on during the hottest part of the day, that's what I have done with my swamp cooler.

I'm feeling this one...

Item: M005

5 disc mister fogger, indoor/outdoor transformer(120V/24VAC, 8.33A), 32' long cord from transformer to fogger.
Price: $95.95/set
Shipping included in USA.

 

[richjam1986]

Again, not my expertise, but I wonder how well most of those ultrasonic units would humidify a larger space like a greenhouse? I think you'd need a pretty substantial one with high fog output, especially if you'll have the swamp cooler running at the same time (which I assume you will). You might want to ask Mass. I know he uses a fogger for his indoor greenhouse.

 

[Nepenthesis]

Again, not my expertise, but I wonder how well most of those ultrasonic units would humidify a larger space like a greenhouse? I think you'd need a pretty substantial one with high fog output, especially if you'll have the swamp cooler running at the same time (which I assume you will). You might want to ask Mass. I know he uses a fogger for his indoor greenhouse.

Posted in Mass's GH topic. If none of the ones on the website that are priced around $100 work, I'll just give in and not get a fogger. Thanks for the help!

 

[richjam1986]

Posted in Mass's GH topic. If none of the ones on the website that are priced around $100 work, I'll just give in and not get a fogger. Thanks for the help!

Or build a fountain in your GH, like Lil stinkpot. Get a $20 pump, some tubing and a water reservior, and find something to have the water trickle through. ;-) Whatever your decision, best of luck!