|
|||||||
| AIR MOVEMENT: VENTILATION In the wild, gentle continual breezes along the leafy canopy of the rain forest are vital for the survival of orchids and other air plants. Air movement acts as preventive medicine for orchids. It helps evaporate stagnant water, trapped during watering, where fungi and bacteria breed. Without ventilation or fresh circulating air, orchids eventually die from rot, lack of a continual carbon dioxide source, or infection. Ventilation also helps orchids tolerate intense light without getting burnt leaves. You can easily improve air movement in your home so orchids grow happily. During the summer, when temperatures are high, open windows to allow fresh air to come inside. And when wintertime comes, you can use an ordinary oscillating fan to mimic the gentle breezes in the leafy canopy of a tropical forest. It is important to occasionally change the direction of the airflow so the area does not dry out. RECOMMENDED BOOKS: The Gardener's Guide to Growing Orchids by Wilma Rittershausen &Brian Rittershausen ...................................Taylor's Guide to Orchids by Judy White A. During watering, excess moisture can easily be trapped between the leaves of sympodial orchids such as Phalaenopsis. Without air movement to help the water evaporate, it will eventually rot the plant and cause it to die. B. Ordinary kitchen tools such as this round bamboo steamer can be used as ventilation trays. Place the plant on the tray after watering so the air from the bottom will rise and circulate. C. A rectangular unvarnished wooden tray that holds 8 to 10 4-inch plants is an essential tool to increase ventilation. D. A Grammatophyllum Scriptum orchid eventually died due to lack of air movement.
|
|||||||
|
Copyright ©2000-2004 Beautiful Orchids.com 3319 Sacramento St. San Francisco,CA 94118 |