How to solve the humidity problem when growing orchids indoors in the north?

The growing environment of Chinese orchids is similar to what other plants require: water, sunlight, nutrients, temperature, humidity, and so on. But among these conditions, if Chinese orchids are to grow normally, the conditions they need have their own particularities. For example, the requirement for air humidity is one important item among many conditions. Generally speaking, the temperature required for Chinese orchid growth is between 18 degrees and 28 degrees; the humidity is above 80%. In the Yangtze River basin and areas to the south, because the climate is warm, rainfall is abundant, and the air is humid, Chinese orchids are almost unaffected in their humidity requirements. But in the northern regions north of the Yellow River basin, because the air pressure is relatively high, the climate is dry, and the air humidity is relatively low, especially during the annual winter heating period and in spring, the indoor temperature is around 20 degrees while the air humidity is only around 40%, which cannot meet the needs of Chinese orchid growth. Therefore, how to increase air humidity is the key for northern orchid enthusiasts to grow Chinese orchids well indoors. For this reason, many orchid enthusiasts have tried every possible method, adding water trays, humidifiers, and many other ways to increase air humidity. In my own feeling, rather than increasing the humidity of the outside air, it is better to adopt the wet methodfor growing orchidsand improve it. First, the orchid pot and growing medium. Choose a cylindrical clay pot or a purple clay pot with many holes in the pot wall, to facilitate air permeability. Choose a granular growing medium, which can be a mixed medium of 10% charcoal (acid-treated), 40% volcanic stone, and 50% Xiantu soil. (As for which mixed growing medium to choose, it depends on the orchid enthusiast's own experience, but it must be a granular growing medium.) The lower 1/3 of the orchid pot is foam blocks; the middle 1/3 is a granular mixed growing medium with a diameter of more than 1 cm; the upper 1/3 of the pot is a growing medium with a diameter of about 1 cm. The reason for using a granular growing medium is to suit the wet methodfor growing orchids, so that the humidity is high without damaging the roots because of too much water. Before putting the growing medium into the pot, it must be fully soaked in water and disinfected. When potting, keep the orchid roots in full contact with the growing medium. Second, treatment of the pot surface. Southern orchid enthusiasts often place sphagnum moss on the pot surface to increase humidity. But indoor humidity in the north is low, and after laying sphagnum moss it is not easy to judge whether the pot soil is dry or wet, and plants on the pot surface are not easy to keep alive, so this method is not suitable. Generally, the height of the growing medium should be atthe orchid plant's1/2 pseudobulb level, but because the granular mixed growing medium has larger particles and good air permeability, the height of the mixed growing medium can be about 1 cm above the pseudobulb. Using the wet method to plant orchids can maintain humidity. Third, the watering method. Generally, water once every 3-4 days. If there is snow or rain, the air humidity is relatively high, so it can be determined according to the specific weather conditions. Spray water on the leaf surface once each in the morning and afternoon every day, (be careful not to spray intothe orchid plant'sheart, to prevent rot of the seedlings). The growing medium on the pot surface should also be sprayed with water to keep it moist. What needs attention is: the wet methodfor growing orchidsrequires control of the number of waterings; once water is cut off for a long time and the Xiantu soil in the growing medium dries out completely, it will be very difficult to make it contain sufficient water again. I have used the above method for a long time, and the effect is good. The indoor humidity can be maintained at around 80%. Orchid enthusiasts can manage it according to their own actual conditions. For reference only. (Fu Tao)