Optimum humidity levels

21 years ago

What would be the Optimum Humidity Level for citrus trees grown inside for the winter? I realize that due to indoor winter heat I will have to supplement the humidity. How much is too much and how much is too little? I have a small humidifier and it puts about a gallon of water into the air in 24 hours. Citrus trees are not the only things growing in the "bedroom greenhouse". There are,

5 citrus trees

1 5ft cavandish banana

3 1ft unknown bananas

1 aloe

1 2ft wide agave

and several various other "houseplants"

The bedroom is 9x11 and has 2 windows. 1 window faces south and the other faces east. The house is kept at 68Â° through out the winter and the temp in the room stays at 68Â° at night and about 72Â° during the daylight hours. The south facing window is opened during the warmer days for air exchange. For cooler days the door is left open to exchange the air. I can not leave the door open at all times as I have a cat who thinks the pots are her own personal bathroom, she also likes to play with the banana tree leaves.

I don't want to create a wet, mold loving condition but want to give the trees and other plants a healthy living area.

Thanks in advance

Andi

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Comments (4)

siliconmage
21 years ago
I try to shoot for 50% to 60%. If I see the windows fogging up I'll open a door to exchange air, but that happens only at night for me. I do know that some tropical plants leaves can be bone dry in low humidity, but look perfectly normal, until you touch one.
Patty_in_Wisc
21 years ago
I would close the heat vents right away & keep door closed.
The cooler it is in there, the more humidity they'll have. Also, keep a small fan in there to move air around if humidity gets over 60%. I have a unheated sunroom & it gets to 55-60 during night (will be cooler in Jan- Feb.) & humidity is about 70-75. During day, I open door going there from kitchen to let some heat in & then humidity goes down to 60 or so, & temp goes to upper 60's. If you can keep the room to 60-65, I think it would be good for the plants.
If you have forced air, go in basement & you'll find a valve on duct going to that room. Turn it one quarter turn to close the vent. In other words, the cooler it is in there, the more humidity. My sunroom is almost TOO humid--I don't have a mold problem, but some plants had mold on soil surface! I just keep a fan on & open door in day to let some hum. go in house.
Patty
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birdsnblooms
21 years ago
Patty, I don't know if I agree about cold equals more humidity..if so, why then in winter does humidity drop to 5%? Only with the help of humidifers, etc, do humidity levels increase?
I have been w/o a humidifer a few times in winter, (I use 3 hyrgrometers in my home) and it had dropped to 5%..It didn't make any difference which part of the house was tested..Some rooms are hot, others cold.

Andi, anything over 50% is sufficient. Plants like your Avave and Aloe doesn't need humidity; these are basically desert plants. (succulent)
The other plants you mentioned like banana, tropicals, etc, need higher humidiy levels. In fact, if you can relocate your succulents to a cool, dry room there won't be any need to worry about rot.
Think about greenhouses that sell plants. The humidity is quite high. As long as wastering is carefully done, your plants will be fine. Toni
Patty_in_Wisc
21 years ago
Toni, In winter our furnaces are on & eat up humidity. The warm air blowing dries the air. Last winter I had doors closed going to S. room overnight & in am I saw condensation on windows. The temp was 45 or so and humidity 60. In house, temp was 68 & humidity was about 45. Right now - as I write, the temp in S. room (opend doors this am to let heat in) is 61 & humidity is 73. Opposite end of house (L. room) is 68 & humidity at 61. My sister in Mn. has a glass patio enclosure. In winter it gets too cold to use & she has to crack windows open in there to keep moisture from condensing on windows.
I rest my case.
Patty