Indoor Humidity - Trunk Moisture

[Kodama]

Hey BNuts!
Hope you can help. I have a couple indoor trees in the basement tent and recently turned on humidifier to get levels more tropical.
Humidity Above 50% and temp range about 70-80 during the day. Right now set to run 14hrs. Auto timer off at night.

I noticed over a couple days the base of the trunks seem saturated.
Not sure what the tree is telling me besides it might be too wet or it doesn't need that much humidity?
It seems to move from the roots upward.
Don't know if bad or good...any thoughts on what is actually happening?

 

[Paradox]

Are they getting wet when you water the trees?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I don't think it is good in the long run. The extra humidity looks to be keeping your soil from drying in between waterings, the moisture is wicking up the trunks.

 

[Kodama]

Are they getting wet when you water the trees?

No.. just when I turn up humidity

 

[Paradox]

Honestly, I keep Brazilian rain trees and ficus up here in NY.

It never gets as humid here as it does in the tropics during the summer, not even close. I over winter them on tables in my basement. They sit in trays to catch excess water when watering.

I don't use a humidifier, or a tent and they do just fine even growing for me most of the winter except for about 2 months in January and February when they slow down.

I sometimes wonder if all the effort and expense people put into keeping them with humidity tents, etc is really necessary. My experience says it's not.

 

[penumbra]

I don't see much use for a humidifier in a tent. If my tent is closed the humidity reaches 90% with just regular watering. I leave the tent unzipped and it still never drops below 50%.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Honestly, I keep Brazilian rain trees and ficus up here in NY.

It never gets as humid here as it does in the tropics during the summer, not even close. I over winter them on tables in my basement. They sit in trays to catch excess water when watering.

I don't use a humidifier, or a tent and they do just fine even growing for me most of the winter except for about 2 months in January and February when they slow down.

I sometimes wonder if all the effort and expense people put into keeping them with humidity tents, etc is really necessary. My experience says it's not.

I’ve wondered this as well.
I did this to shefflera to promote aerial roots, but discontinued after things were looking funky. If you are upping humidity on a constant, I would think you are also increasing the occurrence of pests and fungus.
I don’t like treating my trees all winter with fungicides and etc.

 

[Paradox]

I’ve wondered this as well.
I did this to shefflera to promote aerial roots, but discontinued after things were looking funky. If you are upping humidity on a constant, I would think you are also increasing the occurrence of pests and fungus.
I don’t like treating my trees all winter with fungicides and etc.

yea I have seen a lot of people using humidity tents that seem to have a lot of issues with their plants related to high humidity

 

[penumbra]

yea I have seen a lot of people using humidity tents that seem to have a lot of issues with their plants related to high humidity

If set up properly it is very easy to control humidity. Having the door half unzipped works well for me but if I want to clear it fast it has an exhaust fan.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Honestly, I keep Brazilian rain trees and ficus up here in NY.

It never gets as humid here as it does in the tropics during the summer, not even close. I over winter them on tables in my basement. They sit in trays to catch excess water when watering.

I don't use a humidifier, or a tent and they do just fine even growing for me most of the winter except for about 2 months in January and February when they slow down.

I sometimes wonder if all the effort and expense people put into keeping them with humidity tents, etc is really necessary. My experience says it's not.

What would you say the humidity is in the basement in Jan & Feb? Does your furnace have a humidifier on it?

 

[Paradox]

What would you say the humidity is in the basement in Jan & Feb? Does your furnace have a humidifier on it?

It's pretty dry down there. It is a finished basement with heat and I have a home office down there so I spend a lot of time down there.

My furnace is an oil burner does not have a humidifier.

The trees are under 4 foot shop lights which adds warmth

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

It's pretty dry down there. It is a finished basement with heat and I have a home office down there so I spend a lot of time down there.

My furnace is an oil burner does not have a humidifier.

The trees are under 4 foot shop lights which adds warmth

Interesting. The humidity in the dead of winter around here is about 20% unless it's snowing of course. I have a humidifier on my furnace that I keep at 30% & a small room humidifier in the Tropical room & try and keep it around 50%. May have to rethink that. Thanks.

 

[Kodama]

I appreciate all the replies and tips on your setups. I have since turned off the humidifier. Thought it would be helpful but guess it's not really needed.

 

[Paradox]

I appreciate all the replies and tips on your setups. I have since turned off the humidifier. Thought it would be helpful but guess it's not really needed.

As always when making a change, monitor your trees and see how they respond

 

[Devo313]

Humidifier is a must for a tropical tent in the winter. The key is having a fan to circulate air, 24 hrs a day.

I have a humidistat to keep my humidity at 60 % and have never had a single mold or moisture issue. Your tent might not be warm enough to evaporate the moisture.

I have a Spiderfarmer SF4000 in a 3x3 that is kept at 25 degrees and 60% all day (15 hrs) , and 20 degrees and 55% all night (9hrs) and get growth better than in the summer on my tropicals. Key is a quality light ($400+) and quality equipment from the get go.