Re: Misting apparatus

Mike Salmon (100114.2461@CompuServe.COM)
22 Jul 96 17:02:42 EDT

>I had an Idea recently of an apparatus consisting of a small
>submersible water pump connected to some fine misting heads (available
>at Lowes) and assuredly other fine hardware stores..)... the pump
>would draw the water in the bottom of the tank up and mist it over atop
>the plants once or twice a day (more or less, whichever is best).. has
>anybody tried this ever? and do you think it is a bad thing to mist
>the plants with the standing water in the bottom of the aquarium?

>Mike

I have tried this with Nepthensis in a large tank and with a few
other
things. It keeps the humidity high and if set on an ordinary plug in
timer can look after the watering and misting problem during holidays.
I also have a system that switches on for 15 minutes each day and pumps
water up to the trays in which most of my CPs grow, especially
sarracenias. The excess returns through overflow pipes back to the
resevoir. It is an easy system to set up. I also have a drip
irrigation system fed from a smaller pump that produces a small flow of
water through the pots with Darlingtonia in, they really thrive. This
system is time controlled in spring and autumn and temperature
controlled in the summer. The resevoir is also a good thermal buffer in
the greenhouse. I got much of the kit from a local garden centre. The
micro irrigation systems made by several manufacturers and available
widely here, in the UK, have a gadget for every occasion. I have found
that you don't usually need a big pump and the smallest and cheapest
from an aquarium shop will do. You can also get small pumps that are
used for the windscren washers in cars from car breakers and they are
good for intermittent use. There are lots of souces of pumps if you
scrounge arround but wash them out well and make sure that they are
lined with an inert substance or made from an inert substance.

Happy growing

Mike Salmon