Importance of air circulation

[helixturnhelix]

Hi all,

I was thinking about how air circulation effects growth when growing plants inside the house.  It seems like there is usually pretty poor air circulation in indoor growing situations, compared to outside, so if you increase circulation in the house would you get better growth?  It would make sense that "wind" helps bring carbon dioxide and oxygen for photosynthesis and respiration.  Carbon dioxide is a limiting nutrient just like potassium or nitrogen, so it may have an effect on growth.  I am going to run a small clip on fan near some of my plants to see if it has an effect.  Ideally they should be the same CV, and have the same light source but I think it will be interesting to see if there is a change in growth and blooming.

[Charlie]

Excellent experiment. Growers keep the air moving for several reasons, including leaf fungus prevention and reduced insect problems. As you said, carbon dioxide is important for plants and I know of several growers who actually use carbon dioxide generators in their winter greenhouses in northern latitudes where the greenhouses are closed in all the time due to cold and fresh air is hard to introduce. I even tried such a generator in my propagation facility for a couple of years but stopped using it when I did not observe any noticeable differences. Even so, the principle is sound. Let us know if you learn anything!

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Preliminary data but its been about a week since I added the fan I definitely see a jump in Saffrons growth, I do not know if this is due to maturation of the growth and its just picking up speed or what, but I see a difference.  It is a very happy Saffron either way.  Hopefully I will see some buds on saffron soon, but I think that I will probably not see any blooms till July    

I attached some pictures of my growing room, its kinda becoming a jungle LOL

I have a large brugmansia (angel trumpet)  That is budding up like crazy and I have read that these are difficult plants to get to bloom indoors so there must be something right with the conditions here.  It is also a variegated form so as a rule I have found that variegated varieties require more light, so I think this is pretty good.  Which got me to thinking the only variegated hibiscus I know of is Snow Queen.  Do you ever get variegation in any of your seedlings?


 

[Diana]

Sorry for the off topic but cattleya is real great What a beautiful flowers!