Simple Humidity 'Tent' Construction
Many plants are difficult to ship and suffer damage in
transit.
Here is a simple, inexpensive humidity 'tent' that will
quickly invigorate plants that are droopy or have dry leaf edges.
This technique will work for most tropical or semi-tropical
plants that normally grow in a humid environment.
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Remove the label and cut the bottom off
of a clear plastic 2-liter soda bottle. For larger plants, a 1-gallon plastic water bottle may be used. Make as straight a cut as possible. Clean thoroughly the bottle
Keep the bottle cap. |
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Place the ailing plant on a waterproof saucer.
Fill the bottom of the saucer with a small amount of water
Change this water daily (It can become stagnant if you don't). Distilled water is necessary in some cases, and not in
others.
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Place the cut off bottle over the plant on the saucer.
It is ok if some of the leaves touch the side of the bottle. If the plant is wilted, leave the top on the plastic bottle
for a day or so. If the plant just has brownish/dry edges on the leaves,
Never put a bottle-covered plant in direct sunlight
Keep it warm and give it indirect sun or direct artificial light. A wilted plant will usually revive in a few hours. No immediate difference will be noted with a plant with brown/dry leaf edges, but the plant will adjust more quickly to its new environment. |
Do not expect instant changes with a humidity tent. Plants move slowly compared to humanoids. Changes are gradual. A wilted plant will usually show relatively quick response to this tent, but it will not be able to maintain the apparent renewed vigor without the tent. To adjust the plant to your new environment, gradually remove the tent for an increasing amount of time each day. At first you will have to watch the plant carefully to correct any renewed wilting. Start by removing the tent for one hour a day and increase by that same amount each following day if the plant is doing well. In a week or two, the plant should be able to survive on its own.Browning of the leaf edges takes longer to correct. This will only disappear with new growth.
In a couple of weeks, the new leaves should stop browning on the edges.In worse-case scenarios, fungi can attack the tented plants. If this happens, it is probably because the plastic bottle or the water used is contaminated.