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De-humidifier positioning.

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  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    Pete
    relative humidity: noun:
    the amount of water vapour present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature.

     The key word is "relative".

    Balgay
    Before and after info might explain that conundrum.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    Is the dehumidifier big enough for the room? 

    We have a dehumidifier because for various reasons our house holds in moisture and then we get bad condensation on the inside of the windows, it was at about 85% and took probably a week of running constantly for the dehumidifier to actually be able to turn off as the humidity was at the right level!! The amount of water that came out was impressive. So it could just need more time!
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    It will take a long time to get the humidity down at least a week, remember everything from the furnishings to the plaster needs drying.
    I would look at how much water you are getting out of the dehumidifier, and how airtight the room is, if it's very draughty or open to the rest of the house you probably won't be able to make a masssive difference.
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    zugenie said:
    Is the dehumidifier big enough for the room? 

    We have a dehumidifier because for various reasons our house holds in moisture and then we get bad condensation on the inside of the windows, it was at about 85% and took probably a week of running constantly for the dehumidifier to actually be able to turn off as the humidity was at the right level!! The amount of water that came out was impressive. So it could just need more time!
    The room is only 50% of the maximum it is rated to, but i'm not sure of the best position. Should i place it next to the cactus at the window, or the middle of the room. Probably just have to be trial and error.
    Sunny Dundee
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Skandi said:
    It will take a long time to get the humidity down at least a week, remember everything from the furnishings to the plaster needs drying.
    I would look at how much water you are getting out of the dehumidifier, and how airtight the room is, if it's very draughty or open to the rest of the house you probably won't be able to make a masssive difference.
    I'll keep the doors and window closed as the outside humidity was around 85% the last time i checked. Looks like i'll have to give it time then.
    Sunny Dundee
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Well I didn't know that 'relative humidity' was a noun.

    Other than that I do understand RH and in the first instance it needs to be calibrated to have any meaning - hence 'relative'

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    "Humidity" is a noun, "relative" is an adjective.  Together used as a complex noun.

    From what you say, I don't think you do understand RH.  Calibration is one thing.  100% is easy to replicate,  do that first.  Relative means the the amount of moisture (grams per litre maybe) compared to the amount of moisture in saturated air (100% RH) at the particular temperature.  If this is not clear then you will need to dig deeper.

    Water and other molecules in the air are moving very fast.  They will mix to an eqïlibrium average RH very quickly.  Water will be drawn from other parts of the room, other rooms, and everywhere to maintain an average.  

    But though I think that soil moisture content is important for cacti, I think that atmospheric RH may not be important.  In the desert you can get dew at night (= 100% RH).

    When I have steamy bath, the Ebac works like mad and collects gallons.  The windows and mirrors do not steam up.  But the RH barely shifts from 98%.  My orchids I think enjoy it.  In the morning, the whole house is the same everywhere.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    zugenie said:
    Is the dehumidifier big enough for the room? 

    We have a dehumidifier because for various reasons our house holds in moisture and then we get bad condensation on the inside of the windows, it was at about 85% and took probably a week of running constantly for the dehumidifier to actually be able to turn off as the humidity was at the right level!! The amount of water that came out was impressive. So it could just need more time!
    The room is only 50% of the maximum it is rated to, but i'm not sure of the best position. Should i place it next to the cactus at the window, or the middle of the room. Probably just have to be trial and error.
    If it was me I’d just have it wherever is convenient, especially since is more than big enough for the room! I wouldn’t think having the dry air blown onto the cacti would do them any good.


  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    zugenie said:
    zugenie said:
    Is the dehumidifier big enough for the room? 

    We have a dehumidifier because for various reasons our house holds in moisture and then we get bad condensation on the inside of the windows, it was at about 85% and took probably a week of running constantly for the dehumidifier to actually be able to turn off as the humidity was at the right level!! The amount of water that came out was impressive. So it could just need more time!
    The room is only 50% of the maximum it is rated to, but i'm not sure of the best position. Should i place it next to the cactus at the window, or the middle of the room. Probably just have to be trial and error.
    If it was me I’d just have it wherever is convenient, especially since is more than big enough for the room! I wouldn’t think having the dry air blown onto the cacti would do them any good.


    I moved it earlier to more of a central position. Just have to give it time now.
    I'm more concerned with removing moisture from the roots. I recently bought a few plants from Tesco, and the 'compost' they were in was terrible and wet. I've re-potted them into a proper well draining mix and hope i caught them in time to prevent any rot.
    All the spines in my hands are a different issue!  :D
    Sunny Dundee
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    Your cactus come from Mexico (Sonora and Chihuahua) and USA (Arizona), which shows thw sort of conditions it likes (but not necessarily the sort of conditions that exist at germination time.  

    I don't know whether the spp rubispinus will come true from seed.  Let's hope so.

    "All the spines in my hands are a different issue!"  Welcome to cactus growing.

    To dry out the roots, I would try (no experience) standing the pots on a hot water bottle at about 25ºC.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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