Earlier in this thread, Al wrote, "So - we've seen that rain or mist on leaves obviously slows water loss from foliage by making (near) perfect the boundary layer. Since this slows transpirational loss, it closes stomata" (end quote) That sounds backward to me. Stomata should open when there's plenty of moisture, all else equal. That's when they can get CO2 most cheaply, in terms of work the roots have to do in order to replace the water. Here's what a search turns up. When the leaves of a plant were wet by dew or rain, or wet artificially, the stomata usually opened if closed, or opened more widely if partially open. http://books.google.com/books?id=CBUoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=stomata+rain&source=bl&ots=OHXooQEPZX&sig=VnRDj1fwARuoWe7xr-kUSRJt3hI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=16XvUJYyy-_RAfPLgOgC&ved=0CFUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=stomata rain&f=false In case that link doesn't work, here's another source saying somewhat the same thing. In nature, many foliar bacterial disease outbreaks require high humidity, rain, or storms, which could favor stomatal opening http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18422426

My intent isn't to make you look stupid or inexperienced. My intent is to point out that others would be less disappointed if they don't put the same amount of faith in a humidity tray (HT) that you do. HTs might make some degree of difference, but it's certainly not going to be significant. Maybe, if a number of plants were grouped together and over HTs, you might be able to gain something of a benefit from the grouping, but one plant - one humidity tray, could only play a very minor part in warding off brown tips. When it comes to growing, people are often very poor at relating cause and effect. I'm not singling you out - it's a fact. If you were misting regularly, you'd probably swear it was the misting that was warding off the brown tips, which would also be in error. If you stop and think about it for just a second, I think you'll agree that it takes a combination of a number of favorable factors to produce a plant with pristine or even good looking foliage. BECAUSE it takes a combination of factors, it's no more logical to say it's the result of the HT than it is to say it's the result of any one of: a favorable soil, favorable light, nutrition the plant likes, the right temps, lack of insect predation or disease ..... I'd favor good genetics over a HT any day. If you think it makes a difference, then that's great for you. I'm simply not convinced and wanted to share why. Al

Patrick, not sure you'll get much of a response from a nearly 10 y.o. thread but weeping willows are pretty unmistakable in their appearance. And there are a number of other trees that aphids highly favor that could be producing a similar "mist" - lindens and birches, just to name a couple. But while trees will emit water vapor on hot, sunny days as part of the transpiration process, it is just that - vapor, a gas - and won't produce a mist-like substance.

Hi everyone. Dave - I know these displays aren't everyone's "cup of tea" but I just thought I'd show the work put in by one very dedicated member every year. Our spring show is just part of a much larger fair and is not a stand alone bromeliad show, so we have to cater to not only bromeliad growers, but also the general public, and of course children who are after all our bromeliad growers of the future. I do have pictures of the exhibition plants which I'll show a few at a time for those people like yourself who are more interested in the "nitty gritty" of the competition part of the show. Ours is only a small society compared to other societies and likewise our show is small also. Personally, although I do show my plants, I don't think it's so much about winning prizes but more the thrill of being able to share and discus your plants with interested members of the public. All the best, Nev.