[OGD] Carbon Dioxide Revisited

[Charles E. Bracker]

Dear OGD Friends:

Re: The different opinions about Carbon Dioxide (CO2) supplementation.

If a number of orchids are grown in a closed environment, will CO2 levels
drop below a level that is optimal for photosynthesis and growth?

We have 1600+ orchids in 4 closed basement rooms, each with a different
thermostat, lighting, and humidity control.  A separate air conditioning
system for the basement provides cooling when needed.

I became concerned about reduced levels of CO2 in the rooms, so I placed
chunks of dry ice (Frozen CO2) by an oscillating fan in each room every 2-3
weeks, hoping to provide useful levels of CO2 for photosynthesis as the dry
ice sublimed and CO2  circulated through each room.

With those considerations, can anybody tell me with some authority whether
CO2 levels in closed environments would benefit from occasional supplements
as I have done ?

Next question:  Does anybody know what CO2 concentration range is considered
favorable for orchid growth?  Perhaps I should monitor and record the
diurnal levels of CO2 so I can approach the problem with objective evidence

Thank you very much for any light you may shed on these questions.

Charles


Dr. Charles E. Bracker, Ph.D.
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[OGD] Carbon Dioxide Revisited

[Charles E. Bracker]

Dear OGD Friends:

Re: The different opinions and evidence about Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
supplementation.  I think the relevant question should be this:  If one has
a number of orchids growing in a more or less closed environment, as we do (
basement rooms with ample air movement via multiple oscillating,
wall-mounted fans), is there a danger of the CO2 levels dropping below a
level that is optimal for plant (orchid) photosynthesis and growth?

We have about 1600 +/- plants growing in 3.5 rooms in our basement, each
with different controlled environments.  The entire basement is fed by a
very large air conditioning unit which is separate from the A/C that handles
air cooling for the rest of the house.  There is not direct connection
between the basement air movement and the air movement on the first and
second floors where we live.

Because I became concerned about reduced levels of CO2 with so many orchids
in such a closed environment, I decided to place chunks of dry ice (Frozen
CO2) by an oscillating fan in each room with the hope that it would help
provide useful levels of CO2 for photosynthesis as it sublimed away and was
circulated through each room.

So . . . having injected that condition into the discussion, can anybody out
there consult the genie in the bottle or an authoritative source and tell me
whether CO2 levels in closed environments would benefit from occasional
supplements as I have done approximately every two weeks?

While I am at it, does anybody know what CO2 concentration range is
considered to be favorable for orchid growth?  Perhaps I should be
monitoring and recording the diurnal levels of CO2 so I can approach the
problem with objective evidence

I should be able to figure this out myself, but information being offered by
others in the OGD crowd have cast the matter into doubt.  Thank you very
much for any light you may shed on this specific problem.

Cheers all.

Charles





Dr. Charles E. Bracker, Ph.D.
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