Of course this is affected by how much water (a small amount may not make a measurable difference) and by the airflow (if air is cycling from outside then extra water will get disappated in that air).

[–] eagleeyedtiger 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Thanks, i keep second guessing myself if it will work

[–] absGeekNZ 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The amount it increases will be dominated by the humidity of the outside air unless the room is reasonably sealed.

There is an osmodic pressure that will normalize the different humidities; the speed at which the normalization will occur is determined by the airflow and permeability of the barrier.

e.g. the bathroom will steam up because of the shower quite quickly, but opening the window will allow the steam to flow out; with an open window and no wind the bathroom will still exhaust the steam.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 1 year ago

Funny enough it is the bathroom where I'm trying to increase humidity.

There's no window but there is a skylight which isn't perfectly sealed. I'm trying leaving some water in the bathtub.

[–] Dave 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're trying to increase humidity, in theory it works but in practice I'm not sure how much water is needed to make a measurable difference, and if the rate of evaporation would be enough to make a decent difference. I guess you'd want a lot of surface area, so wide flat trays of water.

You could probably seach up tips online.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I got one of those mushroom kits, but my first flush stalled out due to I believe not enough humidity.

I'm trying 1/5 a bathtub full. With them growing above it

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Is the bathroom used? I mean for showers/baths where there would be steam. I wonder if you aren't using it, it might not be very humid at all. If you are using it, I'd think that would be more than enough.

I think I remember you using Home Assistant, do you have a humidity sensor?

Also warmer air holds more water, so cold areas may not hold much water even if the relative humidity is high. I seem to remember hot water cupboards being a good place to grow mushrooms for this reason.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Don’t have anything for humidity at the moment sadly.

It’s a combined shower, bath and toilet. So a fairly big room and only 1 kid showers in there once a day. It’s got a single skylight that probably lets some air through. We just use our ensuite.

Main problem is Oyster mushrooms require air flow for oxygen and reading level light, but not direct sunlight. So I can’t keep it in a dark enclosed space with no airflow, which would keep humidity up.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would guess that one shower a day adds more to the humidity than a bath of cold water sitting there all day, but that's just a guess. However, it may help make the humidity more consistent.

I would be pretty sure it won't make it less humid, so give it a go and see if it helps.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The problem is I had it there while there was one shower a day and that's where it stalled. So fingers crossed the bath helps!

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago

Good luck!

[–] liv 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It kind of depends.

First time I went overseas I got a really sore dry nose and the tip of hanging a wet facecloth right next to my pillow worked.

You could maybe help it along by boiling it to release steam?

[–] eagleeyedtiger 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks. I wanted a lazy no power way to do it. Don't want to run a humidifier or anything. Just increase relative humidity to keep some mushrooms growing

[–] liv 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In that case I would go with a tub of scrunched up wet towels sitting in a few inches of water.

I'm no physicist but theoretically I imagine that gives more surface area for the water to evaporate from, and the towels should wick more moisture from the tub.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 3 points 1 year ago

Hmm not a bad idea!