Question
I got a growing problem ,but its more of a how do i not grow. I run a humidifier all day every day,its how i get my nepenthes to grow pitchers all year in my house without a greenhouse,and keep the pitchers without the top half dieing. The humidifier keeps getting green algae in it,but then i realized im growing it with the lights.i have ten cpf,26 watt. Im looking for a humidifier that does not have a clear tank,but until i find 1, i was going to put something around it ,like a towel or aluminom foil to block the light.but is there anything else i can do to stop the algae growth,thx for all the advise.i ve learned more in 3 months of reading your answerse on allexperts,than i did in three years.thank you,jim

Answer
Hi Jim,

I assuming this is an ultrasonic humidifier with the usual clear tank.  One method I've run across is to use distilled water in the tank.  If you clean the tank well with bleach first, then use distilled water after that, the water has no food at all for the algae, so it can't grow.  

We have a ZeroWater water dispenser tank type filter, and we've noticed that the purified water never gets algae in it.  ZeroWater filters take everything out of the water, so it is very close to distilled water.  The top part where you add the water gets algae all the time, and we have to take it apart and clean it about once a month.  But the bottom part of the tank where the purified water is never gets algae.

Let me know if this works for you.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com