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Thank you Centaura! I was beginning to think that I was the only person around who owned a hygrometer.
From what I can tell, the relative humidity at the surface of a humidity tray is indeed around 70%. But as you move away from the surface, the humidity rapidly dissipates, and once you get an inch or two above the tray the levels rapidly approach the ambient relative humidity of the room. Face it. Water just doesn't evaporate out of a humidity tray that fast.
As Rick pointed out, the only way to achieve high levels of humidity up around the foliage is with a confined enclosure. This doesn't need to be a big deal. A humidity dome, a tent, a big fish tank, whatever. On the other hand, it is a bad idea to raise the humidity of a room in your house to 70%. At this point, during the winter, moisture will leach through the walls, and condensate will form inside the walls. This will lead to problems you really don't want to deal with.
Another thing one should keep in mind is that humidity levels is part of a matrix of conditions. Humidity is more important during the summer when temperatures soar and light is intense. During the winter, when light is subdued and temperatures are mild, humidity is not so important. 55% humidity during the winter is actually pretty good. And safe.
I don't use humidity trays. I use drip trays.
DR
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Bonsai is easy! All you have to do is stare at a little tree until drops of blood form on your forehead.--paraphrased from Gene Fowler
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