BellC -
I live in So. California where conditions are similiar to yours but not quite so extreme! (i.e. HOT)
In summer we can have humidity levels down to single digits, and of course the indoor air conditioner is on when it is that hot. I grow phals indoors and mini-cymbidiums outside and both have adjusted well to very low humidity. Nothing is on a humidity tray right now. Inside where my phals grow it rarely gets over 40%, 30% is about average. Outside
rarely gets over 50% and all my plants are happy. I mist both with a dilute solution of worm tea so I feel like I am feeding them while giving a bath. Helps ALOT when I have a failing plant that needs to absorb some nutrition through it's leaves.
Jerry is so right in his advice to listen to what everyone has to say and realize these opinions are coming from all over the world with vastly different conditions.
According to all the orchid books I have read, none of my orchids should be thrivng -yet they are. Go figure! Amazingly adaptable plants.
If you would like a few recommendations for books, let me know and I will list the ones that helped me the most at our level. I love
books but don't want to assume that everyone else does! This is a great forum; you will learn a lot!
