Humidity Outdoors

[mremensnyder]

My partner and I have recently moved into our first house and though it is in an area we like, it is rather small and I have been informed that we may not have enough space for a large Orchidarium indoors. I have recently purchased some new warm growing species including some leafless, Epidendrum, Maxillaria, Macradenia, Phalaenopsis, and Encyclia. I plan to keep adding similar orchids to my collection. Since the weather conditions here in the Orlando metro area of Central FL are fairly favorable for orchid growing, much/most of the year, I am thinking I can create an outdoor growing area and just augment the local climate a bit during the cool, dry months so that I can succeed with orchid cultivation. I am thinking of eventually setting up a greenhouse for the winter months, but until then, I am most concerned with keeping humidity levels higher while plants are in outside conditions. I currently have the more delicate mounted orchids hanging on the inside wall of some large clear plastic containers with water in the bottom. This works pretty well, but keeping plants humid like this when it gets into the 40s and 50s could be really problematic I think.

Also, any suggestions for the orchids that won't be practical in the plastic containers. How does one increase ambient humidity outside?

I may just need to create a greenhouse with orchid favorable conditions built in for the months of November-March. Thoughts?