plants dry out so quickly

[Ray]

Have you considered devising an enclosure for your shelves?

Jo-Ann fabrics usually carries rolled vinyl sheet by the yard. Get enough to wrap around all 4 sides, use clips to attach it to the shelves, positioned in such a way that it ends at one side of the front. It will trap the humidity (it does not have to be sealed to do so), and you can peel back the front to one side to get to the plants as needed.

[voyager]

Many years ago in Alaska, when I kept as many as 75 or more orchids in my living room.
I would use a humidifier and fans to keep some humidity in the home's air during the winter's dry heated months.

I had watering marathons, a couple of hours a day, once or twice a week year around.

I would fill a tub on the kitchen counter with tap water, temper it, add low quantities of fertilizer, then place the pots of plants in it to soak, adding water whenever it got low.
Then, place the pots into a sink or another tub to drain before replacing them in the windows.

That was a ritual for 7 or 8 years.
Also part of the reason I now simply put them out in trees in the yard and forget them until I seer them again.
I do enjoy them much more now.
Although, not as often.

For orchids, moving to Hawaii was a boon.
Orchids can be a lot of work, even if you have a greenhouse.
You must enjoy working and being with them.

EDIT:
I had concocted my own media that worked very well for me, a sphagnum - pumice rock mixture. Ratios varied as to the water requirements of what was planted in it, more water - more sphagnum.
Lava rock from purchased plants also worked well in the mixtures.