coolmist humidifiers should I even bother?

[Ross]

I, personally don't bother. Doesn't seem to affect the plants and while I have some alergy issues, it doesn't really affect me either. My philosophy is "either you join the group or get out!"

[violetta]

I don´t bother much either. I grow the orchids in my living room where the humidity is low because it has southern exposure and the climate here is dry anyway. I provide good light and lots of water and the plants are very happy. All my Phals are in spike now.
So I think that light intensity is more important than humidity, especially when it comes to flowering.

[Undergrounder]

For most hybrid Phals, humidity tolerance is pretty well bred into the plants, and controlling light and watering would be all you need to really do. Humidity shouldn't be a major problem.

I think you should go for the cool mist, but you'll have to keep in mind how you're going to keep the humidity where you want it, how you're going to disperse it when you need to (fans), how it will effect your soft furnishings, etc.

I think at the end of the day if you want to grow trickier/smaller/more finicky plants that do need high humidity, but you don't have the room for a greenhouse, bite the bullet and get some kind of tank, terrarium, close off a window bay or have a dedicated grow room. Stick all your 'high humidity' plants in there, stick in a fan, a light, and sleep easy.

These are a couple of 'tanks' i use that are basically automated and i rarely have to touch them.

[SheilaJ]

Undergrounder - I love the tanks in that second photo. Did you build/buy?

[Undergrounder]

thanks SheilaJ, they're just a fish tank and a glass display cabinet with added fluorescents, trays etc. i'm not talented enough to build something like that without messing it up!