Stepping up my orchid game (Silicon Valley)

[carbonemissions]

I have learned and lurked enough here that it's time I make an account and introduce myself on this board.
It Started with a Phal from Trader Joes almost 2 years ago. It dried out a bit from this cold dry winter indoors crap and a little neglect :[ but still seemed good to go. The apt. manager cut the trees that had been blocking a lot of light from the east window of our apartments so I moved it from the kitchen window (E) into the bathroom windowsill(E)and cut the stem about 4 weeks ago and started watering it properly. the leaves have perked up a lot and the color is improving Started thinking the bathroom seems like a better habitat for Phals so I went to Melissa orchids in Cupertino and picked up 3 bloomers about a week ago. Looking forward to chatting with you guys about all things orchid.


Heres an album of the window situation and what the plants look like.

[Picotee]

Hello back atcha and welcome. Good luck with your new phals.

[Optimist]

I found that a small cool air humidifier is also reccomended. It can take a room from dry to 30 to 50% in no time. It is also good for keeping dust down, keeping your skin from drying out and thus itching, and actually keeping you place warmer in winter, cooler in summer. As som people have pointed out, humidity is not the most important aspect of orchid care but the flowers uncurl better, and the leaves break through without curls or accordians.

[WhiteRabbit]

[lexusnexus]

Welcome to the board. Used to travel back and forth between DC and Mountain View at least one a month. SF is my favorite part of the country.

[howze01]

Welcome!

[carbonemissions]

Thanks for the warm welcomes guys!
It seems that the forum wont let me hotlink to my album on imgur so im just going to try and upload them manually to the board.

[carbonemissions]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I found that a small cool air humidifier is also reccomended. It can take a room from dry to 30 to 50% in no time. It is also good for keeping dust down, keeping your skin from drying out and thus itching, and actually keeping you place warmer in winter, cooler in summer. As som people have pointed out, humidity is not the most important aspect of orchid care but the flowers uncurl better, and the leaves break through without curls or accordians.

Did you mean like one of those ionizer travel humidifiers?
I actually have one of those and tried to put it to use.
it didn't do a whole lot but i cant seem to find a good placement for it as it seems it needs to be placed high up.

[RNCollins]

Welcome to OrchidBoard Carbonemissions! I used to live in Monterey. That's where I first got hooked on orchids.

Originally Posted by carbonemissions

Did you mean like one of those ionizer travel humidifiers?
I actually have one of those and tried to put it to use.
it didn't do a whole lot but i cant seem to find a good placement for it as it seems it needs to be placed high up.

I think Optimist was referring to an ultrasonic humidifier. I've got the one listed below and so far It's working fine.
http://www.vicks.com/products/humidi...ic-humidifier/
It raises the humidity of my medium-sized bedroom quite well.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

You should be able to link to your photos in the future, now you have a few posts.