Hi everyone!

[Zabeta]

Hello,

I've been keeping orchids for less than a year (maybe 7 months), and although I have only 16 orchids, my interest in them keeps growing!

Unfortunately, my climate and living situation are less than ideal growing conditions for most orchids - I live in an arid, hot climate (literally drought conditions, actually, for going on four years now), with humidity in the summer staying under 30% most of the time. And I have no humidifier (I know, I know). Still, I've managed not to kill anything yet, and the one thing my climate possesses in abundance is lots of light!

I'm looking forward to learning from everyone. :-)

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

Great work keeping them alive in such dry conditions. Some Orchids do better drier than others so you are going to be best sticking with those. Good luck

[WhiteRabbit]

I also live in Nor-Cal - I grow fairly successfully both on windowsills (no humidifier), and outdoors. A few of my orchids do have foliage that seems to look the worse for the dry air, but grow and bloom just fine.

[Zabeta]

That's great to know, Sonya. It seems like aerial roots die pretty easily, and my phals are not exactly thriving (though they're not dying, either). But orchids are so adaptable that I wonder if it's just a matter of time, new leaves, and new roots until things even out.

[silken]

Welcome to Orchid Board. Out on the prairies here we don't have very high humidity either. And they all have to come indoors over winter!

[Zabeta]

Great to know, Silken! You're lucky that you have an outside place for them in the summer. :-)

[silken]

Originally Posted by Zabeta

Great to know, Silken! You're lucky that you have an outside place for them in the summer. :-)

I actually have an attached greenhouse that they reside in. But I put some out in the summer since they get cooler breezes and temps out there. In the winter they all need to make do with a slightly cooler and drier winter rest in the greenhouse as I don't want to heat it up to room temperatures.

[LizB88]

Welcome!
I'm also in California, and most of my orchids are outdoor all year. So far I have not had any problems. This year however because it is so dry I'm dealing with a lot of pest, which I did not have to deal with in the pass. And some of my more water loving orchids are adjusting to a little less water too. And the Bay area fog helps some what in that regard.

[terracotta7]

Welcome to OB! Good to have you here!

[Zabeta]

Thanks everyone! :-)