Quote:
Originally Posted by estación seca
Not many people in the US have humidity as high inside the house as yours. Nobody in metro Phoenix has indoor humidity like yours. As a result of this, not many people can grow things like this on a windowsill.
A lot of people with no orchid experience browse Orchid Board, and they might not have enough knowledge to consider varying growing condition. When a new grower in Riverside, California, who perhaps has never even planted a radish seed, reads they can grow Masdevallias on their windowsill. they are probably headed for trouble.
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I don't think I said that anybody can grow Masdevallias on their windowsill. I simply said 80% was not necessary. This plant (strobelii) does just as well in 60% IME, which is a level that can easily be attained with a humidifier. Not everyone will want to do it, but some will. Some people with sinus problems (myself included) already do it for other reasons.
Big, bold statements saying "X can only be grown under Y conditions" can be just as unhelpful to those very same new people. As they become more experienced and advanced, they may completely avoid an entire group that they may otherwise enjoy because they think that it's "too hard" and they'll never be able to attain certain conditions and those thoughts remain with them for a long time.
On the other hand, someone who reads that they might be able to grow something might lead them to do more research and come to their own conclusion. For a long time I personally avoided Masdevallias because I was essentially told "you can't, they're too hard." I'm glad that I ended up trying because I can and I do. I have a hard time believing that there aren't others out there like myself that have been discouraged from even trying when they have every capability of being successful.
Of course, we might just have different philosophies and that's okay. I like to encourage others to try new things, with the caveat that they may fail. I have learned a great deal of things about orchid car e through failure. Others prefer to exercise caution and advise others to do the same
That's my