*sigh* I have a problem...

[Pilot]

I don't know what it is but for the life of me I cannot get my violacea and bellina species to thrive like my other orchids. They are warm-growing, so each one lives on a heating mat and have the prime spot near the warm mist humidifier but they just do not thrive. I am very careful not to let them touch other plants or let cold water drop on their leaves and yet I get those unsightly black specks on the leaves and the leaves begin to go pale yellow. Perhaps the light is too strong? T8s, roughly 6 to 8 inches beneath the bulbs....oops...actually they're under t12s ATM. Anyway, I have several other warm growing species-- speciosa, tetrispis etc-- all doing really well. All are grown in s/h and are flushed at least once a week followed by a weak 1/4 strength fertilizer (grow more 20-20-20). No idea what the humidity in the basement is, but it is warm in there and the humidity is noticeably higher (I'm in Colorado, and a humidity of around 20% inside isn't uncommon but in my growing lair, the humidity, I would guess, is 50-60%). Ambient temp seems to be pegged at 75 degrees F-- its a high low therm and I haven't reset the low-- not sure there is a low, though, because its the basement and pretty steady with the boiler on the opposite side of the room.

What else might people need to know to help me with growing these plants better? I'm all ears.

I should mention again that I do have other warm growing phals and standard phals and they're doing extremely well. So I'm guessing there is something i'm not giving these guys but not sure what!

Thanks!