Any orchids for damp, dark places?
 

My sister loves orchids, but the apartment she's living in is dark and rather damp (garden apartment). For some reason, she was told cattleyas would be good...and of course, it promptly died. Are there any orchids that like damp, dark places? I thought maybe a Dracula would survive, except for the fact that they like to hang. Any suggestions?

One of the easiest orchids to obtain would be a phalaenopsis. Give one a try in an east window but not in direct contact with the window or in direct sun. They are relatively inexpensive and can be replaced if they do not make it.

The paphiopedilum alliance or lady's slipper orchids, might also be a plant to try but they are not as easy a plant to start with. They do tend to like less light.

You really are not "dark" as in truly dark, just less light than most orchids want. Which side of the apartment are the windows on? Is there a skylight?

A suggestion. Get a light meter and measure the light levels, then look up orchids that like that level.

Because it's a garden apartment, the light comes in from the top of the wall only. There is no skylight. I think at best, she might get 500-1000 fc. of light. She hasn't done well with Phals...she's had and killed at least a dozen of them! Her apartment is pretty cool in the winter. Short of silk orchids, I don't know what to tell her.

There are orchids that require lower light. Check out Andy's website. :)
Platystele stenostachya and Lepanthes telipogoniflora should do well. These are minis and need quite a bit of humidity so I grow both in jars with lids (You can find really nice jars at the Goodwill). These are both VERY EASY to grow in jars with a layer of LECA on the bottom and a thin layer of moss on top (or just keep them mounted and let the mount wick up the water).
She could also buy a grow light and just put her orchids under it. I ran out of window space and a few of my 'little' trees became quite large so I have had to start using lights.

Well, they should do well.

Mmmmaybe a miltoniopsis? These are not too expensive either and I am under the impression that they don't need too much light either. Usually, you can see them being sold side by side with the phals at some grocery stores.

Aerangis citrata and Haraella odorata.
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moss

How often should I dust my silk orchids? What kind of duster should I use? At the cleaning center they have feather, polyester, fake fur, soft plastic. Is one color duster better than the others? Or should I vacuum them? I saw an Internet video about dusting silk orchids with a home-made duster made from cinnamon sticks and brown Listerine bottles. Would this work?