Well, when I get fancy, I end up back to the basic look (plastic pots, etc.) There are some very pretty humidity trays though. http://amzn.to/fvydu3 http://amzn.to/eZM45i http://amzn.to/hT4Mn7 and if you put screening on top... http://amzn.to/ew1d9k

What's wrong with cookie sheets? If you get some nice aquarium stone to put in them they look better than the black or green plastic trays you see for sale. They are much cheaper too! The only problem I have with them is sneaking them out of the kitchen cabinet without my wife seeing.
Sheryl, I find the oncidium intergenerics can grow just fine in low humidity. You just need to keep the plant well watered. They do tend to get rather large though.

Bill

Large isn't too much of a problem (yet, lol.....). Okay, off I go to Google Oncidium intergenerics - unless, of course, you have any pics you would like to share.

I didn't know you might be referring to the plants I already have... sheesh. I *will* pick up the lingo, sooner or later....

Sheryl you can look in the Orchids of the Month forum and the Database for some Oncidium intergenerics.

LOL - of course. Thanks!

Sheryl, The orchid police keep changing the names. I think ondontocidium is a current one. I know them as Colmanara(Wildcats are real nice), Hamiltonara, Vuylstekeara, Burrageara and many others. My biggest Colmanara is about 25-26 inches tall by about 30- 32 inches wide. I can't really get a good picture of the whole plant, but here's what the flowers look like:



Here's a site I just found doing a quick search. http://www.herbs2000.com/flowe...

Bill

Great site Bill!! Also I have been very lax myself but feel free to enter any of your named orchids into the database. You have to enter pics as a second step.

Gosh, I am just constantly amazed at how variable these flowers seem to be. Just amazed.

I'll look at that link now...

Well they grow everywhere except Antarctica....

Here's a link to a nice photo gallery by Pieter Brouwer of mostly species and some hybrids. I've also put it on the right side box on every page up top.
http://www.pbase.com/glazemake...

Some great reference material today!

Ursula, you had mentioned in one of the threads about flowers aborting...is that when they shrivel up before they bloom?
What causes this?

Yes, they dry up, shrivel, nothing happens.
I honestly couldn't give a single reason - sometimes I think the plant is still too small to support a big spike/has a poor root system, maybe it was too hot, too cold, too drafty.
My Vanda coerulescens was sitting right on the glass in full sun producing 2 really nice spikes, I noticed the buds on top on the first spike to turn brown, so I moved the plant further into the bench away from the glass. The other spike is now making it without any problem.
Also - I received a couple of years ago a nice division of Schomburgkia superbiens alba. This Winter it finally showed 2 nice fat spikes. I noticed a couple of weeks that they totally halted, I don't think they are going to make it this year. Perhaps the next new growth is strong enough and will finally bloom.

Frustrating!

Yes, it is a bit disheartening. But - I always look forwards to the next bloom cycle.
I think that if the plant is healthy, sooner or later it will bloom properly through a combination of things: Perhaps we learn to better accommodate the plant and also the plant gets used to our surroundings. If not, sometimes a friend will bloom the plant where we struck out. Perhaps we are/were simply not a good fit with a particular finicky plant?

Lindsey, I agree with Ursula, but I'll add that most of your plants are new, and you're getting a lot of them from Hawaii, where the temps and sun don't fluctuate very much. I've had some "bud blast" this year too, and I blame it on weeks of gloom and cold, followed by weeks of hot, dry wind. Orchids usually will adjust to your environment, but the weather this year is frustrating them as much as it is us. Your greenhouse will surely help. We have at least one commercial grower that grows in the desert, but the climate control makes it work.

Great discussion!

I have a hilo jewel vanda that is growing in neally full sun and its buds dried up and didnt open the last 2 times so i hung it behind a tree more and now it has a few fat red buds, hopefully it'll open this time. To much sun/light i think this was from.

Got my fingers crossed for you!