There's a well-known phal grower who maintains a hobby phrag greenhouse
(maybe 10X15') in partial shade right on the Santee River in SC. He runs a
window airconditioner in the house 24/7. You have never seen such large,
lush beautiful phrags. Maybe a small partition in your gh with a small ac
might accomplish the same effect. He said it doesn't cost anywhere near what
you might think, but I didn't ask. Electricity here in the SE is fairly
cheap especially in the electric co-ops. I have no idea what CA prices are
running. Anyway, just a thought from a proven-to-work situation if the
variables are not out of the question.
Gary

"K Barrett" wrote in message
news:U4Bob.72527$Tr4.194276@attbi_s03...
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week or so you know
that
California gets extremely dry. Humidity goes into the teens routinely.
October seems to be dry. This year San Diego County burned, 10 or 12 years
ago it was Oakland/Berkeley. Humidity was 13% for the 3 days Oakland
burned.

But I digress.

Of course I'm developing a taste for Masdevallias I've developed a taste
for
pleurothallids and live in a dry environment.

I have a greenhouse that I grow a mixed collection in. The pleurothallids
I
currently place right in front of the swamp cooler, and they do 'OK'. Not
great but OK.

I'd love to grow some Draculas, Scaphosepalums etc that require light,
humidity coolness - in short everything I can't supply.

I read a wacko idea on the AOS Forum. Get a cheap shower stall from Home
Depot. Comes complete with a glass shower door. Install it in the GH. Cut
a
hole in the side for the swamp cooler to blow directly into the shower
stall. Maybe drill some exit holes so the cool air can then exit to the
rest
of the GH. Or maybe not. the air would blow up and over the top of the
shower stall and mix throughout the GH from there. Leaving a residue of
cool
ait trapped in the shower.

What I'm envisioning is a cold room where I could put a small humidifier
for
more intense moisture in the shower. The glass door would allow light in .
The drain would allow condensed water to escape...

Am I nuts? Think it'd work?

K Barrett