Sandra,

Despite the popular misperception, orchids are actually pretty sturdy,
especially Phalaenopsis - some orchid genera are more delicate, but it
takes quite a lot to kill a Phal unless you are overwatering it (killing a
Phal by watering too often is easy, or so I am told). I once posted a
message to this news group humorously asking for advice on how to kill an
orchid, since despite lots of abuse and neglect I have not managed to kill
an orchid yet.

I did not get a humidifier until about a year ago, and I have been growing
Phals for 3.5 years, and they have been reflowering for me even before I got
the humidifier (I live in Washington DC, so I assume not too different
conditions than New York - the heating in our apartment is on high and the
humidity very low in the winter). A humidifier is not strictly necessary to
keep Phals alive and even thriving in an apartment, though they prefer
higher humidity they adjust to lower humidity quite well (even in the 20-30%
humidity range Phals can live and reflower).

If the difference in the conditions that the plant is used to and the ones
it currently gets is too drastic (too large a difference and too fast,
without an adjustment period) then you might get bud blasting or untimely
flower wilting. So if you have unopened buds or if the plant is in flower,
this difference in conditions may result in the Phal sulking and you may
need to wait till the next flowering season. However, the plant itself will
be ok, just the buds or flowers may not make it. Or then again they might,
hard to predict this sort of thing.

You could try filling some containers (saucers, bowls) with water and
putting as many of them close to the plants as a temporary measure of trying
to increase the humidity just a little bit - won't help much, but it might
help some.

Mainly, don't worry too much! The plants will certainly be fine, and if your
plants loose flowers/buds, then get another orchid, since the more orchids
you have the less you are likely to worry about one of them not being in
bloom for one flowering season.

Best,
Joanna

"sandra" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello Everyone, this morning we had a real humidity disaster.
I have just brought my first orchid home from texas two weeks ago(to
New York)
My 2 year old daughter thought it would be fun to explore the
humidifier by breaking the water holding tank.....to make a long story
short, she pushed it off the coffee table while our house keeper was
cleaning up...
Now, I'm going to get a new humidiifer on Monday, I'm not too familiar
with places to shop for them here in New York, so my brother is taking
me, but not utnil Monday.....
So, will my 2 plants die out with just a few days of lower humidity
than usual?
This time, I was thinking about getting someone to install those whole
house humidifiers, but I'm going to settle on a room humidifer for
right now, just because of my plants.
Anwyay, any advice would be appreciated
Thanks so much
-Sandra