I've got a couple of phalaenopsis orchids sitting on a regular windowsill in my living room, and I'm wondering if I actually need to invest in one of those humidity trays with pebbles that everyone talks about. My apartment gets pretty dry, especially in winter. Would it really make a difference for keeping them healthy?
You don't strictly *need* one, but they're genuinely helpful if your place is dry. Phalaenopsis aren't as humidity-obsessed as some tropical plants, so they'll survive on a regular windowsill, but a pebble tray with water underneath can bump up moisture around the plant without waterlogging the roots - which matters a lot in winter when indoor air gets really parched.
It's cheap to set up and honestly makes a noticeable difference in how happy they look, so if your apartment tends toward dry I'd say just do it.
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