I have both for about 4 years. I grow in my livingroom and find them easy. I did get crown rot on my Aeranthes but it quickly sent up two keikis. My Ang grows well and gives me lots of flowers. It is becoming a monster in size.

My Ang seems less troubled by the low humidity (11% on a good day). The Aer. looks dry but continue to grow. I have it in a mix of sphag and tree fern, some bark and keep it evenly moist. The leaves feel dry but it does flower on and off during the year. Perks up when I move it outdoors in summer.

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Jane

Jane I was just looking at your old posts of your aeranthes Grandiose. Your plants are so big and healthy. I got an aer. Grandiose a year or so ago, and after a bit of sulking, it's now growing roots and leaves galore, but no blooms yet. How much light do you give yours?

Patrick - I grow some aerangis, aeranthes, and angraecums but mainly inside enclosed environments (e.g. glass tanks) The angraecums are definitely much more tolerant of low humidity. Aerangis, for the most part, like to be mounted. Some like the larger ones (aer. cryptodon, ellisii) or the thinner rooted ones (citrata, fastuosa) can be potted (I've heard). I can't really grow mounted things without some sort of case though. Generally, I've found that cool + wet = death for lots of these.

Thanks Calvin. I really push the light with both plants. The Ang was forced (I moved and had little choice) to a very high-light position this past summer. Full South/West with some shading from a potted tomato plant...not kidding. My new place does not have a single tree and I couldn't find a spot for any plants. I used large potted plants to shade the orchids.

I had repotted in Spring, stuck it in 'almost' full sun and the plant took off. The photo was from a year ago. I'll show the latest where you will see sun damage to some leaves.

The Aer. sat behind the Ang and I had two old spikes continue to flower. I'm planning to repot this spring. It suffered crown rot this winter. I moved it closer to the window and it sent out two new growths which have gotten large.

Bottom line, I think both plants responded to the higher light levels. The Aer is not happy inside with low humidity and cool temps. But is making good growth with the higher light.

These photos were taken last month. Root growth was enormous.
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Overall growth was 6" taller, but lots of burned leaves
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Overall, I would say the higher light produced massive growth.

Jane (sorry for the large photos, can't get this right)

Thanks Jane - great plants and great growing. I find it pretty incredible what you're accomplishing without a greenhouse.

Me too!!! Fantastic job you've done there. I may have to experiment with some light increases.

Who knows, this plant is tough and either sprung up from the repot or the increased light.

The Aerangis needs to be repotted. We'll see what the repot does for that one.

Jane

I'm finding that I seem to be in the minority when it comes to growing Orchids. Everyone else seems to grow them in Terrariums/Vivariums/Greenhouses.
I grow mine on Windowsills, using Cool-Mist Humidifiers and am investing in supplemental lighting - even though the Aerangis and Angraecum get good light - SOUTHEAST light which is very Bright light from 8AM to 12Noon.
Most of my Angraecoids are Mounted. I have only One potted Ang. magdalanae.
I just can't handle Pots and orchid bark. I inevitably knock over the pots and the bark goes flying. I prefer mounted orchids.