In the kitchen, a wide windowsill will accommodate several orchids, but make sure that they will not be exposed to too much hot steam from the washing-up bowl or, worse, a steaming kettle. There may be more than one suitable aspect in the living or dining room, provided these are kept at a comfortable temperature.

These are available from garden centres and other outlets in many shapes and sizes with differing designs. The humidity tray is a shallow tray without holes, because it needs to hold water. Place a quantity of expanded clay pellets in the tray to about 2.5cm (1 in), or just below the rim, and partially fill with water. Now you have created a base for your orchids to stand on where they will receive a small amount of moisture from the evaporating water rising around them; at the same time, the plants will be standing above the water, so their roots will be kept wet but not immersed. You can have as many humidity trays as you have room for, standing a few orchids on each and allowing sufficient room between them for air to circulate.

These sterile rooms will not provide the stimulating conditions in which orchids grow. The bathroom is often considered an ideal place because of the steam created when the bath or shower is running. However, this creates rapid changes in temperature and humidity, which plants can find hard to tolerate.

Orchids placed on the floor would need to stand on concrete or tiles, which can be wetted without harming any installations, and some means of channelling away surplus water would need to be set up.

Orchids growing in humidity trays will need to be removed for watering. The best place to water the plants is on the kitchen draining board or in the sink. Because of the nature of orchid compost (growing medium), a lot of water has to be used at one time, and unless a system of catching the water and channelling it into a container is installed, which is almost impossible indoors, the plants are better taken to a watering place.

Wherever there is sufficient light and warmth, orchids will grow, provided a suitable growing area is set aside for them. Cellar culture is practised in countries such as Canada, where excessively cold winters prevent the use of greenhouses.

The cellar, which is usually heated, is adapted to grow orchids by the installation of electric lighting and benching with humidity trays, and a system of catching the surplus water to be recycled or drained away.

Conservatories that are shaded by large trees nearby are the most suitable, and the danger of overheating in summer is greatly lessened.