I just bought a couple of phals from a hardware store whose roots were in pretty bad shape. I'm trying to make the environment good for them to grow in, and I'm wondering what kinds of environmental factors in my apartment (besides light, temp, and humidity) can affect their health? I sometimes smoke inside for one thing, and I don't know if/how that might affect them. Can it kill them, or affect their ability to bloom in the future? Is this just another reason why I should quit? I have several "air-purifying" houseplants if that can make any difference. Actually, can other plants help or damage the orchid environment; are there plants that are toxic to orchids?
My apartment is also small, and I eat a lot of tomatoes (odd statement, I know, but I'm going somewhere). I don't refrigerate them, or some other types of produce. I've read that fruit fumes can damage orchids, but at what point does that happen? Does it have to be totally rotten? And does the orchid have to be very close to the fruit for that to happen (i.e. would a technically separate but open living room/kitchen combo be a problem if some fruit started to go bad)?
Advice on any other ambient household environmental factors of this type that you can think of would also be really appreciated!